Hi, new to ST.
Which light switches would work the best with smart things hub?
Some criteria I’m looking for:
Must work locally
Would like to have the ability to place three-way switches
Option to have smart bulbs that won’t lose connectivity when switched off by guests. (Having passive power to the housing so that it won’t lose connection)
Would like to use Z-Wave or zigbee protocol. No Wi-Fi
Not as critical, but would love to have something cost-effective. But all other options above outweigh cost.
What country are you in? Z wave, in particular, varies by region, and regardless of protocol, the electrical designs are different in different regions.
Also, what does number three mean in this context?
Thank you so much for the response.
I live in the USA.
Number 3 basically his asking for a unit that will have power running to the housing so that, if I decide to use a smart bulb, it will not lose connectivity and disconnect. I’m planning to use the Z-Wave or zigbee but just in case I need to use Wi-Fi bulbs I’d like to have the ability have them in use and not have somebody switch off the power to it.
Mixing switches (smart or dumb) with smart bulbs isn’t a good idea.
In addition to Zigbee and Z-Wave, I would consider Matter devices. Leviton makes Matter over Wi-Fi switches and dimmers. Eve Energy and Inovelli make Matter over Thread dimmers and switches as well.
If you plan to stick with ST, I’d probably shy away from Z-Wave given their stated position of pursuing Matter, Zigbee, and Wi-Fi and their de-emphasis on Z-Wave as evidence by a lack of a Z-Wave radio in their newest hubs (both standalone and appliance-based).
How about the Aqara H2 Wall Switches? Matter over Thread or Zigbee (switchable via the app) and packed with features. I’m using them in combination with Nanoleaf Essentials M/T bulbs and strips and these devices alone form a solid Thread mesh network.
These days there are several US switches specifically designed to be used with smart bulbs. Rather than using the traditional “cut the current” method, these switches communicate via radio frequency either to the bulbs or to the hub. So they’re similar to something like the Hue dimmer switch, which is a battery powered switch that you stick on the wall, except that they are mains powered. They are just sending a message to the smart bulb to turn itself off rather than cutting the current.
So these are fine for using with smart bulbs as long as local building codes allow for them, which most do in the US.
I haven’t seen very many of this type for the EU or UK although Hue does have their dimmer module which fits behind the face plate.
Zooz has several models of this type, which have a “smart bulb mode.“
Smart bulb mode: disable the relay for truly wireless control or use as a remote control / smart add-on switch
Inovelli also offers similar switches with “smart bulb mode“ in multiple protocols, including Zigbee, z wave, and Matter over thread.
So these aren’t the least expensive smart switches you can find in the US, but there are some choices for this functionality.
The SmartThings hub v3 (2018) and the Aeotec “works as a SmartThings hub” (2021), which is a clone of the V3, but with Aeotec branding and a different model number, both also have Zwave.
Do Eve and Inovelli work if the network is down. I need them to function whether or not the protocol is functioning. Similar to zooz where they will work as dumb switches in the radios are not functioning. Wife has to be able to use it and it has to work 100% of the time
Do Aqara switches.work if the network is down? I need them to function whether or not the protocol is functioning. Similar to zooz where they will work as dumb switches in the radios are not functioning. Wife has to be able to use it and it has to work 100% of the time