3 gang wall switch with wifi, Alexa and google compatible but how to i connect the bulbs ???

alykhalil1

Sandtree said:

EssexExile said:

Surely if you have a smart switch you don't need smart bulbs?

Need? No, but having them can add functionality depending on the model of switch and lights.

With the Lifx switch you can programme buttons to turn on lights/scenes not physically connected to the switch. So gang one is non-smart ceiling bulbs that are simply on/off. Gang two turns all lights on (non-smart ceiling and smart bulbs in floor lamps etc), long press turns them all on to 100% cool white and off turns them all off. Gang three is "tv mode" so ceiling lights off, floor lights on low warm, LED behind TV on 33% ambient colour etc

If the ceiling bulbs were replaced with smart then the options would go further than just on/off.

Personally find having a physical switch is still useful a lot of the time

Finally found someone who has some knowledge. Apparently it needs a live wire and a neutral, but i dont know how to make a neutral cable : this is what i was told :

Note:
The touch switch panel owns zero fire line and does not support single fire line.
The touch switch panel need to connect to a neutral line.
These switch only work on 2.4G WIFI network, not 5G.

Look at the 5th picture in this listing, how it should be connected. , i got no idea what it means....

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/304213541626?var=603311653145

I thank you for your reply and kind regards

Aly

[Deleted User]

alykhalil1 said:

Sandtree said:

EssexExile said:

Surely if you have a smart switch you don't need smart bulbs?

Need? No, but having them can add functionality depending on the model of switch and lights.

With the Lifx switch you can programme buttons to turn on lights/scenes not physically connected to the switch. So gang one is non-smart ceiling bulbs that are simply on/off. Gang two turns all lights on (non-smart ceiling and smart bulbs in floor lamps etc), long press turns them all on to 100% cool white and off turns them all off. Gang three is "tv mode" so ceiling lights off, floor lights on low warm, LED behind TV on 33% ambient colour etc

If the ceiling bulbs were replaced with smart then the options would go further than just on/off.

Personally find having a physical switch is still useful a lot of the time

Finally found someone who has some knowledge. Apparently it needs a live wire and a neutral, but i dont know how to make a neutral cable : this is what i was told :

Note:
The touch switch panel owns zero fire line and does not support single fire line.
The touch switch panel need to connect to a neutral line.
These switch only work on 2.4G WIFI network, not 5G.

Look at the 5th picture in this listing, how it should be connected. , i got no idea what it means....

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/304213541626?var=603311653145

I thank you for your reply and kind regards

Aly

That ebay link is for a different switch to the one in your first post - which one did you actually buy?

If you don't know "how to make a neutral cable" then you are best off getting a qualified electrician to install it. You will find a neutral in the ceiling rose for the light and it will need to be run from there to the switch. It is common for light switches just have a live wire only installed.

What are you trying to achieve here?

Probably much easier to buy a smart bulb. Tesco are selling a Calex range that are cheap and can use Alexa and smart phone app.

Grey_Critic

At the bottom of the page of the link provided by the OP it shows this - The VAT number is registered to this address

YIWU SHI WAN FENG E-COMMERCE CO LTD

VAT Number GB 293401411

Registered business address

24 GOODALL ROAD
LONDON
E11 4EP
GB

Business seller information

YIWU SHI WAN FENG E COMMERCE CO LTD

丽珠 荚

Chengdian Community Chou Cheng Street

Room 401 Unit 3 Building 11

322000 Yiwu City Zhejiang Province

China

Complete information

Company registration number: 317735646

VAT number:

DE 317735646

GB 293401411

I provide invoices with VAT separately displayed.

alykhalil1

hi guys..

.i am a single person with unstable /unsteady condition and was advised by many people to buy such gadgets. I have purchased exactly the one below :  

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/124978127356?_trkparms=amclksrc=ITM&aid=1110006&algo=HOMESPLICE.SIM&ao=1&asc=20200818143230&meid=321b77f56a9a4c5bbda717345ca2388f&pid=101224&rk=1&rkt=5&sd=144259357630&itm=124978127356&pmt=1&noa=1&pg=2047675&algv=DefaultOrganicWeb&brand=Unbranded&_trksid=p2047675.c101224.m-1

what i dont understand is, in the diagram, the red straight line and the blue straight going across the switch and some lines come down towards the switch.

