In this guide I won't provide specific wiring instructions for each switch, however I do provide a section at the end that will help you get started for yourself. Wire nuts.These handy little gadgets make it easy to safely wire together two cables, ensuring that you're not slathering tape around or leaving any loose ends.A proper screwdriver set.Installing light switches involves a lot of screwdrivering, so don't do it with a knife or something, please.A sharpie.To make it easier to undo your upgrades, marking cabling as you disconnect it will help.
For marking the 'hot' wire, and ensuring that you can properly protect any loose ends you discover along the way. An electrical testing pen.These are simple devices that beep if they're near electricity–which will make you feel a lot safer knowing that you pulled the right fuse before messing around with wiring.To swap over to smart switches, you'll need a few tools, so I recommend grabbing:
Smart bulb vs smart switch install#
With that caveat in mind, even if you don't know much about electricity, it's simple enough to install them yourself without making a mistake.īefore you buy anything recommended here, check the wiring in your home–it'll influence what options you have, and the solution that's best for you. Here's the catch with smart switches: you need to be comfortable fidgeting around with electrical wiring. I've tested a bunch of smart switches that are available in North America, so here's the best choices if you're in the market as well.
Smart bulb vs smart switch tv#
We still have a few Philips Hue bulbs around to add a little color in the TV room or living space. I've replaced the majority of the switches in our home with smart switches, which is quick, cheaper than individual bulbs, and much simpler overall. Doing this allows control of multiple lights at the same time, and significantly lowers the price of making your home smart. After investigation, I discovered a better alternative: replacing the smart switches directly. When I moved to Canada in 2019, our new home had a room filled with 16 'CFL' style downlights, which would have cost more than $200 to replace in total. While smart bulbs are a simple way to get started, they can be cost prohibitive in larger rooms, and become difficult to manage with traditional switches connected to multiple bulbs (not to mention that you must convince everyone in your home to leave the wall switches flipped on). The standard way to make your lights smart is replacing the bulbs individually, using a system like Philips Hue or IKEA Tradfri lights. Adding a touch of smart allows automations like turning on the porch light at sunset, or dimming the bathroom lights late at night automatically. Having smart lights at home is one of those little luxuries that makes life a little easier.
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