Note that the test and review is specific to the smart switch model, nothing against the company! Share your personal experience using these switches here!
Thanks so much for including recordings of how the switches sound. The sound and feeling is something you'll experience every day and is an important part of how high quality something feels, so thank you for considering this!
@@AlexTeo If you make that video, I'm sure your UA-cam viewership will exponentially increase.🤩 While all smart switches can perform basic on/off functions, we need to explore the internal components of the switches that verify whether they live up to the OEM's specifications, such as over-current protection, maximum loading, inrush current, and a fireproof rated chassis, etc.🤓
@@leeshiki i am not sure mate on the viewership haa, always a struggle to go depth vs breadth, thats why i have yet to do a tv comparison video, whether to do a generic review based on naked eye or those indepth with the use of tools and equipment
isn’t that the job of the people behind Safety Mark certification😅? i mean for the reviewer to do a teardown and breakdown what’s inside and what’s missing, you at least have a grasp of what you’re talking about and experience doing it rather than just googling the details😂 imho
thank you for the comprehensive review! i'm new to smart home and will be getting the moes star ring for my new place after watching your videos! newbie question: 1. would smart switches work with regular lights (without smart bulbs)? 2. would you need smart switches with smart LED light strips? 3. all switches need to be connected to a hub (google / smart things)? are they 2 separate devices i need to get? still trying to understand the whole concept 😅
Niceee 1. Smart switches are meant to work with normal dumb lights 2. Nope, choose either smart switch or smart lighting 3. As long as they are non wifi switches, they need to connect to a hub, so based on this video the meross and sonoff don't require a hub
Hi Alex, thanks for the very insightful video! Really helped a newbie like me a lot when planning to make my home smarter! May I ask for your opinion if you would recommend the H1, H1M or Z1 Pro switches, if i'm mainly using it for on/off controls with my Crestar/Bestar smart fans? Also, does it matter if I get the switches locally or via Taobao? Will it affect pairing with the M3 hub that I am getting? Many thanks!
you probably don't need the Z1 pro switches then since you can't make use of the slider. The H1 should be good enough. It does not matter if you are using apple homekit, for me I use home assistant so it doesn't matter as well
Hi Alex! Have been enjoying your videos and planning my switches for my bto. Would just like to check if the moes/aqara switches come with safety mark?
Hi Alex, im new to this and after i raised my questions, i found all the answers in your other videos, so i decided to amend the comments here to just say thanks😊
Generally, what is your experience of using the non-neutral switches, especially the ones by Aqara? I recall hearing those horror stories that those switches burnt and failed when they first appeared in Singapore. Are they much better now?
Actually mine is the original non neutral aqara 1st gen switches bought from taobao, i even bought spares incase of failure. Till today after 3 years, i have yet to use any of the spares. I even use them with ceiling fans and drying rack totally fine
Thank you for displaying the back of the switches. I live in Thailand, so our electrical power is 220vac, but we use US rectangular electrical boxes. I would really like to use the Aqara H1 switch, but it (and the rest you displayed) don't fit with my wall boxes. I'm not sure how I'm going to solve my smart switch problem.
@@AlexTeo When I tried that method with Govee downlights (US model) I blew up the power suppy to the downlight--the Govee US lights were 120v only. I don't want to risk blowing up the insides of a smart switch that happens to be US only.
I think I have a solution though. I found some 3D print shops on Shopee that make EU to US plate adapters. I've ordered one each from two vendors to see how they fit, and what their 3D printing skill is like. I think this avenue will be best since I would very much like to use the Aqara switch.
Coolest now is aqara h1m a very important option for smart switches is whether there is a state saving in case of power loss. if this is not the case, when the power appears, the light will turn on throughout the house
Do you know of any smart switches that control wall receptacles and won’t fry when I accidentally turn them on with a 1150 W vacuum cleaner plugged in?
Great video, though it seems like the Aqara switch has led light as well below it (hidden), is this correct? Also, any difference between neutral and non-neutral versions? I heard the non-neutral ones might not be 'stable'?
Hi Alex, i have been watching your videos multiple times cos im a beginner to this smart house journey. Will go with your recommendation for google home as a start up for beginner and moes star ring switch for my lights. Thank you so much for your efforts in making all this videos easy to understand especially for beginners like me. i have a 2 way normal switch for my storage heater and would like to convert them into smart but still able to on the heater both ways (one in the bedroom and the other in the kitchen). Was told by moes that their smart heater switch doesnt support multi control association. How do i connect another smart switch to the main water heater switch so i can still on the heater in two locations? Which 2nd smart switch should i use? Thanks a lot!
@AlexTeo thanks for your advice! I will hide the 2nd wiring and use a wireless switch/button for the heater ba. The reason why i had the 2 way wiring is because I had already asked my electrician to run them. I didn't know I will be doing smart home for my new house until your videos caught my eye and managed to convince me to set up 😁
If i get a 2 gang switch, is it possible to program each button with different behaviour using SmartThings? Example, button 1 is to turn on/off light A, button 2 is to turn on light B for 10 minutes.
Hi just stumble your channel and is really helpful for newbie like me to smart home. For the Moes Star Ring switches do they also serve as Zigbee extender or will need to place zibgee plus around the house to improve coverage?
Hi Alex, sorry urgent question, for existing 2-way normal type of light switch and wiring, if we wanna change the 2 switches to moes smart switch, just change as per normal right? Then do the 2-way setting via the app is it? Also can we install the switch when wifi not available? Means we can use the switch like normal switch when install without wifi right?
probably need neutral wire. Ask an electrician if they can pull a neutral line using your existing tube, otherwise need to open new slots to route wires..
Hi Alex, thanks for the very detailed review. Just a question, for the aqara H1 switch, if I convert it to wireless mode, will this wireless switch be exposed in HomeKit?
