DIY Doctor UK DIY Forums

Mr White wrote: ↑

Tue Jan 30, 2024 4:22 pm

The reason you have 6 wires (and earth) is because it is 2 way switching. That means you can turn a light on here, go elsewhere and turn the same light off (Upstairs and downstairs?) It needs that number of wires to work.

If you are going to have a smart switch have you considered that you should have a "voice assistant" (Easier to ask than to switch on a smart phone, find the app and move the slider) you will need at least two if you only have one smart switch, one for upstairs and one for downstairs (unless you like shouting) The switch you suggest will also need a hub (Not sure if you know that, you will also need an internet connection for the hub)

All that aside, you are going to need a deeper back box for a smart switch as it will not fit in the one you currently have, you can get spacers but that makes the switch protrude considerably from the wall.

As for the wiring there is no standard U.K. wiring colour code for lights, so you will need to test the cables to establish which one does what, and also to remove the redundant ones as they will not be required with a smart switch.

ericmark wrote: ↑

Wed Jan 31, 2024 12:57 am

If we consider you have a master and slave switch, it would seem your showing the master, so the other switch of the pair with have two wires in two out of three terminals so the wire on it's own likely goes to Com and will no longer be required, and the two cables with it also no longer required, so likely that will leave you with just a pair of wires black and red.

However the switch you have uses one line in for two lines out, so both switches will use same line in.

So you will need to do some careful testing. I have considered using a non stainless back plate, or sticking on the pad which comes with the remote, and setting up two way switching using the round battery powered remote button. which works with those switches, but my mum also suffered from Dementia. And what I am not sure about is if she could work out what to do with a push button? I know the dusk and dawn features are good with those switches, so lights could auto switch on, but not sure really how smart switches would help?

I use a smart relay for my landing light, and it retains the original switches, but with Nest Mini's it also add voice control. In my case there was loads of room inside the lamp, but could hide a box with it in, means the switches are extra low voltage, and you get best of both, original switches and can use timers etc. Although one I have used does not have dusk and dawn like the switch does.

ericmark wrote: ↑

Fri Feb 02, 2024 1:17 pm

The switch you show has two cables, red and black, and red, yellow, blue. It is likely the red and black are switch wires from lamp, and that the red, yellow, blue go to the other switch.

So red, yellow, blue into a block connector so can be reused latter, and red and black to the new switch, may be easier to fit a twin back box (not double) and a blanking plate on the second void so you have some where to part the wires, as your going to struggle getting all those wires in the back box with the larger switch, or use a spacer plate. Remember if using spacers also get some new longer 3.5 mm screws, I know you get 4 with the switch, but they are not extra long, can't remember which pair are 3.5 mm.

A wango connector likely takes up less room.

I use the push button, but not looked at other TP-link controls. I note the motion detector, but not tried using one. Would like to know more. I have used simple time, so at dusk the lights switch on, and if not switched off by 1 pm they auto switch off. I use Nest Mini's so if they switch off while still up, easy enough to say hey google turn on living room lights, but not sure if my mother could have done that.

Every so often google gets it wrong, some times it is like a mischievous little boy, had it turn off lights, then ask for it to turn back on, and get sorry don't know how to do that yet etc. It now does seem to do it a lot less, but not sure how my mother would have dealt with it? But at £14 the motion detector does seem a good idea.

ericmark wrote: ↑

Fri Feb 02, 2024 6:23 pm

Hole saw? The proper tool is like a hole saw with a knife which goes around it, but designed for plaster and brick not wood.