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Physical user interface
(lemmy.world)
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this post was submitted on 10 Feb 2026
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I just took some Zigbee buttons and stuck em on the wall. I rent though, so I can't mess with the wiring. Works well. I have Zigbee bulbs so I just put little 3D printed covers on the real switches to keep the power going to the smart bulbs.
But can't you get a smart switch with physical controls? What tech do you use to control your lights/switches/relays? Zigbee? WiFi? Matter/Thread?
I'd do something like this: https://a.co/d/022pOcJo if I could. (Not recommending this brand... Didn't research it.)
WiFi ones exist too but I wouldn't want to permanently install WiFi smart home stuff. If you're going this far invest into a Zigbee or Matter over Thread radio. It works great with Homeassistant.
I also just want to add the batteries in most of those zigbee buttons last on the order of years
I haven't had a single zigbee button need a battery replacement yet.
There are Zigbee buttons that don’t even need batteries. They produce the necessary energy to send a signal from the energy you put into clicking them. Incredible stuff out there.
That's great news. One of my fans came with a remote years ago. The remote uses this special little 12v battery that is both expensive and incredibly short lived.
Yeah I got the Third Reality ones, they take AAA batteries instead of the coin cells that most take.
Just a basic wifi setup so far. I was thinking I would need to rewire the original switch to hardwired and skip the switch part. But, I really like your idea of a 3D printed cover, that way I can still kill the power if needed. And depending upon the control I end up going with I might even be able to integrate it into that cover... That's awesome.
That switch you linked me to is pretty sweet also. Not only would it eliminate the need to change or charge batteries for remote type devices, but I also would not have to cut into the wall or do anything drastic to add switches to the current single gang switch.
The existing switches operator fans with a light. The fan may be on but the light off, so you currently have to cross the room to get to the pull switch to turn the light on. And in my bedroom, if my wife is asleep with the fan on, I would like to turn on a small lamp that won't wake her up. It's easy enough if I have my phone on me, but otherwise I'm trying to make it across the room without tripping on the dog.
I have a button on my bedroom wall and two others one on each nightstand.
Pressing the one on the wall once turns on the main lights. Double press controls the lamps.
On the nightstands it's opposite. One press for lamp, two for main light. Long press any of them to turn everything off.
My living room has a similar setup, but like you I have a dual light/fan. I keep the fan controlled by the pull chain and the lights are smart bulbs that are controlled by the wall button.