Great video 👍 Another option is the Samotech modules which can simply sit in the ceiling wired to the first bulb in the circuit, allowing you to use any retractive switch (like Gira) at the wall while having Hue integration. If the back box is deep enough, these modules can even sit there.

@StuffAboutStuff

3 жыл бұрын

The problem with all of those types of solution is that they are not friends of hue - so you lose HomeKit and Siri functionality (at least).

@rt1185

3 жыл бұрын

@@StuffAboutStuff Actually, Samotech is one of the few that is exposed to and compatible with HomeKit and has the HomeKit integration via the Hue bridge 👍 It’s compatibility includes: Hue Bridge Apple HomeKit All the Amazon Echo Zigbee Hubs SmartThings deCONZ Raspberry

This is genius! Finally possible to work with something pretty like the Jung LS990.

Anyone had any issue with battery? Placed a brand new batter in the device and then hooked it up to a pulse switch, within 20 mins I’m at low battery within the Hue app (4% showing in Hue Dynamics).

@StuffAboutStuff

3 жыл бұрын

Not at all - mine are still going strong since I did this video

@TooSpeedy

3 жыл бұрын

@@StuffAboutStuff very strange then. ive put another new battery in and same thing. like it still works (most times), but it now just sits at 1% battery

@StuffAboutStuff

3 жыл бұрын

@@TooSpeedy you must have a short. Is the pcb insulated? Is it in a metal backbox? I cut a slit in the button case and reinsert in the button case secured with hot glue - then the battery cover magnetised onto the back providing a fairly neat package which is insulated.

@StuffAboutStuff

3 жыл бұрын

@@TooSpeedy you are using a spring return switch rather than a fixed position switch yes?

@TooSpeedy

3 жыл бұрын

@@StuffAboutStuff yeah it’s a spring one. The actual process works fine. It is in a metal back box, will be changing this for a plastic one. I did put insulation tape around the pcb / connectors etc to make sure things weren’t touching. What I may do it out the cover back on top and see if that helps things

This is literally exactly what I was looking for

This is fantastic and is exactly the same problem / solution I have been looking for. Please please please write / video a follow-up if you get it reliable and fit to use every day. Thank you for making this.

@StuffAboutStuff

4 жыл бұрын

I will be rolling this out in my lounge and kitchen in the next few weeks - but first I need to source the nicest feeling retractive switches on the planet. That means a visit to Hulsta, Baker Street - downstairs you find the Gira showroom, I’ll pick a switch from their demo stands

Thanks for this. I have used this to rewire the old maid buttons in our house to control table lamps. A nice little easter egg for people to find.

@StuffAboutStuff

3 жыл бұрын

Nice hack! I love it :)

I was about to make a jig and router out all my mdf torus architraves to fit in super neatly the hue dimmers as the flat part of the architrave is the same width as the dimmer, i was going to flush mount magnets as well, and then completely remove the existing light switches and fill and paint, although this vid is excellent i cant use it as my volex switch range doesn't include a press switch, although i wonder if i could modify one with a spring inside, cheers.

You are a genius! Ive been looking everywhere for a compatible switch to work with hue. Why don't hue just make an official wall plate for uk switches? Beats me... Anyway, off to learn how to solder now 😂 Any idea how long the battery life is on these? Can thee control colour or white ambience lamps?

@andy_c_85

4 жыл бұрын

Callum Allan I’ve done this in my house on the back of this video - works an absolute treat and the most elegant solution I’ve seen. Hue buttons can control any hue connected light whether white, white ambiance or the colour lights and can configure to do loads of actions either with the hue app or something like iConnectHue for lots of extra bells and whistles.

@Yoskio

2 жыл бұрын

Thankfully now the put it in the market

You can do the same with a Tradfri dimmer from IKEA, which are only €6. I have a two-gang switch using two of these and it works great!

@StuffAboutStuff

3 жыл бұрын

You know what - that is _perfect_. I'm living with these one fold buttons and often find myself wanting the lights brighter. This invariably requires me to press and hold twice, or turn the lights off, and then on again to get more light. I've decided a 2 way rocker (ON/Dim up, and Off/Dim Down) is the only practical way forward. Thanks for the heads up - I'll definitely be buying one to experiment.

@fergyc

3 жыл бұрын

@@StuffAboutStuff It's Touchlink so there are a few limitations but you should be fine. Good luck!

This is genius! Which contacts of the rocker switch you connected those wires to? I can't believe the simplicity of this. Thank you!

@StuffAboutStuff

4 жыл бұрын

Sorry it didn't end up on cam - geeking and filming is hard!! here's a macro shot : www.dropbox.com/s/lg2v6l8cwfmpgmb/huesmartmacro.JPG?dl=0

@StuffAboutStuff

4 жыл бұрын

please consider subscribing to help support more geeking. Next step is making this robust and reproducable. :D :D

Brilliant, was looking for this. What about adding ac-dc converter 230v-3v an trying to run off the mains instead of button battery? Would it work only on neutral wire?