Thanks for the video. I already somehow guessed star ring will be your recommended choice when it enter the contest. Lol My home had been using Moes earlier plastic switches since early Q4'22. Before that was a bunch of crap of broadlink TC2. Often lost or poor in signal and device life span lasted for ~9 months. Very pissed off until I had to totally get rid of it and try out Moes. Back to Moes, i replaced 5 plastic switches due to unknow breakdown. Argued with the sellers for a few times on their product flaws etc and ended up with replacement set. And same thing happen again.. I then slowly replaced with star ring and noticed the back circuitry is slightly huge than the earlier plastic switch. The port hole to insert the wire needs to push in deeper with a limited space. Meaning, you will have a hard time if you have 2 to 3 wires that need to squeeze into 1 port. Definitely will need to skin more of the wire insulator. Till date none of the star ring failed me and I'm quite satisfied with the clicking feel. Just wish it could be sexier if the bezel is slimmer. Earlier i also learnt my lesson when power trip occured. I switched on the main power and immediately fried 1 of my Moes plastic switch. Advise to turn off the sub switch before turning back on the main power in RCCB. Cheers
thanks for sharing your experience! yeah i agree on the bezel can be slightly slimmer, i don't have a 3 gang but i can imagine the buttons will be pretty small. The old tuya plastic switches are definitely not meant to last long, guess that's why they are so cheap. For broadlink, I have seen quite a number of negative comments already
Hi, for SwitchBot, how does it deal with multiple aircons? in my case, 3 aircons (2 bedrooms + 1 livingrm) are kind of close to each other but still separated by walls. Thanks for the review!
Heyo Alex, thanks for the video! I'm looking to purchase the Moes Star Ring Switches but noticed that they have 2 types of switches, the Master switches and Scene switches, can I check with you what are the differences between the 2 types?
I would like to replace my analogue switches, with a smart switch which has a schedule option. For example for outside lights so they switch on automatically in the evening and switch off in the morning. Can this be achieved with any of the switches in this video please?
Will you also be doing a video on motion sensors? Lol my current one seems to have died and since I had someone else fix it originally for me I have absolutely no clue what to do with it or even what model it is. Would love your expert advice in the event it needs to be changed, what motion sensors you might recommend (the motion sensor links to my lights).
what device to pick depends on the platform you are using, if that's not a concern then overall aqara motion sensors are cheap and good with crazy battery life
What about those generic/OEM rocker smart switches (no neutral) that is sold by multiple brands like Moes, SmartTech, Smartrul, etc? They come in 1 to 3 gang configurations. The looks of such a switch is very similar to Aqara H1.
Nice video, very informative ! 😬can i ask a noob question as i’m new to smart system world. Can moes star ring switches be paired with philip hues smart lights/bulbs/strips along with google home easily ?
there are a couple of approaches you can use, to briefly explain 1. paired using wiring, nothing to do with google home, switch off = lights off 2. wired the hue lights to be always on, the switch gang don't wire to any lights, use google home to pair them via automation
I recall you use the D1 Aqara switch. How does the H1 compare and would you still recommend the D1? Am leaning towards Aqara switch because I plan to use the Aqara p1 motion sensor.
majority of my switches are the original aqara 1st gen switches, i don't really like both the D1 and H1 design. Apart from design, H1 uses zigbee 3.0 and has a global version which should come with better support if required
Hi Alex, thanks for the great video and have been following your video. I noted that Moes smart switch has an edition that requires neutral wire while another edition that does not (latest). Wondering for new bto, which one should we consider?
for me i will do a mixture since there is no neutral by default. Some points will be a lot of work to pull neutral as all the wiring is already nicely concealed
Hi Alex, do you have any Moes star ring (non-neutral) connected to a ceiling fan with light? Facing some issue where the fan turns on then immediately turns off after. Those switches connected to lights are completely fine. Tried with replacement switches, 1 and 3 gang etc but same behaviour.
Sorry in advance if I posted before as I can’t find my message.. is your water storage heater “smart”? Have been struggling to find a 20A HomeKit switch.
Ah, I was hoping the smart switch + bulb combo would achieve (1) allow my parents to switch lights on/off physically (2) keep the bulbs "always on" to maintain the home automation (even with my parents using the physical switches. Am I right in thinking this way?
Hi Alex, I hv learnt a lots about smart home from ur great videos. I m planning to try in my new home. I hv chosen the lighting I like with either dimmable or adjustable between white and warm light but they r not smart light. With this and I m going for Google home. if I use Moes wifi smart switch and dimmable smart switch, m I right to say that I can then control both on/off & brightness with google assistance? Anything I need to take note for installing Moes wifi and dimmable switch? Appreciate ur input..😊
just make sure the electrical stuff meets the specs of the switch.. other than that don't think there is much about the smart home aspect. Personally I will always prefer zigbee over wifi smart switches though
Hi Alex! Can I check if these work with ceiling fan with light as well? Or only works with lights. Because my fan I ceiling fan with light is not smart. Is it possible to set functions on a 1 gang Moes star ring switch example - ‘single press to on light’, ‘double press to on fan’, ‘long hold to switch both on’. If it doesn’t support, what brand of switch or solution do u recommend for dumb ceiling fan/light? Hope to hear from you! 🙏🏻 btw so far I’m doing reno and I’ve already bought Moes star ring for all my light switches, and plan to use google home ecosystem.
yes it works for those lights as well, I am using them. You can't set those commands on the wall switch. If you want to do that, you can get an IR/RF controller that will set the controls for lights and fan, then use a MOES wireless scene switch to trigger your single/double/long press commands
@@AlexTeo hi again Alex! I just found out from Moes supplier that since my fan is using a DC motor, it’s not recommended to use their light switch as a basic on off switch, and not even their smart fan/light switch. As the switch might spoil. Can I check what set up you are using for your ceiling fan/light? Did u use your smart switch mainly as an on/off function or did u wire it such that 1 gang controls the light, another gang controls the fan. Or any brand of smart switch you would recommend for DC motored fans w light?
smartthings have official edge drivers for aqara 1 gang switches, so you will want to use that. for 2 gang, old device handlers work, current edge drivers work as well
Understanding how zigbee and wifi switches work. Assumingly my house is wifi meshed up properly, is it more reliability to use wifi switches instead of zigbee since BTO default doesnt have neutral wires? are there any other benefits in using zigbee instead of using wifi?
