Smart switch cover with momentary push-button mechanism

[Stu789]

Has anyone found a good solution for securing a smart switch in a patress box and having a momentary push-button mechanism that can activate the central switch to toggle the switch / put the switch into pairing mode?  It would be something like a dimmer switch but only needs the push-button, spring and plunger.

 

Currently working through Home Assistant and Zigbee/MQTT with various sensors, switches & integration to convince SWMBO that an integrated HA based smart house can be made simple & fool-proof enough that she (and future occupiers) wouldn't be put off!

 

Thanks

 

[joth]

37 minutes ago, Stu789 said:

Currently working through Home Assistant and Zigbee/MQTT with various sensors, switches & integration to convince SWMBO that an integrated HA based smart house can be made simple & fool-proof enough that she (and future occupiers) wouldn't be put off!

 

Sorry to be the neighsayer, but I think a house built with a dependency on Home Assistant almost certainly will put off future buyers, for the simple reason there's no support network for ongoing maintenance (same for zigbee, mqtt and even shelly)

Even using professionally installed gear like Lutron, Loxone and KNX is borderline as while you maybe able to find a dealer/installer in an area (if you're fortunate you have a selection to choose from) then you're still locked into that system and to some degree at the mercy of the lifetime of support available on it -- and likely, the solvency of the company sponsoring it

(Full disclosure: I'm a professional installer/programmer of some of these systems and this is the tldr of what I would discuss with any prospective customer)

 

To your question - I'm not quite sure which smart switch back box devices you're looking at, but projects I've seen where customers want conventional or period style switches they use a retractive switch from soholighting.com or similar and wire that into a bus interface device (e.g. MDT 2-fold digital input or Loxone Nano DI Tree, or similar) -- reducing the problem from one of mechanical design to an electrical wiring task.

Aside - the fact you're looking for an easy way put a device into pairing mode, without removing the faceplate, sort of suggests you've already lost the battle for non-techy usability.

[JohnMo]

55 minutes ago, Stu789 said:

convince SWMBO that an integrated HA based smart house can be made simple & fool-proof enough that she (and future occupiers) wouldn't be put off!

Sorry it's all rubbish, any glitch in internet the whole lot goes off. Reliant of constant fiddling and the whim of the service provider. Fool proof - too much specific learning needed, to be ever fool proof. SWMBO is right to question.

 

Future proof, is a simple light switch that doesn't need an app to function or a program to run or internet that can be switched or fall over at a moments notice. Amazon fell over the day causing many multi national institutions internet/web services to stop. 

 

I had several HA devises and programs on my heating system - all utterly unreliable, all removed. None added price of mine, none added simplicity, none added any really needed functionality or saved my any money just wasted time and money), and none made anything future proof or idiot proof.

[ProDave]

Ditto to above.  You want simple and reliable, then old fashioned hard wired light switches like we always had.

[Stu789]

100% with you on there being no reliance on internet connectivity or cloud based services that vendors might retire/fail/make subscription based etc.

Hence using Home Assistant and Zigbee/MQTT - no vendor cloud services involved and everything communicates and is automated purely locally.

 

[JohnMo]

13 minutes ago, Stu789 said:

everything communicates and is automated purely locally

Still doesn't make it easy for anyone else to sort an issue.

 

Unless you have ups any power glitch switches the server off and unless switched back on again stays off. Fill your boots with automated stuff 

8 hours ago, Stu789 said:

convince SWMBO that an integrated HA based smart house can be made simple & fool-proof enough that she (and future occupiers) wouldn't be put off!

Above was your question - home automation doesn't make anything future proof or easy for anyone other than the person installing 

[Stu789]

Interesting discussion which aligns with the SWMBO conversation which boiled down to...

- do conventional wiring with standard switches and sockets

- use plug in smart switches in sockets where useful (we have used these in the current house for the past 2-3 years)

- choose doorbells and CCTV that work with apps as well as Home Assistant

- collect and display data from air quality sensors, MVHR, inverter, ASHP in Home Assistant 

Then there is no reliance on Home Assistant for current or future owners... without it you have conventional electrics and the standard control panels or apps for the MVHR, solar, CCTV etc