Wireless Light Switches

[LmarshallSparks]

Hello Sparky Overlords,

Wireless switches… should we be thinking about them? Are they good enough to replace hard wired switches? Should all rewires from say 2026/27 be wireless? Or another mod con which isn’t ready and will only cause more problems?

Thanks for any help in advance

 

[littlespark]

Wireless as in smart switches require mains power to operate. We are encouraged now to run a neutral to a switch, just in case it’s needed later on.

Wi-Fi switches need a Wi-Fi hub. If that breaks, or there’s a problem with the socket circuit, the lights will be stuck off. Good to have a backup, even light from another room that is hard wired through a regular switch.

Quinetic… or other power-less switches are handy…if there’s no other way to wire in a switch in an old building…


I can’t see wireless switches taking the place of wired in, especially on a new build or full rewire.

They’re a good gimmick, but can have their uses

 

[mainline]

Hello Sparky Overlords,

Wireless switches… should we be thinking about them? Are they good enough to replace hard wired switches? Should all rewires from say 2026/27 be wireless? Or another mod con which isn’t ready and will only cause more problems?

Thanks for any help in advance

Anything electronic will fail long before hard-wired ones.

 

[EricMark]

As far as I am aware, the TP-Link (Tapo) smart switch will still work with no 230 volt power, but not really tried it, but seems likely as battery powered.

Not sure about relays, bulbs normally default on. So a short power cut and all the lights go on. So having a switch to turn them off when on holiday, or set a timer better in daytime, so not plunged into darkness.

 

[ferg]

I'm looking at Quinetic switches for my own place after Mrs Ferg over-riding my plan for switching.
Now the boarding and decorating has been done she has decided to agree with me .
Better to deal with the consequences after the event than starve and sleep in the shed at the time

 

[Avo Mk8]

Wireless switches… should we be thinking about them? Are they good enough to replace hard wired switches? Should all rewires from say 2026/27 be wireless? Or another mod con which isn’t ready and will only cause more problems?

If you are thinking of battery-less switches such as Quinetic, they've been around for about 15 years now and reliability seems good. I accept they probably don't have the longevity of cabling and mechanical switches, but they should do a good 20 or 30 years.
They are also a useful solution for 2-way (or 3 way etc) switching from a new location, where running an additional cable from the original switch would be difficult/ expensive.

Edit:
I would say there's a distinction between "wireless" switching (which started 1950/60's with infra-red switching, eg using a TV remote. I remember installing IR light switches in the 1980's, but the RF versions won, now typically with 433MHz communication between switch and receiver),
'"wi-fi" or "smart" switches came along later, by adding the (mostly) 2.4GHz link to the internet and app. (Which is a pain when everything else in the house is 5GHz!)

 

[DefyG]

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They’re a good gimmick

I would consider them a bit more than a gimmick!

I've used the TLC Quinetic units for straight switching, dimmable versions and WiFi switches (No hub required) with a great deal of success.
If honest though, I would still prefer hardwired switching.

 

[mainline]

If you are thinking of battery-less switches such as Quinetic, they've been around for about 15 years now and reliability seems good. I accept they probably don't have the longevity of cabling and mechanical switches, but they should do a good 20 or 30 years.
They are also a useful solution for 2-way (or 3 way etc) switching from a new location, where running an additional cable from the original switch would be difficult/ expensive.

Edit:
I would say there's a distinction between "wireless" switching (which started 1950/60's with infra-red switching, eg using a TV remote. I remember installing IR light switches in the 1980's, but the RF versions won, now typically with 433MHz communication between switch and receiver),
'"wi-fi" or "smart" switches came along later, by adding the (mostly) 2.4GHz link to the internet and app. (Which is a pain when everything else in the house is 5GHz!)

They have had problems with the switch modules.
Also reports of lights switching on or off.

The 433.3 mhz sent is also quite easy to grab, it will only be a matter of time before someone starts selling grabber/transmitters ( there's a thought).

I used to have a bit of fun switching people TVs off etc with my infra-red transmitter watch.