DIY Doctor UK DIY Forums

Hi,

I'm looking for some help with the wiring, when replacing a light switch with a smart switch.

The current system is several lights all controlled by one of 3 wall switches. I want to replace one of the wall switches with a smart switch.
The current switch I want to replace has 2 red wires connected to '1way' and '2way', and 1 black connected to 'COM'
The smart switch I have states 'neutral wire required' so I'm thinking I have the wrong thing and need to get one 'without neutral wire', then just connect one of the reds (after testing with a live meter to identify the live one according to the position of the other 2 wall switches. Then I'll have a spare red cable in the box, so tape with brown wire to indicate it's a 'could be live'
Obviously this system would rely on the other 2 wall switches being left alone (which is ok).

Are my thoughts and assumptions correct?

Thanks in advance for any help.

What you have is called 2 way switching. (If the three switches you mention control the same light or lights at the same time, you have 2 way and intermediate) There is no such thing as a smart 2 way switch. (Or two-way and intermediate)
You would have to change all 3 switches at the same time to compatible smart switches, all with no neutral. (As you correctly said)

An easier option would be to change the lamps to smart lamps, and leave the switches alone.

Mr White wrote: What you have is called 2 way switching. (If the three switches you mention control the same light or lights at the same time, you have 2 way and intermediate) There is no such thing as a smart 2 way switch. (Or two-way and intermediate)
You would have to change all 3 switches at the same time to compatible smart switches, all with no neutral. (As you correctly said)

An easier option would be to change the lamps to smart lamps, and leave the switches alone.

Thank you Mr White. I had considered that to start with but there's 18 gu10's.(expensive in money and time) What I didn't probably make clear is I don't need it to be 2 way switching - if it's smart it will be controlled by sensors, so I only actually need 1 switch to turn them all on, and the off again. So my idea is to kind of ignore the other 2 switches by leaving them in one position, and have the smart switch in place as an on-off switch.

Carry on with your idea then.
I do note, most "smart switches" require a back box of 35mm, the average lighting back box is 16 mm, you may be lucky and have a 25mm box, but you can get "extenders" instead of changing the back box.
I have been perusing several smart switches and none (That I saw) give a rating for the maximum load they can switch, and if you have 18 GU10 lamps............. I hope they are all LED
I also note I am in error, there is at least ONE brand of smart switch that claim to make a 2 way switch, but I did not find an intermediate switch, so stick with your plan of leave the others alone.

I have two smart switches which do not need a neutral, the Energenie (MiHome) you can get a master and slave, so can have two-way switching, However of the five fitted, only two still working. And minium watts is 5 watt. The TP-Link (Tapo) uses a battery, and you can get a remote wireless button. And seems to work far better.

However, both need a hub, and by the time you include the cost of a hub, it starts to get expensive. So Poundland do smart GU10 colour changing lamps at £5 each which use the Smart Life app (can also use Energizer app, but it is the same as Smart Life app) still uses a hub, but it is a lot cheaper zigbee hub.