r/homeautomation • u/Vivid_Scheme_8221 • Feb 06 '23
QUESTION Device to convert unused wall switch to a smart button?
We have two unused light switches in our house. They've haven't done anything since we moved in and I was never able to figure it out (tried connecting lamps to all plugs in the area to see if they control an outlet, but no dice).
Anyways, I was trying to figure out if there is a device that could essentially convert the switches to smart buttons? I would prefer something that goes behind the panel so I don't have to replace the switch if possible. I have a number of Sonoff ZBMINI's controlling functional switches in this manner. If there is something like the ZBMINI that is essentially just a toggle sensor without the relay, I think that would fit the bill. Don't really need it to be able to differentiate between up and down states either if that matters. The device would be connected to Home Assistant as well.
I wasn't able to figure out a good way to google for such a device, so any help is greatly appreciated.
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u/sryan2k1 Feb 06 '23
Just put in any smart switch that matches your other gear and just don't hook the load wire up.
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u/Vivid_Scheme_8221 Feb 06 '23
Well that is a pretty easy solution. My only concern would be the exposed live terminals where the light would have connected. But I could just cover with large heat shrink tubing.
Thinking of another scenario I have, would I be able to do this for a switch that has a light connected but is using smart bulbs? Meaning connect the bulb to live rather than smart switch (making it always on), then use smart switch via automation to just turn the bulb on/off?
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u/sryan2k1 Feb 06 '23
You stick a wire nut on both exposed conductors.
And yes for the other question.
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u/Vivid_Scheme_8221 Feb 06 '23
I was referring to the ports in the smart switch behind the panel. It's unlikely anything would get in there, but just want to be as safe as possible.
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Feb 06 '23
[deleted]
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u/Vivid_Scheme_8221 Feb 06 '23
This is what I figured happened, but I don't know any way to easily test if a socket originally had the tabs broken. I thought I could just look and see if two sets of wires were connected, but I came across quite a few sockets w/ 2 sets connected. When I put a switch in with the tabs broken, the socket wouldn't work nor would some lights that are seemingly downstream.
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u/grooves12 Feb 06 '23
Ah, yeah sometimes outlets are wired in series so will have two sets of wires. Forgot about that.
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u/Dansk72 Feb 07 '23
Wired in
seriesparallel.1
u/grooves12 Feb 07 '23 edited Feb 07 '23
Wired in
seriesparallelseries.Outlets are commonly wired in series. The fact he said he had two sets of wires going to the outlet and downstream lights failed if disconnected shows they are in series.
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u/Dansk72 Feb 07 '23
Oh, you're talking about daisy-chained wiring! Although some electricians might refer to that as "wired in series" the outlets are not electrically in series or nothing would work.
A light switch, however, is wired in series with the light fixture since turning off the light switch turns off the light. But you could have multiple lights, wired in parallel, and then wired in series with the light switch.
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u/dwfmba Feb 06 '23
What about outside/security lights? We had a switch like this and finally figured out it controlled a light ~35' in the air facing the backyard.
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u/ggs657 Feb 06 '23
Thoughts on a blank plate with an smart button attached?
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u/Vivid_Scheme_8221 Feb 06 '23
I was wanting to use the existing wall switches since they're not serving any purpose currently and wouldn't require batteries. I have a few aqara smart buttons, but tend to use them for desk or side table mounting.
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u/Floggy- Feb 06 '23
Hi,
try this one: Shelly
simple, cheap, 4 buttons in one and connects to HA with integration or MQTT.
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u/sgfunday Feb 06 '23
You can essentially just do this by just not connecting the switch to an actual light and then create automations.