this post was submitted on 10 Feb 2026
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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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[–] Kirk@startrek.website 1 points 3 days ago (4 children)

I also just want to add the batteries in most of those zigbee buttons last on the order of years

[–] GreatAlbatross@feddit.uk 1 points 2 days ago

I haven't had a single zigbee button need a battery replacement yet.

[–] Test_Tickles@lemmy.world 1 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago)

That's great news. One of my fans came with a remote years ago. The remote uses this special little 12v battery that is both expensive and incredibly short lived.

[–] aksdb@lemmy.world 1 points 3 days ago

There are Zigbee buttons that don’t even need batteries. They produce the necessary energy to send a signal from the energy you put into clicking them. Incredible stuff out there.

[–] bdonvr@thelemmy.club 1 points 3 days ago

Yeah I got the Third Reality ones, they take AAA batteries instead of the coin cells that most take.