Author: Craig Lloyd / Source: howtogeek.com
Not all smart light switches are created equal. And while many of them have mostly the same features, there are some things you should know about smart light switches so that you can pick the best one for your needs.
RELATED: Smart Light Switches vs. Smart Light Bulbs: Which One Should You Buy?
You could just go with some smart light bulbs (we’re big fans of Philips Hue), but if you really don’t need the fun, color-changing bulbs for your house parties, smart light switches can be just as good (if not better) and cheaper than smart bulbs. However, there are a few things you should know first before shopping for smart light switches.
The Neutral Wire
For starters, the biggest thing to keep an eye out for is whether or not a smart light switch requires the use of a neutral wire.
Inside of some light switch junction boxes is a white neutral wire. This is used on every electrical fixture so that the electricity has a return path going back to the ground. In a light switch box, the switch usually just bypasses this wire, but it’s still accessible.
Some smart light switches take advantage of this neutral wire and must connect to it in order to function. The problem, however, is that there may not be a neutral wire accessible inside the light switch box, especially in older homes, and that can severely limit your choice of smart light switch.
Connectivity
Depending on the smart light switch, there are a few ways to connect them to your network. The most common types of connectivity are either over plain Wi-Fi, or using Z-Wave or ZigBee. However, some smart switches use their own proprietary wireless protocol, most notably Lutron with their Caseta devices.
RELATED: How to Install and Set Up the Lutron Caseta Dimmer Switch Starter Kit
Smart switches that connect directly to Wi-Fi (like the Belkin…
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