I have a bit of an unusual application for a controllable switch. I have a small accent lamp on my bedside stand that runs on mains power and uses an inline switch on the cord to control a 25W bulb. The lamp is one of those salt lamps that throws a warm, candlelight-like light which is great for nighttime lighting. I use it in the middle of the night as a night light since it doesn’t disturb my sleeping spouse, or wake me up so much i can’t get back to sleep.

I would like to make control of this light available through Home Assistant so I can include it in automatons and scenes. Adding it to my Z-wave or ZigBee network would be ideal. I have a spare Zigbee receptacle switch that could do the job, but it’s not the best solution. With the power control relocated to the receptacle, I would need to leave the lamp switched on full time at the cord switch, and toggle it exclusively through HA. I would forego the convenience of switching the lamp from bedside without my phone where, frankly, I don’t need those distractions at night.

Looks like a company named Swiidinter made a product in 2015 that fit my needs. I found a blog post about a drop-in replacement cord switch with onboard Z-wave and a manual switch, and which would integrate into HA natively. It looks ideal, except it’s not for sale anymore. At least, I can’t find it for sale anywhere. Not a new problem, hey?

https://www.vesternet.com/blogs/smart-home/swiidinter-cord-switch-at-vesternet

Is anyone aware of a similar product still currently on the market, or any projects out there that could fit the bill? I’m considering just adapting a mini smart receptacle to an inline form, but I don’t like messing with mains powered DIY when I can avoid it.

Thanks for any leads! If I do end up making a project of this, I’ll try to take some notes on it to share here.

  • SolidGrue@lemmy.worldOPEnglish
    2·
    4 months ago

    Now that I’ve slept on it, I realize there’s no reason I couldn’t bodge a mini relay like a Sonoff ZBMINI together with a rocker style, mains rated mini switch to mount in a project box and put inline on the lamp cord.

    It’s still less dodgy than some of the rotary inline switches I’ve replaced.

    • Ebby@lemmy.ssba.comEnglish
      3·
      4 months ago

      Still sounds complicated, but if you like that kind of thing, go for it.

      If I understand your setup right, I would get a little $5 zigbee button and make an automation to activate the plug receptacle. You can plop that button anywhere for ultimate lazy.

      • SolidGrue@lemmy.worldOPEnglish
        1·
        4 months ago

        You know, I never think of those things when it matters.

        Good call, I’ll check it out!