Hey Alex, any idea how can I get the Echo Show 15 in Singapore? Thanks for your tips in the vid, I have decided to build my smart home around the Echo Show 15 (hence Alexa) ecosystem. But I'm shocked to find that Amazon doesn't ship to SG and local sellers on Lazada and Shopee are charging more than $100 over the US RRP, not to mention as well the lack of reviews 😥Thanks a bunch!
yeah i agree its not easy to get hold of amazon echo products here in sg, i think best is to get from overseas if you happen to travel or via friends/family
Hi Alex! Can I check with you, for the MOES star ring, do you know if it is possible to create a 2-way switch without the neutral wires connected to the switches? Like maybe using the MOES hub instead?
@@AlexTeo hahaha yeah, i ended up buying MOES's wireless 12 scene switch push button controller instead. But it seems like the new star ring needs the MOES gateway hub to run :(
Hi Alex, if I would install zigbee smart switches with smart lighting. Does it still works and will it complicate the entire smart system. Or do I recommend just to do either one of them? Thanks.
Wish to change my heater switch.. which brand of smart switch will you recommend without a hub. Currently I am using switchbot bot to schedule it on and off. (Storage heater)
I've tried finding out information on whether the old MOES switches use the latest Zigbee 3.0 protocol but can't find any information on it. Should I be concerned or does it not really matter?
Hi Alex, what does the * stand for for Aqara H1 switch for SmartThings? Do you know if the neutral version of H1 works off the bat with SmartThings Hub V3?
Hi Alex, if you're getting a smart light then is there no point in getting a smart switch? We are considering getting Yeelight lights and they say it isn't compatible with Aqara switches.
Hi Alex, great videos, walked me through my smart home setup. However i am encountering an issue with the Tapo S220 connecting with my Tapo H100 Hub, its states pairing with Hub but loads forever. Do you have any solution? Or any ways to contact Tapo? Both the items are (EU) and (UK) labeled.
Hi Alex, can ask if I want to install RGB smart lights, ok to install smart dimmer switches cos don't want to on/off lights using App or voice control only. Looking at Tuya ZigBee protocol. Thks
to control RGB smart lights, you can check out philips hue dimmer switch, flic twist. If you want to use a smart dimmer switch from tuya, then use a normal dumb light
hi Alex, i am interested to change to a smart water heater switch but found that most on the market require a neutral wire to install/run. someone told me that new BTOs are already installed with neutral wire, so wonder if you have any idea/info?
Hi Alex, i saw on SONOFF page they indicated the thermostat can be linked to aircon automation. Have you managed to figure it out to make it work? Would be the perfect solution if it can be done!
@@AlexTeo thanks, does that mean then it is only able to turn on/off the air conditioners and not set up the temperatures? Would it integrate into Daikin Ecosmart "smart" aircon series?
@@zyrofillic yup on and off only, no idea about. To control via the physical buttons, you have to go to google home or alexa to do it. To control them via the touchscreen widget, it will be from smarthings, philips hue, yeelight apps
Hi Alex, I bought the star ring after watching your recommendations, and I have the Aqara m2 hub but I can't seem to add the smart switches onto the hub. Could you advise how I can make them work?
@@AlexTeo hey thanks for the feedback Alex. I thought both would support zigbee as well. Any solution for this? Do I then need to get a separate Moes hub and link them to Google homes? Likewise aqara setup to link to Google homes and automate from there?
Hi Alex! Can I also clarify after installing the moes star ring, must I have a ZigBee hub before I can set up on my phone through samsung smartthings app? And if a hub is needed, must it be Moes Hub?
Some smart switchss support 2 way wiring, most don't. The pupose of 2way wiring is for some convenience, but a smart switch takes that convenience to the next level. In my day to day, i dont press my wall switches at all
@@AlexTeo want to say thank you for the awesome content you have been generating. I just moved in into my new home and you are a lifesaver in smart home knowledge. Can i ask regards to your replies on some switches supporting 2 way wiring, does aqara D1 switches from taobao supports this? And also does Aqara smart hub M1S support google home? I researched and doubted the sellers reply telling me it doesn't support google home but i do see M1S device in the aqara app. tb link to the smart hub item.taobao.com/item.htm?spm=a1z0d.6639537/tb.1997196601.52.68717484ufJk1W&id=664475064294
I've been using MCOHome switches.. They are 4 gang and is based on ZWave.. Wondering if it should be included too. It should work with any hub that does ZWave.
I am on MCO Smart switches as well. Started to fail after about three years And it is very expensive to maintain. I am wondering if I should gradually change to Zigbee switches like Moes which is highly recommended by you? I am using Homey by the way...
@@AlexTeo MCO switches are very difficult to pair. I have replaced two of my four gang switches in the past two months..I had to hold the smart hub literally inches away from the switch and even then, it took me quite a while to successfully pair them.
@@topgann2003 with homey you already have access to a number of switches. If you can do local instead of using tuya cloud with moes then definitely can consider, aqara a more promising keeping up to date with matter though. Personally i am waiting to check out a matter enabled switch first
@@AlexTeo - where do u get the edge drivers from? and would the smartthings hub alone be sufficient to act as the zigbee hub (i.e. no tuya hub) required?
@@AlexTeo thanks Alex, your videos are amazingly detailed and well paced. I have now decided to convert my new place into a smart home. Highly appreciate your videos!
Finally this video is out! I'm keen to switch my existing normal MOES switches to the MOES Star Ring and it's good to see it's the recommended switch in terms of value. I'm just concerned about it's longevity as 2 of my 3 MOES switches didn't survive more than 2 months. Happy to hear from anyone out there who has used it for a longer period!
The star ring looks to have a much better quality than the usual cheap plastic, its only release not long so i doubt anyone can give a long term review of it haa
@@AlexTeo haha that's certainly true. Shall camp a while more and share if I hear of anything from other sources. It's a very promising choice considering Aqara is pretty expensive now
Hi thanks for your video, I watched every single one of them! I have 3 questions, hope to get your opinion: 1. Are those Zigbee switches being detected as "end device" or "router" in Home Assistant? I am asking this because I want them to form a Mesh network and extend the range if they are far from gateway/hub, and only "router" can do that. I noticed generally those "without neutral" or even "optional neutral" one are "end device", hard for me to find "with neutral" here. 2. Do they support dim function (not physically but via software/App)? 3. (Unrelated) Can I use multi-gang dimmer switch on non-dimmable output but don't use dim function on that output (e.g. fan)? This is because my switch has a mixture of light and fan, and I want to dim just my lights, but there is no such thing as mixed dim/non dim switch, and I don't want to convert to smart bulb as there are many of them.
