With the way things are today, it is difficult to picture a time when smart technology did not exist, increasingly our daily lives are being transformed by a growing range of smart devices, designed to communicate with one another.
From smart locks to smart thermostats to smart switches, automating almost everything around the home has never been easier; all with the comfort, enjoyment and safety of the user in mind.
How exactly does the smart lighting work, and what are the benefits of installing a smart light switch?
Smart Switches: What Exactly Are They?
A smart switch is a piece of wireless connected technology which can be exchanged for a traditional built-in switch around the home, it provides the same basic on/off functionality as a traditional switch but also opens the door to more precise control over interior illuminations.
Not to mention, the opportunity to control any number of other hardwired appliances remotely.
Smart switches are controlled via an accompanying smartphone app, from which a wide variety of features can be accessed at the touch of a button.
What Are the Benefits of Smart Lighting?
As touched upon above, smart lighting is all about taking more precise control over your homes lighting.
Just a few of the benefits of upgrading to smart lighting technology are as follows:
- The ability to control your lighting system with simple voice commands, when connected to a smart speaker like Amazon Echo or Google home.
- Smart dimmer switches can be programmed to gradually increase the level of illumination in the bedroom, making for a more energised and enjoyable morning.
- Using the mobile app, you can control all aspects of your home’s lighting anytime and from anywhere in the world.
- Time-based schedules can also be created to turn the lights of specific rooms on and off while away, in order to deter intruders.
- Creating the right mood with smart lighting is easy, with a range of pre-set and customisable settings for relaxation, reading, or watching movies and so on.
- Motion sensors can be connected with smart lighting controllers to automatically turn on lights when movement is detected inside your home.
- Where the mood takes you, there is always the option of taking things back to basics and using the simple on/off functionality of a traditional switch.
A smart switch has the capacity to boost the convenience, comfort and practicality of almost any home. It is a small change in principle, but one that can nonetheless make a real difference.
Smart homes are truly revolutionising how we live.
What are the Difference between Smart Switches and Smart Bulbs?
Though often confused as the same, smart switches on smart bulbs are entirely different products; with a smart bulb, you can take control of colour temperatures and the level of illumination in a room by adjusting the settings on the bulb itself. It is are installed in the same way as a regular light bulb is and can be controlled with a conventional switch.
A smart switch offers more extensive and precise control over your homes lighting. A single switch can be used to control a full network of lights, appliances and connected devices around the home. A smart bulb is simply a bulb, whereas a smart switch is effectively a smart control centre for your connected technology.
How Do Smart Switches Work?
Smart switches work in one of two ways; the traditional approach has been to connect a series of devices via a standard 2.4 GHz home Wi-Fi network; a convenient option as most homes already have a 2.4 GHz network but has the potential to slow down Wi-Fi speeds.
The smart switches connected to a standard 2.4 GHz home Wi-Fi network are dependent on the home’s central router. In the event of a Wi-Fi outage, the whole system is rendered inoperable.
The alternative is to opt for a cutting-edge ‘mesh’ Wi-Fi network, which can simplify the process of installing and using smart devices. Zigbee and Z-Wave are the two most popular dedicated smart home wireless protocols on the market.
Both Zigbee and Z-Wave differ from the conventional Wi-Fi option in that they create their own independent communication network with the devices integrated. All devices communicate independently with one another, with no reliance on a central Wi-Fi hub.
Best of all, smart lighting controllers like the EVVR In-Wall Relay Switch (IRS) are not dependent on a neutral wire. As millions of homes built or refurbished before 1980 lack a neutral wire, choosing smart devices with no neutral wire required is often the only realistic option.
Find Out More about the EVVR Zigbee Light Switch
The EVVR In-Wall Relay Switch (IRS) provides the perfect entry-point to smart lighting technology regarding homes with or without a neutral wire. A Zigbee 3.0 no neutral wire smart switch can be installed and activated in no time, with absolutely no minimum load requirements, no size limitations and no need for a neutral wire.
Our innovative IRS has been engineered with Smart Relay and Smart Switch Sub-Assembly, making it easy to connect it with your existing lighting system and install additional smart lighting technology around the home.
For more information on the EVVR In-Wall Relay Switch (IRS) with no neutral required, visit our product page or contact a member of our customer support team today.
Read more:
How Does a Smart Light Switch Work?