Retrotouch Friends of Hue Smart Switch Review: Goodbye dumb switches
Verdict
The Retrotouch Friends of Hue Smart Switch replaces your existing light switch with a gorgeous-looking smart model. It requires no batteries and offers proper control over your Hue lights, without the danger of someone powering off your bulbs. Those who prefer their current switches may be ameliorate off looking at the Hue Wall Switch Module, simply, on balance this is the better overall choice for most people.
Pros
- Replaces existing wired switch
- Looks great
- No batteries
Cons
- Slightly fiddly to fit
Availability
- Great britain RRP: £59.99
Primal Features
- Control This Zigbee switch uses kinetic energy, so doesn't crave batteries, and it tin can command up to ii rooms of Hue lights
Introduction
1 of the benefits of the Philips Hue smart lighting system is the sheer number of remotes and wireless switches bachelor for it. Previously, the majority were designed to sit alongside an existing light switch, but I've seen a growing number of devices designed equally replacements – and the Retrotouch Friends of Hue Smart Switch is 1 of the best.
Sporting a glass cease, this is a more than bonny low-cal switch than much of the competition. Information technology can exist used to control two rooms, or provide master lite command plus scene selection. Since the switch uses kinetic energy to harvest power, this model doesn't utilise batteries, which may make it a meliorate choice for many than the Philips Hue Wall Dimmer Switch.
Design and Installation
- Available in black or white
- Single or dual push option
- Slightly fiddly to fit
The age-old problem with Philips Hue lights is that they have to exist left on at the lite switch in social club to work. Most existing controls sit next to your light switch, which is both confusing for guests and a little ugly.
The Retrotouch Friends of Hue Smart Switch is an elegant solution, replacing your existing light switch with a smart one. Available in black or white, the low-cal switch sports a glass panel surroundings, which makes it more bonny than the plain plastic of the Senic Friends of Hue switch, which is also designed to sit down beside an existing calorie-free switch.
The principal competition is the Philips Hue Wall Dimmer Switch, which works with your existing light switch, so you can proceed your high-end fitting and upgrade information technology to a smart i. However, there are some primal differences betwixt the Retrotouch and Hue options.
To start, both products work in a similar style. First, you accept to remove your low-cal switch and then use the provided connector block to permanently provide power to your light fitting. The Hue block is more dainty and has connectors for the alive cables only, and yous have to bargain with any earth or neutral cables separately.
The Retrotouch switch comes with a larger and more adjustable connector block that tin can take the cabling from ii concrete switches, including earth and neutral cables. Information technology has connectors on either side of the switch, so you tin can fit in a lot of cables – handy, if your lights are wired through your switches.
Pay attention to how your current light switch is wired, so yous can achieve the correct configuration in the connector cake. This can exist fiddly, so you may want to get an electrician to practice the task.
With the Hue switch, you next accept to wire your light switch to the battery-powered module. With the Retrotouch Friends of Hue Smart Switch, nonetheless, there's no boosted cabling. The light switch is too battery-free, using kinetic energy to transport a signal.
Plumbing equipment the light switch is a petty fiddly. Y'all have to remove the switch from the backing plate, which can prove tricky. I institute it best to insert a flat screwdriver into the slot underneath and then give it a little twist.
Once off, the backplate screws to the wall, over the lite switch. The Retrotouch switch module then simply clips into place – although, before you lot fit it, you have a choice over whether to fit information technology with one switch or two. I recommend sticking with the default two switches, since this provides greater flexibility whether yous're controlling one set of lights or ii.
Features
- Can control one gear up of lights or two
- Scene options
- Dimming control
You add the Retrotouch Friends of Hue Smart Switch through the Hue app, and you must have a Span for it to work. Once added, you have a pick of how information technology works, based on the number of switches y'all've installed. As mentioned, I opted for the default two switches.
I set the left-mitt switch to turn my office lights on and off (I chose the option to turn on with the terminal setting, merely I could have selected a scene instead), and the right-manus switch to do the same for the garden. Both were gear up and then that a press-and-hold action would dim.
You tin apply two switches in different ways. Rather than decision-making two different rooms, yous can use one switch for on/off and dimming, and the second 1 to choose two scenes.
This provides a degree of flexibility, although information technology would exist better if y'all could apply multiple clicks to wheel through scene selection every bit you lot can with the standard Philips Hue Wireless Dimmer Switch.
Operation
- A niggling stiffer to push button than a regular switch
- Works reliably
Since the Retrotouch Friends of Hue Smart Switch uses kinetic energy to power your lights, it requires a piffling more force to work than a regular Hue Dimmer switch. Not excessively then, I should point out: a firm click is sufficient.
The Retrotouch Friends of Hue Smart Switch uses Zigbee, so it'southward quick to answer; it isn't noticeably slower to use than a physical light switch. Dimming is very adept: press and hold the up or down buttons and your Hue lights start to brighten or dim. The pace of modify is just correct, assuasive you to reach the desired level of lite and so allow go of the button without over- or under-shooting.
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Should you buy it?
If you want to have a single wall control for your Hue lights, this all-in-one package works brilliantly – and the switch looks great.
If y'all love your existing lite switches, the Philips Hue Wall Switch Module is a better choice, fifty-fifty if it does utilize batteries.
Final Thoughts
More than attractive than the other Friends of Hue switches I've reviewed, the Retrotouch Friends of Hue Smart Switch is an fantabulous upgrade for any dwelling that uses Hue lighting. Available in black and white options, the bulk will find a model to accommodate their needs.
If y'all take very specific tastes and love your existing low-cal switches, the Philips Hue Wall Switch Module is a better choice – although you lot'll have to modify batteries every few years. Here, you'll never have to worry almost batteries.
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FAQs
Does the Retrotouch Friends of Hue Smart Switch require batteries?
No, it uses kinetic energy harvesting, getting energy when yous press the push button.
How does the Retrotouch Friends of Hue Smart Switch keep power to your Hue bulbs?
You use the connector module at the back to permanently wire on your lights.
Full specs
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Jargon buster
IFTTT
If This And so That (IFTTT) is a free spider web-based smart home platform that lets you create simple rules to automate your home.
Source: https://www.trustedreviews.com/reviews/retrotouch-friends-of-hue-smart-switch
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