Wow thanks for watching all of them! 1. I didnt test it, you gotta do your own testing or search forums already 2. None of these are dimmer switches except for lutron 3. Ya of course you can, if your lights are not able to dim then it will just became like a normal switch. You can always split the switch as well
Hi, am in the midst of a home renovation now. I purchased the moes star ring after watching your video. The electrician mentioned that in testing the switch without neutral, the light could be turned on but would blink after when turning it off. Is this because the switch was not connected to a hub yet?
I notice on when you did the sound test for Aqara, there's major latency (even need 2 clicks). but when you did the latency on latency test it becomes much more responsive.
Note that the test and review is specific to the smart switch model, nothing against the company!
Share your personal experience using these switches here!
Thanks so much for including recordings of how the switches sound. The sound and feeling is something you'll experience every day and is an important part of how high quality something feels, so thank you for considering this!
that's right!
Do a teardown on all the switches, to reveal the which of these switch have missing surge current protection, types of relays, safety features.
that's abit hardcore haa
@@AlexTeo If you make that video, I'm sure your UA-cam viewership will exponentially increase.🤩
While all smart switches can perform basic on/off functions, we need to explore the internal components of the switches that verify whether they live up to the OEM's specifications, such as over-current protection, maximum loading, inrush current, and a fireproof rated chassis, etc.🤓
@@leeshiki i am not sure mate on the viewership haa, always a struggle to go depth vs breadth, thats why i have yet to do a tv comparison video, whether to do a generic review based on naked eye or those indepth with the use of tools and equipment
@@leeshiki you can try and do. Lol
isn’t that the job of the people behind Safety Mark certification😅? i mean for the reviewer to do a teardown and breakdown what’s inside and what’s missing, you at least have a grasp of what you’re talking about and experience doing it rather than just googling the details😂 imho
H1 is also able to do flip LED, not sure about native app, but definitely can from Home Assistant!
both native and smartthings can only off the LED, thanks for sharing good to know!
thank you for the comprehensive review! i'm new to smart home and will be getting the moes star ring for my new place after watching your videos!
newbie question:
1. would smart switches work with regular lights (without smart bulbs)?
2. would you need smart switches with smart LED light strips?
3. all switches need to be connected to a hub (google / smart things)? are they 2 separate devices i need to get? still trying to understand the whole concept 😅
Niceee
1. Smart switches are meant to work with normal dumb lights
2. Nope, choose either smart switch or smart lighting
3. As long as they are non wifi switches, they need to connect to a hub, so based on this video the meross and sonoff don't require a hub
Well represented video, great explanations and comparisons. NOICE! 👍👍
Alex the Savior!! 🙌🙌
Wow thanks for the high praise!
Definitely a worthy video to bookmark for future buying reference!! 👍👍👍
thanks!
Hi Alex, thanks for the very insightful video! Really helped a newbie like me a lot when planning to make my home smarter!
May I ask for your opinion if you would recommend the H1, H1M or Z1 Pro switches, if i'm mainly using it for on/off controls with my Crestar/Bestar smart fans? Also, does it matter if I get the switches locally or via Taobao? Will it affect pairing with the M3 hub that I am getting?
Many thanks!
you probably don't need the Z1 pro switches then since you can't make use of the slider. The H1 should be good enough. It does not matter if you are using apple homekit, for me I use home assistant so it doesn't matter as well
Hi Alex! Have been enjoying your videos and planning my switches for my bto.
Would just like to check if the moes/aqara switches come with safety mark?
nope, smart switches don't have to go through that
Hi Alex, im new to this and after i raised my questions, i found all the answers in your other videos, so i decided to amend the comments here to just say thanks😊
Oh nice, thanks for watching!
correction : the tapo switch does not use zigbee, it uses its own proprietary sub-1g protocol
you are right, it should be some form of RF
Generally, what is your experience of using the non-neutral switches, especially the ones by Aqara? I recall hearing those horror stories that those switches burnt and failed when they first appeared in Singapore. Are they much better now?
Actually mine is the original non neutral aqara 1st gen switches bought from taobao, i even bought spares incase of failure. Till today after 3 years, i have yet to use any of the spares. I even use them with ceiling fans and drying rack totally fine
I have used since start of COVID, still working fine!
Thank you for displaying the back of the switches. I live in Thailand, so our electrical power is 220vac, but we use US rectangular electrical boxes. I would really like to use the Aqara H1 switch, but it (and the rest you displayed) don't fit with my wall boxes. I'm not sure how I'm going to solve my smart switch problem.
then just look at the US variant of the switches
@@AlexTeo When I tried that method with Govee downlights (US model) I blew up the power suppy to the downlight--the Govee US lights were 120v only. I don't want to risk blowing up the insides of a smart switch that happens to be US only.
I think I have a solution though. I found some 3D print shops on Shopee that make EU to US plate adapters. I've ordered one each from two vendors to see how they fit, and what their 3D printing skill is like. I think this avenue will be best since I would very much like to use the Aqara switch.
@@GarNelson1 simply check what is the input power rating of the switches, same for any electrical appliance that you bring along when travel overseas
Coolest now is aqara h1m
a very important option for smart switches is whether there is a state saving in case of power loss. if this is not the case, when the power appears, the light will turn on throughout the house
depends how often your house encounter a power loss then
Thanks for the video, for Aqara S1E need neutral wire be optional?