Say the current switch (cables from my wall) on the wall has 3 wires coming out of the wall eg. brown, blue & (blue and red mixed colour cable), what should i do then please ? coz the wifi switch I purchased has  "  N / L1 / L2 / L3 / L4  "....so, how do i wire the wifi switch i bought &....& what there are just 2 wires coming out of the wall, eg. blue (or brown) and (yellow and blue mixed colour) cable ? coming out of the wall socket, how do i then connect them to the wifi switch. i am i am making sense ?

I thank you all for all your efforts and i am positive it will be sorted 1 day. Didnt find no video on youtube either.

Many thanks again

Aly

Jenni_D

If you don't know anything about electrical wiring then my advice is "get someone in who does".

Note: in the link you've provided I can't see any wiring diagram - I can see text instructions but not a diagram.

alykhalil1

Deleted_User said:

alykhalil1 said:

Sandtree said:

EssexExile said:

Surely if you have a smart switch you don't need smart bulbs?

Need? No, but having them can add functionality depending on the model of switch and lights.

With the Lifx switch you can programme buttons to turn on lights/scenes not physically connected to the switch. So gang one is non-smart ceiling bulbs that are simply on/off. Gang two turns all lights on (non-smart ceiling and smart bulbs in floor lamps etc), long press turns them all on to 100% cool white and off turns them all off. Gang three is "tv mode" so ceiling lights off, floor lights on low warm, LED behind TV on 33% ambient colour etc

If the ceiling bulbs were replaced with smart then the options would go further than just on/off.

Personally find having a physical switch is still useful a lot of the time

Finally found someone who has some knowledge. Apparently it needs a live wire and a neutral, but i dont know how to make a neutral cable : this is what i was told :

Note:
The touch switch panel owns zero fire line and does not support single fire line.
The touch switch panel need to connect to a neutral line.
These switch only work on 2.4G WIFI network, not 5G.

Look at the 5th picture in this listing, how it should be connected. , i got no idea what it means....

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/304213541626?var=603311653145

I thank you for your reply and kind regards

Aly

That ebay link is for a different switch to the one in your first post - which one did you actually buy?

If you don't know "how to make a neutral cable" then you are best off getting a qualified electrician to install it. You will find a neutral in the ceiling rose for the light and it will need to be run from there to the switch. It is common for light switches just have a live wire only installed.

What are you trying to achieve here?

Probably much easier to buy a smart bulb. Tesco are selling a Calex range that are cheap and can use Alexa and smart phone app.

.
.
.
. what i am trying to achieve here is....i posted the link for the 3 gang touch wall socket (sorry forgot the name ). I wish to link those 3 gang switches to alexa and make the ceiling light work, BUT I DID NOT KNOW THAT THE CEILING LIGHT BULB WOULD ALSO NEED SOME SORT OF BULB WIFI SOCKET OR ADAPTER....RIGHT ? or else how will Alexa communicate with the ceiling bulb...SOMETHING LIKE THIS...

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/384519494918?hash=item598725dd06:g:tT4AAOSw6MFhLx2K

SO WHAT I HAVE DONE IS SIMPLE WASTE OF MONEY by buying the 3 gang touch wall switch without doing my homework ?
I had no idea an adaptor would be needed to connect the bulb to so that Alexa can establish a link ?....gggggrrr

cheers all

[Deleted User]

alykhalil1 said:

Deleted_User said:

alykhalil1 said:

Sandtree said:

EssexExile said:

Surely if you have a smart switch you don't need smart bulbs?

Need? No, but having them can add functionality depending on the model of switch and lights.

With the Lifx switch you can programme buttons to turn on lights/scenes not physically connected to the switch. So gang one is non-smart ceiling bulbs that are simply on/off. Gang two turns all lights on (non-smart ceiling and smart bulbs in floor lamps etc), long press turns them all on to 100% cool white and off turns them all off. Gang three is "tv mode" so ceiling lights off, floor lights on low warm, LED behind TV on 33% ambient colour etc

If the ceiling bulbs were replaced with smart then the options would go further than just on/off.

