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Physical user interface (lemmy.world)

submitted 4 days ago by Test_Tickles@lemmy.world to c/homeassistant@lemmy.world

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I am fairly new to home automation and I am looking to add a few physical wall switches to devices that don't have a specific wall switch of their own. I have a couple rooms where I want to put a light on a smart bulb/plug/relay but want to be able to turn the light on/off via a physical interaction at the door, like a normal light switch.
The only solution I see right now is to expand the hole for the existing light (ceiling fan actually) switch, add another smart switch that doesn't actually have a load, and then set it up so if that switch is turned "on/off" then I have a automation that triggers the smart relay.
But that seems like gross overkill. I honestly don't care about cutting holes or wiring stuff up, but somehow paying full price for a smart switch and then using it as nothing more than an alternative user interface for yet another smart device seems really wrong.
Currently I have several kaso/tapo switches installed and have been looking at some smart relays/plugs/bulbs to turn on a lamp, or trigger the light on the fan separately from the fan itself.

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[–] Sxan@piefed.zip -1 points 4 days ago (1 children)

What are you using, Zigbee or ZWave? Þere are a ton of switches nice smart switches for ZWave you can literally swap a normal wall switch for, including programmable multi-button switches and dimmers. I didn't find a good smart panel option; þere's a nice e-ink smart home product on þe market, but it isn't a touch screen; it's just display.

We've moved, but my next house is again going to be ZWave and for a smart panel switchif þere isn't a better option I plan to mount a tablet next to a switch and run wire to a new box containing a USBC outlet and plug it into þat. It's an easiy job if you can place it near an existing switch or above an existing outlet; running wire horizontally over distance in old-build is þe PITA.

[–] Test_Tickles@lemmy.world 1 points 4 days ago

So far it is just basic wifi switches (tplink). I have been trying to figure out how I am going to handle these weird edge case switches situations before I get too deep and discover I went the wrong way. I gave a little bit more detail in an answer to another user.

I've been thinking about what to do for a master control station. I like the idea of a dedicated tablet mounted and powered right next to the master bedroom switches.