Do you know of any smart switches that control wall receptacles and won’t fry when I accidentally turn them on with a 1150 W vacuum cleaner plugged in?
something that i dare not to test lol
Great video, though it seems like the Aqara switch has led light as well below it (hidden), is this correct? Also, any difference between neutral and non-neutral versions? I heard the non-neutral ones might not be 'stable'?
yeah i mentioned there is light indicator at the front. Neutral version gives you energy monitoring and works as a zigbee mesh network
Is it worth getting the non neutral version or better spend that extra money on running a neutral wire? Thinking of doing this for my bto home 😅
@@mohdfirdaus9050 you can have a mixture, some points might be too much work to pull a neutral
Hi Alex, thanks for the video. Other than the smart switches, do you know that is there any built in smart power socket that available in Singapore?
you can find on shopee/lazada, other than tuya based, I don't see others... hence I don't recommend to install those
@@AlexTeo thanks for replying. Ohhh noted on that, then I shall use smart plug instead 😄
Hi Alex, i have been watching your videos multiple times cos im a beginner to this smart house journey. Will go with your recommendation for google home as a start up for beginner and moes star ring switch for my lights. Thank you so much for your efforts in making all this videos easy to understand especially for beginners like me.
i have a 2 way normal switch for my storage heater and would like to convert them into smart but still able to on the heater both ways (one in the bedroom and the other in the kitchen). Was told by moes that their smart heater switch doesnt support multi control association. How do i connect another smart switch to the main water heater switch so i can still on the heater in two locations? Which 2nd smart switch should i use? Thanks a lot!
you can always use a wireless button/switch, technically there is no need to do 2/3-way wiring in a smart home
@AlexTeo thanks for your advice! I will hide the 2nd wiring and use a wireless switch/button for the heater ba. The reason why i had the 2 way wiring is because I had already asked my electrician to run them. I didn't know I will be doing smart home for my new house until your videos caught my eye and managed to convince me to set up 😁
If i get a 2 gang switch, is it possible to program each button with different behaviour using SmartThings? Example, button 1 is to turn on/off light A, button 2 is to turn on light B for 10 minutes.
Hi just stumble your channel and is really helpful for newbie like me to smart home.
For the Moes Star Ring switches do they also serve as Zigbee extender or will need to place zibgee plus around the house to improve coverage?
no it doesn't, only devices that require neutral not as an option is able to extend the zigbee network
@@AlexTeo aiyo seems like only Schneider can do that then. But at that cost, I can buy a lot of ZB plugs instead 😅
Hi Alex, sorry urgent question, for existing 2-way normal type of light switch and wiring, if we wanna change the 2 switches to moes smart switch, just change as per normal right? Then do the 2-way setting via the app is it?
Also can we install the switch when wifi not available? Means we can use the switch like normal switch when install without wifi right?
probably need neutral wire. Ask an electrician if they can pull a neutral line using your existing tube, otherwise need to open new slots to route wires..
Please do a similar break down about smart bulbs and smart ceiling LEDs
would you know how to fade in and out lights when turning it on or off? Is it a feature of the smart switch or the smart bulb?
most of the cases are via a smart dimmer switch
Hi Alex, thanks for the very detailed review. Just a question, for the aqara H1 switch, if I convert it to wireless mode, will this wireless switch be exposed in HomeKit?
Good qn, sorry but i can't really recall that already
Hi Alex! Able to share how you install moes 1/2/3 gang wall switches with smartthings edge driver? Where can I find the link for the edge driver?
Hi, if i install switches that can control brightness, do i need the specific light/bulb or i can use any light or bulb? Thank you
Can the Sonoff act as a dimmer? I have lights from Sol Luminaire that I wish to dim using the touch screen as well as via Google.
Thanks for the video. I already somehow guessed star ring will be your recommended choice when it enter the contest. Lol
My home had been using Moes earlier plastic switches since early Q4'22. Before that was a bunch of crap of broadlink TC2. Often lost or poor in signal and device life span lasted for ~9 months. Very pissed off until I had to totally get rid of it and try out Moes.
Back to Moes, i replaced 5 plastic switches due to unknow breakdown. Argued with the sellers for a few times on their product flaws etc and ended up with replacement set. And same thing happen again..
I then slowly replaced with star ring and noticed the back circuitry is slightly huge than the earlier plastic switch. The port hole to insert the wire needs to push in deeper with a limited space. Meaning, you will have a hard time if you have 2 to 3 wires that need to squeeze into 1 port. Definitely will need to skin more of the wire insulator.
Till date none of the star ring failed me and I'm quite satisfied with the clicking feel. Just wish it could be sexier if the bezel is slimmer.
Earlier i also learnt my lesson when power trip occured. I switched on the main power and immediately fried 1 of my Moes plastic switch. Advise to turn off the sub switch before turning back on the main power in RCCB.
Cheers
thanks for sharing your experience! yeah i agree on the bezel can be slightly slimmer, i don't have a 3 gang but i can imagine the buttons will be pretty small. The old tuya plastic switches are definitely not meant to last long, guess that's why they are so cheap. For broadlink, I have seen quite a number of negative comments already
Hi, for SwitchBot, how does it deal with multiple aircons? in my case, 3 aircons (2 bedrooms + 1 livingrm) are kind of close to each other but still separated by walls. Thanks for the review!
you got to play around with the placement and test it out
Heyo Alex, thanks for the video! I'm looking to purchase the Moes Star Ring Switches but noticed that they have 2 types of switches, the Master switches and Scene switches, can I check with you what are the differences between the 2 types?
scene switches are wireless, runs on battery meant to use as button trigger, the other is your normal wall switches that require electrical wiring
Hi Alex, thanks for the wonderful content! Just want to ask, how do you wire your Sonoff NSPanel if your switches don’t have neutral wire?
Heater switches come with neutral, you can do looping
@@AlexTeo I see, thanks for the advice Alex.. will probably get the Sonoff NSPanel :)
I would like to replace my analogue switches, with a smart switch which has a schedule option. For example for outside lights so they switch on automatically in the evening and switch off in the morning. Can this be achieved with any of the switches in this video please?
all smart switches can set schedule
Will you also be doing a video on motion sensors? Lol my current one seems to have died and since I had someone else fix it originally for me I have absolutely no clue what to do with it or even what model it is. Would love your expert advice in the event it needs to be changed, what motion sensors you might recommend (the motion sensor links to my lights).
what device to pick depends on the platform you are using, if that's not a concern then overall aqara motion sensors are cheap and good with crazy battery life
Plz suggest me best switchs Norsiys or northwest.mere ko dono main bahut confusion hai k kyn sa lu????