Personally find having a physical switch is still useful a lot of the time

Finally found someone who has some knowledge. Apparently it needs a live wire and a neutral, but i dont know how to make a neutral cable : this is what i was told :

Note:
The touch switch panel owns zero fire line and does not support single fire line.
The touch switch panel need to connect to a neutral line.
These switch only work on 2.4G WIFI network, not 5G.

Look at the 5th picture in this listing, how it should be connected. , i got no idea what it means....

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/304213541626?var=603311653145

I thank you for your reply and kind regards

Aly

That ebay link is for a different switch to the one in your first post - which one did you actually buy?

If you don't know "how to make a neutral cable" then you are best off getting a qualified electrician to install it. You will find a neutral in the ceiling rose for the light and it will need to be run from there to the switch. It is common for light switches just have a live wire only installed.

What are you trying to achieve here?

Probably much easier to buy a smart bulb. Tesco are selling a Calex range that are cheap and can use Alexa and smart phone app.

.
.
.
. what i am trying to achieve here is....i posted the link for the 3 gang touch wall socket (sorry forgot the name ). I wish to link those 3 gang switches to alexa and make the ceiling light work, BUT I DID NOT KNOW THAT THE CEILING LIGHT BULB WOULD ALSO NEED SOME SORT OF BULB WIFI SOCKET OR ADAPTER....RIGHT ? or else how will Alexa communicate with the ceiling bulb...SOMETHING LIKE THIS...

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/384519494918?hash=item598725dd06:g:tT4AAOSw6MFhLx2K

SO WHAT I HAVE DONE IS SIMPLE WASTE OF MONEY by buying the 3 gang touch wall switch without doing my homework ?
I had no idea an adaptor would be needed to connect the bulb to so that Alexa can establish a link ?....gggggrrr

cheers all

What I meant by “what do you want to achieve?” is what you want to be able to do. 

Eg
I want to:
Control my house lights from my sofa / bed
Control my lights when I’m out of the house
Switch a light bulb on/off using Alexa
Switch light bulb by remote control
Control brightness of a light bulb
etc
etc

Always better to state the problem and what you want to achieve rather than choosing a technical solution and trying to make it fit. 

I can’t really help with the wall switch, you’ve posted links to 3 different ones so I’ve no idea which one you actually have. 

All the switches you’ve linked to are difficult and to install and probably won’t suit your wiring.

Send the switch back for a refund. 

Come back here with exactly what you want to achieve and somebody will be able to recommend the correct technical solution. 

I think it is likely that some kind of smart bulb will work better, you can get remote control ones for example that are really simple to install as set up. 

You can get wifi smart bulbs they you can operate with your phone or Alexa. 

Depends on what you want to do with your lights really. 

alykhalil1

Deleted_User said:

alykhalil1 said:

Deleted_User said:

alykhalil1 said:

Sandtree said:

EssexExile said:

Surely if you have a smart switch you don't need smart bulbs?

Need? No, but having them can add functionality depending on the model of switch and lights.

With the Lifx switch you can programme buttons to turn on lights/scenes not physically connected to the switch. So gang one is non-smart ceiling bulbs that are simply on/off. Gang two turns all lights on (non-smart ceiling and smart bulbs in floor lamps etc), long press turns them all on to 100% cool white and off turns them all off. Gang three is "tv mode" so ceiling lights off, floor lights on low warm, LED behind TV on 33% ambient colour etc

If the ceiling bulbs were replaced with smart then the options would go further than just on/off.

Personally find having a physical switch is still useful a lot of the time

Finally found someone who has some knowledge. Apparently it needs a live wire and a neutral, but i dont know how to make a neutral cable : this is what i was told :

Note:
The touch switch panel owns zero fire line and does not support single fire line.
The touch switch panel need to connect to a neutral line.
These switch only work on 2.4G WIFI network, not 5G.

Look at the 5th picture in this listing, how it should be connected. , i got no idea what it means....

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/304213541626?var=603311653145

I thank you for your reply and kind regards

Aly

That ebay link is for a different switch to the one in your first post - which one did you actually buy?

If you don't know "how to make a neutral cable" then you are best off getting a qualified electrician to install it. You will find a neutral in the ceiling rose for the light and it will need to be run from there to the switch. It is common for light switches just have a live wire only installed.

