Connected switches

Configuration
6

Update: Experience with Zigbee Switches

Unlike what I indicated during my research, no flashing of the switches is required on the devices I tested and which are officially supported by the Zigbee2Mqtt project.

Where to Buy the Equipment?

  • Leboncoin: You need to be patient and careful, but it is possible to find good deals.
    You need to log in regularly (or create alerts) and wait a long time for a model to be interesting in terms of price. Do not hesitate to compare the prices of used items with those of new ones on Aliexpress, many sellers overcharge.
  • Aliexpress: I buy almost all my Zigbee home automation sensors and actuators there. As long as the seller is well rated, there is no risk.
    Most of the items sold arrive in 10 days from China, but there are sellers who ship from Belgium or Spain and the delay is even shorter (1 week) for a few euros more (€14 instead of €12 for a wireless switch for example).
  • French Store: Never tried, the prices are too high compared to the same model sold on Aliexpress (€30 on Amazon against €12 on Aliexpress).

Smart Switch

1. Xiaomi Aqara

I have the QBKG04LM model, at €17 on Aliexpress. It is quite elegant, but I find many disadvantages:

  1. You can clearly hear a small « click » when you turn off or on (electrical relay)
  2. There is a small delay between the Zigbee command and the actual lighting
  3. If you play with turning on and off in a loop by pressing very quickly on the switch, you can immediately see that the switch struggles. The light will be on once every two clicks.
  4. Warning if you want to flush it, you need a square hole in the wall and not round as is the norm in France. It is also possible to buy a box (or 3D print it) to place it on the wall, in « protruding » position.

2. TuYa (and redistributors)

[Edit - March 23, 2021]
I just tested another model of switch that can be placed instead of French switches: the TS0011 model at €20 on Aliexpress (1 gang No neutral).
Other brands redistribute it like AVATTO for €15 on Aliexpress.

It is very quiet, always very responsive (via Zigbee or manually) and a very small diode lights up in red (barely visible in daylight and at night) when the light is on. I prefer it for the moment, as there is no audible « click » like the Xiaomi when it is turned on remotely or by pressing the button.
I RECOMMEND!

Connected Module for Standard Switch

So far I have only tested one, the QS-ZIGBEE-D02-TRIAC-LN model, at €18 on Aliexpress.
You need to be careful with this model, only « push » type switches are compatible, those on which when you press the button returns to its original position.

It is quite small to fit behind a flush-mounted switch, responsive and the dimmer works on my LED lamp (basic IKEA 5W, not connected).

The only place where it does not work well for me is my living room which has a luminaire with 6 LED bulbs of the « old school » type. Despite the presence of 6 bulbs and the addition of a Legrand resistor, nothing works, everything flickers when I turn it on.
I read on the product page that a minimum consumption is required for the module to work correctly in « no neutral » mode. This is a possible explanation, I will rather use a connected switch in my living room!