What about those generic/OEM rocker smart switches (no neutral) that is sold by multiple brands like Moes, SmartTech, Smartrul, etc? They come in 1 to 3 gang configurations. The looks of such a switch is very similar to Aqara H1.
as mentioned at 0:34, all tuya variations
Thanks for the video! With the Moes Star ring, we will need the Tuya ZigBee Smart Gateway Hub? Can that integrate with Smart Things as well?
there are 2 ways - via cloud to cloud with smart life is native you need tuya gateway or install edge drivers locally
@@AlexTeo Thanks! Any recommendation of smart heater switch that can integrate well with smartthings?
Nice video, very informative ! 😬can i ask a noob question as i’m new to smart system world. Can moes star ring switches be paired with philip hues smart lights/bulbs/strips along with google home easily ?
there are a couple of approaches you can use, to briefly explain
1. paired using wiring, nothing to do with google home, switch off = lights off
2. wired the hue lights to be always on, the switch gang don't wire to any lights, use google home to pair them via automation
I recall you use the D1 Aqara switch. How does the H1 compare and would you still recommend the D1?
Am leaning towards Aqara switch because I plan to use the Aqara p1 motion sensor.
majority of my switches are the original aqara 1st gen switches, i don't really like both the D1 and H1 design. Apart from design, H1 uses zigbee 3.0 and has a global version which should come with better support if required
Hi Alex, thanks for the great video and have been following your video. I noted that Moes smart switch has an edition that requires neutral wire while another edition that does not (latest). Wondering for new bto, which one should we consider?
for me i will do a mixture since there is no neutral by default. Some points will be a lot of work to pull neutral as all the wiring is already nicely concealed
Hi Alex. Will moes switch work with aqara hub? I like the design of moes
Should I use Lutron Caseta, TP Link? Or Aqara for HomeKit?
lutron if you have dumb dimmable lights, else aqara
Hi, how does the switch ie Schneider connect with Alexa or google please?
the latency test demo-ed switching on and off the switches inside google home
Hi Alex, for the Tapo switch, need to have the hub? The switch itself cannot work separately?
Is there a smart switch with no hub required?
Should we change the air conditioner switch to smart switch? Or just use the normal switch and turn on all the time... What's your recommendation?
sorry no experience with an A/C switch
Hey, what about MOES 5 inch touch screen ? What’s your take on this? I thinking of getting 1 but not sure if it is POE ?
that's not a switch device type, have to see what's your use case for it
Hi Alex thanks for the video
Just a question isit possible to link different brands of zigbee devices (moes smart switches) to aqara m2 hub?
of course not
Hi Alex, do you have any Moes star ring (non-neutral) connected to a ceiling fan with light? Facing some issue where the fan turns on then immediately turns off after. Those switches connected to lights are completely fine. Tried with replacement switches, 1 and 3 gang etc but same behaviour.
Really amazing effort 👍.
Please make an analysis of how they behave when the power suddenly goes off and comes back on.
They will typically all remain as off
@@AlexTeoThank you so much for your effort.
@@AlexTeo However, smart switches need to consistently retain their last state after power is restored.
@@msbanda2123 for me i like the default to be off
Sorry in advance if I posted before as I can’t find my message.. is your water storage heater “smart”? Have been struggling to find a 20A HomeKit switch.
i use a smart heater, can check out my kitchen tour video
Hope you can do a video on matter soon for sg viewers
Great video. Can you use the Star ring switches with Yeelight bulbs?
Technically you can, just that no point using a wired smart switch with smart bulb
Ah, I was hoping the smart switch + bulb combo would achieve (1) allow my parents to switch lights on/off physically (2) keep the bulbs "always on" to maintain the home automation (even with my parents using the physical switches. Am I right in thinking this way?
@@ClementYong-ld6rjI’m having this same idea? Does it work that way? Or should we choose either the smart bulb or smart switches?
Hi Alex, I hv learnt a lots about smart home from ur great videos. I m planning to try in my new home. I hv chosen the lighting I like with either dimmable or adjustable between white and warm light but they r not smart light. With this and I m going for Google home. if I use Moes wifi smart switch and dimmable smart switch, m I right to say that I can then control both on/off & brightness with google assistance? Anything I need to take note for installing Moes wifi and dimmable switch? Appreciate ur input..😊
just make sure the electrical stuff meets the specs of the switch.. other than that don't think there is much about the smart home aspect. Personally I will always prefer zigbee over wifi smart switches though
Hi Alex, could you recommend a non-smart super 'quiet' light switches please ? 🙏 😊
sorry can't comment as i only look at smart light switches now and forever haa
Hi Alex! Can I check if these work with ceiling fan with light as well? Or only works with lights. Because my fan I ceiling fan with light is not smart. Is it possible to set functions on a 1 gang Moes star ring switch example - ‘single press to on light’, ‘double press to on fan’, ‘long hold to switch both on’. If it doesn’t support, what brand of switch or solution do u recommend for dumb ceiling fan/light? Hope to hear from you! 🙏🏻 btw so far I’m doing reno and I’ve already bought Moes star ring for all my light switches, and plan to use google home ecosystem.
yes it works for those lights as well, I am using them. You can't set those commands on the wall switch. If you want to do that, you can get an IR/RF controller that will set the controls for lights and fan, then use a MOES wireless scene switch to trigger your single/double/long press commands
@@AlexTeo thanks so much for the quick reply! 😄
@@AlexTeo hi again Alex! I just found out from Moes supplier that since my fan is using a DC motor, it’s not recommended to use their light switch as a basic on off switch, and not even their smart fan/light switch. As the switch might spoil. Can I check what set up you are using for your ceiling fan/light? Did u use your smart switch mainly as an on/off function or did u wire it such that 1 gang controls the light, another gang controls the fan. Or any brand of smart switch you would recommend for DC motored fans w light?
Hi Alex, have you tested Aqara H1 with smartthing ? Your previous video mentioned aonghus-mor, does his Device Handlers work with Aqara H1?
smartthings have official edge drivers for aqara 1 gang switches, so you will want to use that.
for 2 gang, old device handlers work, current edge drivers work as well
Understanding how zigbee and wifi switches work. Assumingly my house is wifi meshed up properly, is it more reliability to use wifi switches instead of zigbee since BTO default doesnt have neutral wires? are there any other benefits in using zigbee instead of using wifi?
it is more reliable to use zigbee because it's a separate zigbee mesh network where you can achieve local automations and faster response time
is it a concern to not have singapore safety mark on switches and sockets?
