WeMo - Light Switch - White/Light Gray

Q: I can't decide: Go with Z-wave, Zigbee, WeMo or "Smart things"--How to decide?

A: I currently have over 50 individual connected devices throughout my home. I have a mix of Philips Hue, Wemo and Smart Things all voice controlled by one of 3 Amazon echos strategically located throughout the house (adding 4 more to get perfect voice control from anywhere in house). Zigbee and Z-wave are simply types of wireless. WeMo and Smart Things are actually product categories produced by a specific manufacturer. Before making any decisions I can say with certainty that you need to first decide what items you want to automate or control and how you want to interface with each of these items. We voice can voice control or toggle on or off any fan or light with a combination of Wemo, Philips Hue and Amazon Echo. The color of light through our house is controlled by scenes set in the Hue app and set to change automatically at certain times of the day or night. We turn off or on and dim individual lights or groups of lights by voice using Hue and Echo. We open or close the gate to our property with voice command using Wemo Maker and Amazon Echo. We control temp in home via voice using Amazon Echo, SmartThings bridge, Honeywell thermostat and SmartTiles client.

Q: What if I want to use it on a dual light switch plate?

A: If they are on the same plate but 2 separate switches yes. In my case my Wemo is in a 4 switch plate, but I had 4 older style toggle switches. From what I found I had two options, order a special plat that accepts 1 wemo style and 3 older, or do what I did and change out the other 3 switches to the Wemo style. I paid about 10 bucks for the 3 switches and a nice pewter cover and installed it all myself. You need to have a neutral wire, I think they called it, for the Wemo to work. And the Wemo box is big so tucking it all in can be fun. Look up the directions for the Wemo switch and make sure your home has the wire, but as for plates yes it can go into a multi switch plate but your existing switches may be a different style. Hopefully one of the two options I suggested works. Been a few months with the Wemo now and not 1 hiccup. Only think I did was adjust the on/off times for daylight savings but it has worked flawlessly. I have included a pic of the "4 gang wall plate" you'd use with older, in your case a 2 gang wall plate and a pic of my finished install.

Q: What happens when the switch loses power for a period of time? Is there battery backup? Or do I have to re-program after power loss. Seems pointless as a security device if the programming is lost......

A: Power surges are a weekly thing where I live. I'm now the fastest microwave clock reseter in the world!!! As for the Wemo light switches I installed 4 switches 5 months ago and have literally not touched them after programming on/off and dusk/dawn. We've lost power many time briefly without any issues with my programming. Have not had the situation with a long power outage but from what I've heard it will not effect your programming either!! Hope this helps!

Q: Will this work as one of a two way switch? Like if I put this at the bottom of the stairs and there's also another switch at the top of the stairs will this wifi switch work?

A: It's not designed to work as a two way switch.

Q: Can Wemo control 4 lights with one switch. Porch light and 3 coach lights on the garage. Currently I have one switch that controls all 4 lights. We installed the Wemo and the lights did not come on.

A: Hi. Yes, it should work as long as the lights does not exceed the 1800W power limit of the Wemo Light Switch. Get in touch with us at [email protected] so that we can assist you further with this. Don't forget to include the link to this post as a reference.

Q: Does the WeMo light switch care if it is connected to a couple of evil CFL bulbs? I bought a smart switch a few years ago and the CFL bulbs ate it.

A: Might be the bulb - I went to LED bulbs and they work great. LED are pricey but will last years. The electric use has gone down as I took control of the times it goes on/off. I set a drop dead time for the light to go off in the event I forget to shut them off.

Q: Will it work with Amazon echo

A: Yes. It will work with Amazon Echo directly out of the box. No hub is needed. That is how I am currently using mine.

Q: If you have a light switch programmed and manually turn it on does the switch revert back to the program?

A: Your programming will continue to function as expected. So if for example you turn on the light before it's scheduled to come on, it will by pass that scheduled time and remain on. If a follow up "off" time is scheduled. The light will turn off as expected.