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[Solved] How to detect the position of a dumb wall switch? (sh.itjust.works)

submitted 5 days ago* (last edited 5 days ago) by clay_pidgin@sh.itjust.works to c/homeassistant@lemmy.world

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My nightstand lights are connected to a surge protector plugged into a Zigbee smart plug plugged into a dumb wall outlet controlled by a single dumb wall switch.

I have the smart plug set to default=On, so the wall switch works fine, and I can also turn the lights off from my phone or via an automation. All good so far.

What I WANT is to be able to turn the lights ON without getting out of bed, and irrespective of the position of the switch.

I tried putting a second smart plug in the switch-controlled outlet and making an automation to toggle the surge protector's smart plug when the switch's empty smart plug powers off/on via the wall switch, but it looks like it's not simple to detect a Zigbee device "disappearing". I found some integrations that detect zigbee devices disappearing, but those seemed more for running health checks to detect and repair moved devices than for live detection.

Any suggestions?

Edit:

Looks like a relay behind the switch will be my best bet. Thank you all!

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[–] eddiereasoner@lemmus.org 3 points 5 days ago* (last edited 5 days ago) (14 children)

Assuming technically possible, this solution requires no other hardware:

Is it possible to make the smart plug default to the opposite of the last state? You could use the wall switch like a pushbutton (cut and restore power) and it would toggle, then maintain control from HASS. You might be able to save the last state of the smart plug, detect when it comes online after a power failure (theoretically), and set it to the opposite of the previous state in an automation.

[–] clay_pidgin@sh.itjust.works 2 points 5 days ago (13 children)

That's probably possible, but doesn't solve my problem. That said, some commentors found my explanation confusing.

When the switch is toggled ON, I want the lights to go ON.

When the switch is toggled OFF, I want the lights to go OFF.

Irrespective of the switch position, I want to be able to turn the lights ON or OFF with Home Assistant.

It sounds like a zigbee relay behind the switch will be the way to detect the switch position.

[–] FrederikNJS@piefed.zip 3 points 5 days ago* (last edited 5 days ago) (4 children)

@eddiereasoner@lemmus.org might actually be on to something...

Depending on the wall switch you have, you might be able to add a spring that makes it always return to the previous position when released. At least the switches I have in my house have a special little socket for adding a spring.

So in your Zigbee control panel you would configure the "power on behaviour" of the smart light/socket to "toggle".

Then I you would add the spring inside your physical switch.

Now when you press the switch it would cut the power to the light/socket briefly, and as soon as you release the switch the power would be restored.

If the light/socket is on, you press and release the switch, which cuts the power and the light/socket stays off due to the "toggle" behaviour.

If the light/socket is off, the light/socket is still powered, soo you can still turn it on via Zigbee, and if you pres the switch, it momentarily cuts the power and the toggle behaviour would now make if turn on.

This gives you basically the same behaviour as if you installed a relay, but if you use smart bulbs you gain the benefit of being able to control the brightness, color temperature, and hue, if it has those controls

[–] eddiereasoner@lemmus.org 2 points 5 days ago

Thanks for the better explanation

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