Nope not a concern
Hey Alex, any idea how can I get the Echo Show 15 in Singapore? Thanks for your tips in the vid, I have decided to build my smart home around the Echo Show 15 (hence Alexa) ecosystem. But I'm shocked to find that Amazon doesn't ship to SG and local sellers on Lazada and Shopee are charging more than $100 over the US RRP, not to mention as well the lack of reviews 😥Thanks a bunch!
yeah i agree its not easy to get hold of amazon echo products here in sg, i think best is to get from overseas if you happen to travel or via friends/family
Hi Alex! Can I check with you, for the MOES star ring, do you know if it is possible to create a 2-way switch without the neutral wires connected to the switches? Like maybe using the MOES hub instead?
the neutral wires are optional, just use a wireless switch/button to control the smart switch
@@AlexTeo hahaha yeah, i ended up buying MOES's wireless 12 scene switch push button controller instead. But it seems like the new star ring needs the MOES gateway hub to run :(
Any review for kinetic smart switches? Especially KAES brand?
unlikely, same for smart relays
Hi Alex, if I would install zigbee smart switches with smart lighting. Does it still works and will it complicate the entire smart system. Or do I recommend just to do either one of them? Thanks.
pick either one, unless you have a special unique use case
Do MOES star ring require a gateway hub to operate?? Or is it just a simple plug and play thing. Really need your advise . Shifu:)
As long as you see the protocol used is not wifi, they will all require a hub
Wish to change my heater switch.. which brand of smart switch will you recommend without a hub. Currently I am using switchbot bot to schedule it on and off. (Storage heater)
i never tested a heater switch before, can't comment
Are Moes or Meross have the ability do dim the lights ?
these are not dimmer switches except for lutron, but moes and meross both have dimmer switches
Hey Alex, any recommendations for heater storage smart switches?
i don't think you have many choices as a storage heater switch is not something common globally, you can look at tuya or simply use a switchbot
I've tried finding out information on whether the old MOES switches use the latest Zigbee 3.0 protocol but can't find any information on it. Should I be concerned or does it not really matter?
technically now its alright, but from a purchasing pov, I would go for zigbee 3.0
Hi Alex, what does the * stand for for Aqara H1 switch for SmartThings? Do you know if the neutral version of H1 works off the bat with SmartThings Hub V3?
* -only non neutral, single rocker, any others will require community edge driver
Hi Alex, if you're getting a smart light then is there no point in getting a smart switch? We are considering getting Yeelight lights and they say it isn't compatible with Aqara switches.
you dont need both a smart switch and light on a single feature/point
Hi Alex, if I were to use Moes, do I need the zig bee hub or the switches can be connected to Google directly?
if its's a zigbee device then you will need a zigbee hub else there is nothing to pick up the signals
Hi Alex, great videos, walked me through my smart home setup. However i am encountering an issue with the Tapo S220 connecting with my Tapo H100 Hub, its states pairing with Hub but loads forever. Do you have any solution? Or any ways to contact Tapo? Both the items are (EU) and (UK) labeled.
tapo is under tp-link, you could reach out to their support
@@AlexTeo hi, alex thanks for the tip. Can i check if you know anywhere i can purchase the Tapo S220? As i cant find it anywhere in SG
@@NgZhihao-q3r by right it should be on sales already at places where you can find tapo products, no idea about the delay
Hi Alex, can ask if I want to install RGB smart lights, ok to install smart dimmer switches cos don't want to on/off lights using App or voice control only. Looking at Tuya ZigBee protocol. Thks
to control RGB smart lights, you can check out philips hue dimmer switch, flic twist. If you want to use a smart dimmer switch from tuya, then use a normal dumb light
hi Alex, i am interested to change to a smart water heater switch but found that most on the market require a neutral wire to install/run. someone told me that new BTOs are already installed with neutral wire, so wonder if you have any idea/info?
there are no neutral for normal light switches, for 20A switches like heater yes there is neutral
Hi Alex, do you have any recommended 20A switch for HomeKit?
Hi alex, just wonering im using homey now to connect to my neocool cam switches so if i change my hub to samsung will they still compatible ?
i don't see this brand 'neocool' in the next of smartthings supported brands so i guess probably not
Hi Alex, i saw on SONOFF page they indicated the thermostat can be linked to aircon automation. Have you managed to figure it out to make it work? Would be the perfect solution if it can be done!
sadly it only execute from smart switches currently, not from an IR device
@@AlexTeo thanks, does that mean then it is only able to turn on/off the air conditioners and not set up the temperatures? Would it integrate into Daikin Ecosmart "smart" aircon series?
@@zyrofillic yup on and off only, no idea about. To control via the physical buttons, you have to go to google home or alexa to do it. To control them via the touchscreen widget, it will be from smarthings, philips hue, yeelight apps
Hi Alex, can i check if Moes Star Ring can be connected to the aqara zigbee hub?
a device manufacturer's hub can only be used with their own devices, doesn't make sense for them to support competitiors' products
Hi Alex, I bought the star ring after watching your recommendations, and I have the Aqara m2 hub but I can't seem to add the smart switches onto the hub.
Could you advise how I can make them work?
you can't use an aqara hub to control tuya devices, likewise using a tuya hub to control aqara devices, they are competitors in the same space
@@AlexTeo hey thanks for the feedback Alex. I thought both would support zigbee as well. Any solution for this? Do I then need to get a separate Moes hub and link them to Google homes? Likewise aqara setup to link to Google homes and automate from there?
Just want to clarify, for the Moes Star Ring, is it natively compatible with Smart Things? Or do I have to sideload community drivers?
there are 2 ways - via cloud to cloud with smart life is native or edge drivers locally
Hi Alex! Can I also clarify after installing the moes star ring, must I have a ZigBee hub before I can set up on my phone through samsung smartthings app? And if a hub is needed, must it be Moes Hub?
Hey Alex! Does smart switches able to handle switch that can be toggled from 2 locations?
Some smart switchss support 2 way wiring, most don't. The pupose of 2way wiring is for some convenience, but a smart switch takes that convenience to the next level. In my day to day, i dont press my wall switches at all
@@AlexTeo want to say thank you for the awesome content you have been generating. I just moved in into my new home and you are a lifesaver in smart home knowledge.
