SMART LIGHT SWITCH | £16 from Amazon www.snipca.com/47721
Shining success
There are a number of ways to turn the lighting in your home into smart lighting, from installing smart plugs on table lamps to replacing regular bulbs with smart alternatives. The Tapo S210 is a step closer to the ideal system, though, because it replaces an existing light switch, so you can use the same bulbs and potentially control all the lights in your house from a single app.
Replacing a light switch requires a certain level of electrical competence, but it’s easy enough for a DIY enthusiast or a quick job for a friendly electrician. The size and shape of the switch means it serves as a direct replacement for a standard, one-gang light switch, though two-gang switches and dimmers are also available if required.
We had a few niggles with the installation, because our wiring had been trimmed quite short and the switch itself was a tight fit into our existing wall cavity. However, it’s nothing that a competent DIY enthusiast wouldn’t be able to work around.
Once installed, you need to wirelessly connect it to a Tapo Smart Hub (sold separately and costing a further £14.99 from Amazon at www.snipca. com/47722), though you can add as many light switches as you want to one of these.
Once installed, and with the mains power restored, the switch works just like its non-smart predecessor. It moves with a satisfying, tactile click and turns the lights on and off instantly. Through the smartphone app you can also control the switch from your phone, an