@ToteEnte92

4 жыл бұрын

This is exactly what I’m looking for. Theoretically it shouldn’t be to hard, right?

@StuffAboutStuff

3 жыл бұрын

Yeah it would work great, a liittle more work - and yes - you would need a neutral wire otherwise you'll not have power. I've decided not to d othat becasue 1) The battery lasts AGES 2) Space is an issue in the backbox. I'm not sure you'll fit it all in.

Love this!! An interesting test before I go and buy enough to cover my house... if you turn your philips hue lights on using Alexa or even the philips hue app if you then click the push button does it know they are already on and turn them off or do you have to click the push button twice?

@StuffAboutStuff

4 жыл бұрын

Perry Newman I’ll test it for you in a bit :)

@StuffAboutStuff

4 жыл бұрын

Perry Newman I just tested this with the apple home app - so yes I can confirm that Siri and Apple home scheduling or manual control keeps the button fully synced. So you can turn on or off the light via Siri, or a button in Apple home, or a schedule / logic etc. And the push button stays in sync. I can’t test the hue / Alexa integration or google home implementation because I have an Apple house. But it looks like it might work fine :)

@perrynewman4879

4 жыл бұрын

Purchased a push button on amazon last night it has just arrived and I can confirm it does stay in sync with the rooms lighting on/off state so just what I need! Looks like an order of 5 more push buttons and switches are on the way! Cheers for this! 😂

Hi, great video and perfect for what I have been looking for. What faceplate did you decide on in the end or are you still looking for a ‘premium’ replacement?

@StuffAboutStuff

3 жыл бұрын

I keep walking past the hulsta shop on Baker Street in London, and Mean to go in (Gira are downstairs) but I’m worried about the whole pandemic and unnecessary visit thing at the moment. Jung have just opened a showroom too. I’ll pop in in the new year ;D

@CYP4ER.

3 жыл бұрын

Yeah, understand - strange times at the mo. Would be good to see a video when you’ve got the new switch. Also, I see from your other comments that you’ve also tried something similar with the four button dimmer, that would also make a good video. Keep safe.

@StuffAboutStuff

3 жыл бұрын

@@CYP4ER. I didn’t film the 4 button dimmer; it’s extremely fiddly, and much less useful. More importantly the pads are minuscule and the final product is not remotely robust. The only practical use I can think of is 3 scenes and off with no dimming. This doesn’t seem as useful as the one button control, to me. I would not recommend it.

@CYP4ER.

3 жыл бұрын

Thanks for your feedback, looks like it’s the button route for sure.

@philhario3640

3 жыл бұрын

@@StuffAboutStuff I've been following the various discussions and held off from doing this before knowing what faceplate/switch to use that would be compatible with a UK backbox? I had a look at the Jung LS990 switches online, but they do not seem compatible with UK back box screw holes. What switch and brand have you been using temporarily at your house?

Excellent..Thank you

Why didn't you show the finished soldering so we all could see where you put the wires?!?

@StuffAboutStuff

4 жыл бұрын

Macro shot here - sorry it was too late once I realised :-/ www.dropbox.com/s/lg2v6l8cwfmpgmb/huesmartmacro.JPG?dl=0

Awesome ! Can you do the same with a hue smart plug ?

@StuffAboutStuff

2 жыл бұрын

If you mean can the button control a smart plug? Absolutely. If you mean can you adapt the integrated button on a smart plug? No I don’t think so; with that unit you’re looking a 230v board so the principle would probably work but I would use a smart button to do that - wireless, battery powered and the switch can control the smart plug without messing with 230v

Great video! Which diameter wire did you use (in mm)? And do you attach the housing back (modded?) on for dust, before mounting it in the backbox?

@StuffAboutStuff

3 жыл бұрын

You can use pretty much any wire; I think mine was about 0.5mm2 cross sectional area but it doesn’t matter. When you get the hang of it - cut a strip down (all the way) for the cables and squeeze some hot glue in the button case then insert the unit back in. The battery cover will magnetise onto the back but it won’t close fully as it did before but it keeps all the metal stuff insulated. It’s fairly neat - I’m pleased with it

I wondered; have you considered attempting something similar with the Philips Hue Smart Wireless Dimmer Switch (929001173761); the vertical four button format. Used with a couple of two-way retractive grid switches (so a gang backbox with a couple of retractive switches) I guess one would be able to utilise all four of the Hue Dimmers buttons? With a little imagination (and modification of the backbox) I can get the remote to sit inside snugly. I just wondered whether the solder pads are as accessible on the 929001173761 switch? Good work,... and thanks in anticipation,...