What are you trying to achieve here?

Probably much easier to buy a smart bulb. Tesco are selling a Calex range that are cheap and can use Alexa and smart phone app.

.
.
.
. what i am trying to achieve here is....i posted the link for the 3 gang touch wall socket (sorry forgot the name ). I wish to link those 3 gang switches to alexa and make the ceiling light work, BUT I DID NOT KNOW THAT THE CEILING LIGHT BULB WOULD ALSO NEED SOME SORT OF BULB WIFI SOCKET OR ADAPTER....RIGHT ? or else how will Alexa communicate with the ceiling bulb...SOMETHING LIKE THIS...

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/384519494918?hash=item598725dd06:g:tT4AAOSw6MFhLx2K

SO WHAT I HAVE DONE IS SIMPLE WASTE OF MONEY by buying the 3 gang touch wall switch without doing my homework ?
I had no idea an adaptor would be needed to connect the bulb to so that Alexa can establish a link ?....gggggrrr

cheers all

What I meant by “what do you want to achieve?” is what you want to be able to do. 

Eg
I want to:
Control my house lights from my sofa / bed
Control my lights when I’m out of the house
Switch a light bulb on/off using Alexa
Switch light bulb by remote control
Control brightness of a light bulb
etc
etc

Always better to state the problem and what you want to achieve rather than choosing a technical solution and trying to make it fit. 

I can’t really help with the wall switch, you’ve posted links to 3 different ones so I’ve no idea which one you actually have. 

All the switches you’ve linked to are difficult and to install and probably won’t suit your wiring.

Send the switch back for a refund. 

Come back here with exactly what you want to achieve and somebody will be able to recommend the correct technical solution. 

I think it is likely that some kind of smart bulb will work better, you can get remote control ones for example that are really simple to install as set up. 

You can get wifi smart bulbs they you can operate with your phone or Alexa. 

Depends on what you want to do with your lights really. 

Many thanks for your reply but i doubt the seller will take in back. i want to be able to switch my lights on / off from where ever i am or my fans or my bedside lamps or my dehumidifier etc from anywhere but i guess its not all easy as it seems. prices may be cheap but there is toooo much hidden technical stull with it, that's what's costly and time consuming etc

something like this maybe a better idea. no wiring nothing, straight connection.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Adapter-Control-Function-Network-Required/dp/B07SGPYFN3/ref=pd_di_sccai_2/259-6627686-6446708?pd_rd_w=HQWYC&pf_rd_p=2529c273-c9d4-4495-807e-68ed4dfade5e&pf_rd_r=PKAQP9234972G1CVF4NX&pd_rd_r=6919e553-5143-4856-8250-3a2bb091cecf&pd_rd_wg=caO3v&pd_rd_i=B07SGPYFN3&th=1


https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B08BFW12YT/ref=sw_img_1?smid=&psc=1

thanks for all your efforts again..
Aly

[Deleted User]

Yes, or you could just buy a smart bulb - TP Link for example do a range that you can control from your phone, Alexa or Google home and they don't need any additional wiring or devices - just pop them in your light fitting:

https://www.tp-link.com/uk/home-networking/smart-bulb/

And to control your plugged in devices such as the dehumidifier:

https://www.tp-link.com/uk/home-networking/smart-plug/

Tesco do a lesser known brand called Calex with does all the same - Alexa / Google Home / Mobile App:

https://www.tesco.com/groceries/en-GB/search?query=calex

I've got a few Calex devices, I have a hallway bulb that automatically comes on half an hour before sunset, then dims to minimum from midnight and then switches off in the morning. I can just ask Alexa to override that whenever I want.

My kids have these remote control bulbs in their bedrooms - they aren't wifi or Alex enabled but handy to use with a remote and lots of colour and dimming options and a timer.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B096RG2MZC/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1

flashg67

I echo the good advice above.  For things that have a plug on the end, you can use a smart socket.
For lights, use a smart bulb (check if you have bayonet or screw fittings). I have found Tapo brand (from Amazon and others) to be easy to set up. Just search  for Tapo smart socket or Tapo smart bulb
Like most of these devices, you use their app to connect initially then can add to Alexa or Google home if you like to add routines etc,( or just use keep using the app if you dont have google home or alexa)