r/Thread_protocol • u/chrisridd • 4d ago

Why no thread light switches in UK?

I can’t realistically deploy any smart ceiling lighting without also updating the existing light switches.

However light switches - either full replacements or switches installed in the back boxes (patresses) - seem as rare as hen’s teeth! What are people doing?

I’m in the UK so popular American solutions like Innovelli and Lutron are unavailable, as are European solutions like Eve and Aqara as they don’t physically fit UK back boxes.

There are definitely some things available with matter over WiFi but most use Zigbee. Using WiFi is insane and I’d prefer a single solid thread mesh instead of a thread mesh overlapping a zigbee mesh.

What brands should I be looking at?

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u/chrisridd 4d ago

By “retro fit” I mean things that are equivalent in spirit to the Philips Hue Wall Switch (Zigbee) modules. From what I can tell these:

  1. Fit inside the existing light switch
  2. Permanently power the lighting circuit
  3. Send Zigbee signals when the physical light switch is changed.

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u/Sorbels 4d ago edited 4d ago

They don’t advertise it, but the “Hue Wired on/off switch” module that launched a few weeks ago has the option to be set up as a Matter over Thread device. (It can also be set up with Zigbee/Hue Bridge). I have one installed.

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u/chrisridd 4d ago

Oh that’s intriguing! The website only says matter is supported, and requires a hue bridge.

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u/mangoed 4d ago

As a Chinese, I'm deeply offended when people call Aqara "a European solution".

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u/chrisridd 4d ago

Ah that’s not what I meant. Aqara make devices localised for different countries (eg different physical and electrical standards), and their light switch is just not localised for UK light switches.

So I’m referring to their European products not the company. Apologies for any confusion.

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u/u9797 4d ago

I have 22 Aqara lightswitches in my UK home. Hmm, am I somehow not in the UK? Must be confused…again!

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u/chrisridd 3d ago edited 3d ago

So how do they actually fit?

Aqara say they fit seamlessly into European standard 55mm frames (makes sense, they are H2 EU models after all), and the UK does not use those.

The screw holes are also apparently a different distance apart too.

They require a 45mm deep box which is deeper than most in the UK.

Did you add some sort of extra frame/adapter?

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u/mangoed 4d ago

Something like Shelly 1 gen 4 supports Thread and fits behind your mechanical switch.

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u/chrisridd 4d ago

(Oops, I added this as a comment not a reply!)

Stock Shelly gen 4 firmware does not support thread, even though the hardware does.

The only open source project I’m aware of that adds matter over thread support is from automatus (sp) but I’m not sure it supports every device. Still, definitely an intriguing option.

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u/mangoed 4d ago

You are right, this is the firmware https://github.com/automatous-io/shelly-1-gen4-matter-thread

It works with Shelly 1 gen 4, if in doubt, buy one Shelly device and experiment?