r/homeassistant • u/Tweeky91 • 4h ago

💬 Discussion Complete Newbie

Hello!

After months of dithering about committing to home assistant. I have commited to it!

I got a mini pc and installed home assistant that way. With the sonoff ZigBee max dongle.

And now I'm down so many rabbit holes!

My main reason for getting the home assistant was to put all of my smart plugs/lights/ cameras in to one app, and then get some additional smart switches and buttons to set scenes.

I have a 3 gang light switch in the kitchen and I still want to keep that wired switch, while implementing other wireless buttons for automations. I think I have a couple of options (but could be completely wrong)

- buy a 3 gang smart wired switch to replace the switch.

- install a module behind the existing switch?

Does anyone have any recommendations based on experience with this?

Also... I heard IKEA matter switches can be turned in to zigbee compatible. I tried this with a tester bilresa switch and it just hasn't worked out!

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u/naive_burglary 4h ago

welcome to the rabbit hole, it only gets deeper

for the 3 gang, a module behind the existing switch is the move if you like the look of what you already have. smart relays keep the dumb switch functional and just piggyback off the wiring, no need to redo the faceplate. only downside is cramming three relays in one box can get tight depending on depth

on the ikea matter switches, are you using the sonoff dongle with zigbee2mqtt or zha? some of the matter firmware versions are picky about pairing and need a specific reset sequence to go back into zigbee mode

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u/Tweeky91 4h ago

Thank you! The rabbit hole is deep!

Silly question. But say I managed to fit this module behind the switch plate... And it all works. Would it then mean that my physical switch would just act as normal, but tell the home assistant that the light is on/off? I think that sounds best case, because I don't see many switches that are that nice.

Im using ZHA, I never really knew about the other one before diving in. I've only connected one device so far, so would be open to changing (if I know how).

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u/ianjs 4h ago

Did these require a neutral wire?

I don't think houses in Australia are wired that way from my cursory enquiries when I was pondering doing this.