Disaster recovery and virtualisation

[huhnmann]

Hello!

I want to trigger an event (like switching on a smart Zigbee power plug) when a regular light switch (that switches regular non-smart LED light bulbs) is flipped. Is there something I can put behind a light switch to achieve this? Or something to splice in between the switch and the light bulbs? A good option would also be Hue compatible.

Thank you!

[therealdb]

I have both Zwave and Wifi device attached to normal buttons, switching lights or without power, and then turning on/off other devices via scenes/scripting. In one case, I'm using a Shelly i3 to turn on 3 different Hue Lights. You'll definitely need something like Openluup or Home Assistant to script this, but it's doable.

[akbooer]

+1 for the Shelly i3 for this application!

[Black Cat]

@therealdb said in "kinda smart" switch to put behind a normal light switch:
snip
You'll definitely need something like Openluup or Home Assistant to script this, but it's doable.

Why?
You can just use Reactor or MSR to achieve this result. +1 for the Shellies....

[therealdb]

@black-cat because afaik hue lights are not directly supported by msr, and they were mentioned. I’m not sure if the op has any other hub, but the point is to be sure you can turn on/off the light via http calls.

[huhnmann]

Thank you guys, the i3 looks like it could do the job!

I have hubs from Bosch, Hue, and Tado.

[Elcid]

The i3 is a bit wasteful if only a single switch. If it is a single switch why not go with a shelly 1 then you make the light smart and can also send http request or subscribe to device mqtt stat topic.

[huhnmann]

That light switch has to work exactly as before. So the i3 seems to be the best option here, indeed. That is, if exactly this:

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is possible.

As for the Shelly 1, I may have a different use. Is it possible to give power to a "door buzzer"*) for a predefined amount of time (like 5s)?

Sorry, I don't know the word for it in any language. It makes "bzzzzzz" and you can open the door.

[therealdb]

@huhnmann yes, I’m using this to open a gate. This is often referred to as latching or pulsing. Shelly 1 has an option to turn off a relay after a given amount of time.

[huhnmann]

@therealdb Perfect, thank you!

[Elcid]

@huhnmann said in "kinda smart" switch to put behind a normal light switch:

That light switch has to work exactly as before.

fitting a shelly 1 , the light should function as before but also have smart capabilities, so you get the best of both worlds

[huhnmann]

@elcid No, because the switch's off and on positions would change, every time its smart capabilities are used. Or is the Shelly 1 capable of physically flipping the switch's position?

[akbooer]

This is why I use push switches, rather than toggle switches… can’t bear to see a toggle in the ‘wrong’ position for the light status. That’s OCD for you! Same is true for two or three way arrangements.

I use the MK Grid switch hardware (in the UK) which allows you to swap out individual switches in a multi-switch wall plate.

[huhnmann]

No, that's normal, not OCD. I could easily change the switch, but I need it to work exactly as it does now with exactly that switch. But you're right, of course, that this would make things easier.

[Elcid]

@akbooer said in "kinda smart" switch to put behind a normal light switch:

I use the MK Grid switch hardware (in the UK)

I use Click Mode, good quality. These are not grid design but still all switches can be interchanged, the have mulitple inserts and colours. And the bonus of being cheaper than MK. and take less space in the box.

[Elcid]

@huhnmann You could still use the shelly 1 in the same way as a i3. You can disiconnect the relay from the switch. You then end up with what you required, and you are still left with future options if you change you requirements.
p.s. It is OCD no matter how much you deny it.

[huhnmann]

@elcid said in "kinda smart" switch to put behind a normal light switch:

@huhnmann You could still use the shelly 1 in the same way as a i3. You can disiconnect the relay from the switch. You then end up with what you required, and you are still left with future options if you change you requirements.
p.s. It is OCD no matter how much you deny it.

Maybe, but in this case, it's called "old people compatibility".

But I'll have another look at the Shelly 1, thank you!

[gwp1]

@elcid CDO. It's like OCD but the letters are in the right order....