Belkin WeMo light switch

[pilsbury]

Currently mid extension build - quite some time off electrics but enjoy thinking of the possibilities down the line when I'm mixing mortar!

Like the idea of having an echo dot installed - eyeing up some bluetooth ceiling speakers that link up with the Echo dot....

Lighting appears to be more of an issue. Philips Hue bulbs obviously work with Alexa, but buying individual bulbs to light a kitchen is not ideal - and very expensive. I started researching light switches that can control normal lighting. The only one that keeps cropping up is the Belkin WeMo light switch. Seems only available in US as the switch needs a neutral feed. In the UK our switch wiring just has live, return and neutral.

Has anyone used one of these switches in the UK? How hard would it be to get the sparky to put a neutral to a couple of light switches so I can use one?

Thoughts?

 

[bernardgreen]

How hard would it be to get the sparky to put a neutral to a couple of light switches so I can use one?

Ask him or her to run the switch drops ( the cables from ceiling rose to the switch ) in triple and earth instead of twin and earth.

 

[gblades]

Would the switch be rated to work on the higher UK supply voltage?

Alexa works with the Samsung Smartthings hub so looking for a light switch which works with that might be the better option.
One example would be https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00JGSDL1C which you could install in the ceiling where a neutral connection would be easier to connect to.

 

[pilsbury]

Now this might be the uk version...... Alexa controlled - just needs that neutral connection

https://www.wifiplug.co.uk/store/buy/LKSjak/glass_plus

 

[Lower]

I've got some of these installed:

https://energenie4u.co.uk/mihome/the_range

No neutral required on the lights switches

 

[pilsbury]

I've got some of these installed:

https://energenie4u.co.uk/mihome/the_range

No neutral required on the lights switches

You have Alexia controlled light switches? How do you find them? - interested in your real world thoughts. There's very little out there to be reviewed.

 

[Lower]

They work well, but i rarely use Alexa or my phone to turn them on.

I have some outside lights that are powered from 4 different light switches in 4 different rooms. I've replaced each switch with a mi home switch and then grouped them together in the Mi home app so i can turn them all on in one go rather than walk through 2 rooms in the house, out into the garage and to the end of the garden to turn them all on.

The system works well and works well with alexa. But i just don't have a need to turn the outside lights on that much....

It was more of a fun project than anything practical.