You’ve heard of smart cars, are likely to be more than used to using smartphones and you’re probably familiar with all of the stuff that the‘ internet of things’ has to offer. There is a manual override button on the device, or it can be manually overridden via the app, whether the user is in wifi range, or remotely if the smartphone has a data signal. For the seamless look, consider the Kasa Smart Light Switch. It needs a neutral wire for power and to be in range of your home’s 2.4-Ghz network, but once it’s in place, you can use Alexa to dim and schedule your lights. Yes, but only some can. As you may have seen from the above products, some are designed to work only with certain smart lighting systems, like those by Wiz or Philips Hue. Others, however, like the Tapo Smart Switch by TP-Link, are designed to control your existing, non-smart lights. They replace your existing light switches and operate just like a manual switch, but with the added ability to be controlled remotely with a smartphone app, voice assistant, or pre-programmed schedule.

Programmable thermostats are a pretty common feature of most homes nowadays, but a programmable or connected device isn’t necessarily a ‘smart’ device. What makes smart light switches stand out is their remote control feature. Some smart light switches are Wifi controlled – allowing you to connect them to your home’s Wifi network. This means that you can then control them remotely using their proprietary app. Others work off Z-Wave or Zigbee protocols so you can integrate with a compatible smart hub.It connects to an existing power outlet and can be used with any appliance that has a standard plug on it - the possibilities are endless. Smart plugs can also be useful for monitoring how much energy an appliance is using. The figure, which is usually in Kwh can be viewed in the companion app. However, some smart plugs also allow you to add the energy cost and work out a monetary value for this energy usage too. Do smart plugs help you save energy? Generally speaking, you have the choice between smart on/off and dimmer switches, if you are replacing your existing switch. If a light fixture is controlled by more than one switch — for example, when you have a light switch at the top and bottom of a set of stairs — then you'll need to get a three-way smart light switch. However, if there's only one switch controlling an outlet, you can get a "single pole" switch. Read our full Jasco Enbrighten Z-Wave No Neutral Smart Dimmer review Smart light switch accessories If you would like to keep your existing light switches, you can install a mini-relay behind the switch or above the light fixture, which you can then control via a smart hub.

Despite being such a simple device, there are a few key questions you need to ask yourself when buying a smart light switch. Firstly, do you want a wireless switch for controlling a smart lighting system like Philips Hue? Or, do you want a wired switch that replaces your home’s existing wall-mounted switches and controls the regular light bulbs already installed? Once installed and paired to your home Wi-Fi network, you can manage the schedule from your phone without needing to install a separate hub on your network. BN-Link In-Wall Timer BN-Link

Functionality: Does it support three-way or four-way connections? What other features does it have?

Even if you don't have a three-way switch, there's an easy way to get around it; many smart light switch makers now offer a remote, or companion switch that's battery-operated. All you have to do is attach the switch to your wall using screws or adhesive — no wiring required. Lutron's smart starter kit comes with one in-wall switch, one wireless remote and one smart bridge (hub), which can also be used to connect other Lutron products (such as its smart plugs and Serena smart shades) to the cloud and control them.SMARTstands for “Self-Monitoring Analysis & Reporting Technology”, but what exactly is it that makes a‘smart’ thermostat smart? This makes it easy for you to control the lighting hands–free. All you need to do is mutter out the voice commands. This function allows you to integrate your home lighting into your smart home system as well. Remote Control Another switch from Philips Hue, but this time it’s the Smart Button. This one really doesn’t need much explaining, as it’s a button that is pretty smart and controls your Hue lights. You can assign two commands to the button, for a brief press and a long press, and that’s about it.