To keep things simple (no apps, internet etc) I've used a couple of Ikea switches/bulbs. The switches can be wall mounted using a magnetic holder, and paired to several bulbs (if that's your thing). For example:
Why would you want to replace the wall switch? It’s a two way switch. You use the pull switch in addition to the wall switch (like a typical hall/landing switch).
Tim
Is it a 2 way one? Why should it be? We've been told it has just live and switchwire going to it. A 2 way one would have 2 switchwires.
Hell appears to have frozen over while I wasn't looking, Ikea now sell B22 lamps as well as E27
get one of those, and one of these remotes
Job done with no wiring, you can pair multiple switches if required, if you *do* want to use your phone instead of/as well as the remote, you'd need a hub.
The "technical information" on that page doesn't match the top level description of the bulb.
Do you mean the "dimmable: no"? I think that means it can't work with dimmer switches.
But it also says "wirelessly dimmable:yes" with its internal dimmer
The item number 705.176.41 appears in the carton photo on amazon, the icons on the carton say remote dimmable, warm/cool colour changeable, the photo shows bayonet ... seems as described.
missing URL!
I have two of these. Very easy to fit. No new wiring required. Very small battery powered remote control which allows on, off, dimming and colour temperature change. I got mine from the South American river company. Doubtless other suppliers are available.
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Have you considered something like the Quinetic system. Totally wireless no need for internet or WiFi. You wire in a receiver at the rosette pair any number of switches to the receiver and you have remote control. The switches do not need mounting on the wall and could simply be mounted in a portable case
I had this 'problem years ago and got an earlier version of something like these
... snipped
Lack of a Neutral at the switch isn't a problem, and it's easy to convert to 2-way switching. Use the switch to operate a relay (in an appropriate box, in the ceiling void or somewhere) with c/o contacts and use these for whatever you choose as the other 2-way switch. I did this a short while ago when SWMBO wanted to change the switching of a light in an area that we had recently decorated - simple and avoided having to chase and redecorate.
Well, it depends what you are calling listening. Locally, yes it has open mikes, only if theallowed voice print of the wake word used is heard is the audio sent to the servers for processing. This also happens on all the assistants, google Siri and bixby etc. Obviously, they can all be configured so the press of a button wakes them instead, but if you really are lazy, you would not want to reach out to press it.. ahem
If any of the switches are actually Amazon branded you can if getting from Amazon, get them set up on your account, meaning its just the wifi details it needs from the alexa app. Brian
I'd thought about that too, but the OP in a reply to his OP stated "I don't fancy channelling out the wall and also lifting the floor in the loft to upgrade the wiring."
You'd need to get to the loft wiring for the receiver.
The device only needs the cables going to the rosette minus the switched live conductors so if there is enough slack could be wired from below and then pushed into the ceiling void.
The RF receiving controller would only require a hole big enough to pass a
44mm X 38mm object through and it could be possible to cover that sort of hole replacing the rosette.Richard
Correction there is a maximum of 10 switches to any receiver should be enough to satisfy any domestic requirement and I have noticed they have a fob version of the switch so even more convenient.
Richard
Because I don't want to fit a new switch in a new location, which involves lifting the loft flooring to access the wiring. I should have mentioned "no new wiring" in the original post but hadn't got that far in my thinking. I was originally just thinking that you could get a smart light switch to replace the dumb light switch as a simple operation. Like replacing an on/off switch with a dimmer.
Cheers
Dave R
That looks interesting. Although I don't really need 4. Also a little bemused by a 3rd party selling Ikea products.
No Ikea within easy striking distance, but they do ship.
Cheers
Dave R
I just happen to know a fair bit about how Alexa works.
The chip inside the device listens for the word "Alexa" all the time. If it thinks it heard it it starts streaming audio. So it does listen all the time, but only streams when it needs to. Otherwise the cost of the servers and bandwidth would be prohibitive.
And there's a hard link between the mute light and the microphone amp.
Andy
As you surmised that needs a neutral in the switch, but many have that these days.
My son bought Philips HUE bulbs where you simply leave the lights on and they are controlled over Bluetooth by a phone ap, a Philips hue switch, which uses a coin cell for power or a home automation product e.g. Alexa
I suggested these as they have an extremely low standby current so are not expensive to run
Dave
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