Can i ask regards to your replies on some switches supporting 2 way wiring, does aqara D1 switches from taobao supports this?
And also does Aqara smart hub M1S support google home? I researched and doubted the sellers reply telling me it doesn't support google home but i do see M1S device in the aqara app.
tb link to the smart hub
item.taobao.com/item.htm?spm=a1z0d.6639537/tb.1997196601.52.68717484ufJk1W&id=664475064294
Akara smart switch seems to have a region lock. Does buying from Taobao have any adverse effect on the usability?
only if you are using aqara app, if you are using homekit for eg then no issue as long as the device works with homekit
@@AlexTeo thanks for the insight
I've been using MCOHome switches.. They are 4 gang and is based on ZWave.. Wondering if it should be included too. It should work with any hub that does ZWave.
unfortunately i drop them from my video because I can't get them to connect to my SmartThings hub, maybe I got a faulty unit
MCOHome is not cheap, you need to provide him a unit to test 😜
I am on MCO Smart switches as well. Started to fail after about three years And it is very expensive to maintain. I am wondering if I should gradually change to Zigbee switches like Moes which is highly recommended by you? I am using Homey by the way...
@@AlexTeo MCO switches are very difficult to pair. I have replaced two of my four gang switches in the past two months..I had to hold the smart hub literally inches away from the switch and even then, it took me quite a while to successfully pair them.
@@topgann2003 with homey you already have access to a number of switches. If you can do local instead of using tuya cloud with moes then definitely can consider, aqara a more promising keeping up to date with matter though. Personally i am waiting to check out a matter enabled switch first
Understand moes is based on Tuya. Can it be connected to Samsung smartthings platform as well?
yes it can, i went with edge drivers instead of cloud integration with smart life
@@AlexTeo which hub i need? A tuya hub or smartthing hub to connect to moes? Thanks
@@AlexTeo - where do u get the edge drivers from? and would the smartthings hub alone be sufficient to act as the zigbee hub (i.e. no tuya hub) required?
Hi Alex, apologies if this is a silly question. But can I control these smart switches on my cellular network 4G if I am not at home?
Yup you can
@@AlexTeo thanks Alex, your videos are amazingly detailed and well paced. I have now decided to convert my new place into a smart home. Highly appreciate your videos!
@@TheKzwai thanks and enjoy the smart home!
Awesome video 👍
Finally this video is out! I'm keen to switch my existing normal MOES switches to the MOES Star Ring and it's good to see it's the recommended switch in terms of value.
I'm just concerned about it's longevity as 2 of my 3 MOES switches didn't survive more than 2 months.
Happy to hear from anyone out there who has used it for a longer period!
The star ring looks to have a much better quality than the usual cheap plastic, its only release not long so i doubt anyone can give a long term review of it haa
@@AlexTeo haha that's certainly true. Shall camp a while more and share if I hear of anything from other sources. It's a very promising choice considering Aqara is pretty expensive now
@@AJ.q Just installed full MOES Star Ring for my home. Look forward to giving you some feedback once I move in and play with them more!
@@jwteehee oh that's gonna be awesome I feel excited for you!
May I know what happened to your Moes switches? Did they burn?
Thanks for the contact for your electrician! Does he do wiring work for resale reno too? And how do I address him.
Yup he do almost everything, one man show - ah mong
@@AlexTeo awesome! Will let him know you sent us.
Hi Alex, how about zemismart switch?
its part of tuya ecosystem
What about the Aqara E1 and D1? I think they are a lot cheaper compared to the H1
H1 is the only model aqara is pushing globally, rest are for china market
you should go search the youtube video "Aqara Wall Switches FAQ - Singapore HDB" for comparison of H1 vs D1
@@AlexTeo Are there problems using the E1 and D1 in Singapore if one is able to source them?
@@liuyangwan1535 as a normal dumb switch definitely no issue, issue may comes when you are looking at integration options
can these switches be used to control other things such as fans
of course as long as you are wiring to something that's within the supported power requirements
Hi alex, can we get aqara h1 off taobao tmall? Will it work in sg?
Technically it will especially if you are not using aqara's server. But note that no warranty and a firmware update might introduce region lock
Hi thanks for your video, I watched every single one of them!
I have 3 questions, hope to get your opinion:
1. Are those Zigbee switches being detected as "end device" or "router" in Home Assistant? I am asking this because I want them to form a Mesh network and extend the range if they are far from gateway/hub, and only "router" can do that. I noticed generally those "without neutral" or even "optional neutral" one are "end device", hard for me to find "with neutral" here.
2. Do they support dim function (not physically but via software/App)?
3. (Unrelated) Can I use multi-gang dimmer switch on non-dimmable output but don't use dim function on that output (e.g. fan)? This is because my switch has a mixture of light and fan, and I want to dim just my lights, but there is no such thing as mixed dim/non dim switch, and I don't want to convert to smart bulb as there are many of them.
Wow thanks for watching all of them!
1. I didnt test it, you gotta do your own testing or search forums already
2. None of these are dimmer switches except for lutron
3. Ya of course you can, if your lights are not able to dim then it will just became like a normal switch. You can always split the switch as well
Thank u Alex.
Have you tried using homey pro yet?
nope
How about the Lutron Caseta?
caseta works at 120V US voltage, SG uses 230V
Thanks alot
Hi, am in the midst of a home renovation now. I purchased the moes star ring after watching your video.
The electrician mentioned that in testing the switch without neutral, the light could be turned on but would blink after when turning it off. Is this because the switch was not connected to a hub yet?
So did your electrician test it with neutral? Nothing to do with whether its connected to a hub
Thinking to get moes ring star non neutral version too. @lionelsee9655, did you managed to fix this issue?
Does Aqara H1 switches always have that much latency?
I notice on when you did the sound test for Aqara, there's major latency (even need 2 clicks). but when you did the latency on latency test it becomes much more responsive.
@@gordonwoon its because of the aqara app not updated fast enough, the light is already switched
Try seconds?
Hi Alex! Thanks for your video! It's very useful! I want invite you to test our EVVR smart relay switch. Are you interested? Waiting for your reply!
sorry not interested to test smart relay!
@@AlexTeo Thanks for you reply! I'll keep support you!