@StuffAboutStuff

4 жыл бұрын

Bob Jenning I thought about this but the actual pcb is too big to fit in a Uk back box, so the back box would need a large hole punching in it to tuck the pcb up inside the wall. Just didn’t seem elegant to me.

@fatboyxx

3 жыл бұрын

I have tried this. I have attached cables to ON and OFF switch and connected them to double wall switch from Berker (with separate connections for left and right button). It works very good but the downside is that without external casing the dimmer switch PCB cannot hold its battery. Other downside is that I use right button on the wall switch to turn light on (or change scene) and left button to turn lights off. You also need to have significant amount of space to put fragile PCB into wall cut-out. I have made only one prototype of that solution. I think that using smart button is so much more simple. Only one switch connects to the simplest wall mounted push button single switch, small size make it possible to fit anywhere and with the soldering points exposed it still can hold its battery. Soldering points are also much more accessible than in dimmer switch.

@StuffAboutStuff

3 жыл бұрын

I've since made a few of these: 1) the solder pads are much smaller and the solution is nowhere near as robust. 2) you cant have hold-to-dim functionality at present - even with iconnectHUE. This kind of ruins the whole idea of it. But the 0v for each button is straight to battery so you can use it as common for all 4 buttons from just one solder pad.

Hi. How did you get the board out of the housing? At 4:22 you hand is not visible. I tried myself and managed to damage the board? Thanks

@StuffAboutStuff

3 жыл бұрын

Yeah : me too. I've made about 12 since - and learned a few things. The plastic nubs that clip the boards in place wont be re-used after wards as the wires stop them from clipping you have to hot glue the board back in the case if you want to re-use it. SO I've taken to using a scalpel to slice the plastic clips off the case while the board is still in place - then it comes out easily.

@gyengez

3 жыл бұрын

@@StuffAboutStuff i just wish philips would provide these boards separately with some connectors in place. BTW did you try hooking up exzrnal LEDs of a switch to the board?

I've been looking to do something similar. eg. my heating oil tank has a electronic gauge with binary volt free outputs for low fuel and also I have a float switch in my pond for low level. I want to use something cheap to create a routine to my Alexa. I have tried hacking a cheap smart door sensor with limited success, as it uses a vane hall effect sensor and magnet as apposed to a reed switch that would be easier. Anyone have any ideas ??

@StuffAboutStuff

3 жыл бұрын

Depends on your system - what do you run - zigbee? Zwave?

What are you doing for power to the lights? Just bypassing the switch and having constant current?

@StuffAboutStuff

4 жыл бұрын

IReallyWantThisName yes - I just use Wago spring connectors like this : www.wago.com/gb/electrical-interconnections/discover-installation-terminal-blocks-and-connectors

@IReallyWantThisName

4 жыл бұрын

@@StuffAboutStuff just connecting live and switch live, then placed in the back box behind the switch with no way to turn power off besides the consumer unit? Do regs allow for that or are you not bothered?

@StuffAboutStuff

4 жыл бұрын

@@IReallyWantThisName it’s fine provided that you remove the switch and the cores aren’t touchable. It’s perfectly safe and does not contravene Uk regs. However - I believe this constitutes a change to your electrical wiring that would need signing off by a qualified electrician so the junction must be accessible - and the signing electrician would need to be able to view the terminations.

@StuffAboutStuff

4 жыл бұрын

Goes without saying I also use a separate Wago plug for the neutral, and another one for the grounds. The backboxes are plastic in my home so no need to ground the backbox

I stuck the hue button to a UK blank plate. It works for me but this solution would make it much more user friendly for the non geek. Philips will never make this tho as hue is a consumer product only (I cant buy at my electrical suppler). If you had the capital you could create something to work this way and sell it under the friends of hue system. Hue being a world wide product and this solution not relying on voltage, it could be sold world wide.

@StuffAboutStuff

4 жыл бұрын

I’ve considered this however I suspect Philips will not support a push button interface style module - as it is not “consumer friendly” and does not fit within their marketing vision for hue. For now I’m happy with my little hack - it works well for me

@mike_hayes

4 жыл бұрын

StuffAboutStuff thanks for the reply and well done for figuring it out! I’ll definitely be giving it a go.

wait....the bulb you using is a 2600k to 6000k bulb....what if I want to change to soft white or white light ?

@StuffAboutStuff

3 жыл бұрын

Still fine :)

@StuffAboutStuff

3 жыл бұрын

Sorry - misunderstood you - it works with time of day logic to turn the lights on to the set time - in a bit I’ll check and see if you can cycle through scenes

@StuffAboutStuff

3 жыл бұрын

Yep I just checked - when you turn on is sets the first scene and you can click through all the scenes just like the On button of a hue dimmer ;)