Installing a smart switch isn't the only way to smarten up your home's lighting. +21 more See all photos Smart switches versus smart bulbs and plugs Lutron, for example, has a compatibility tool you can use to find out which light bulbs (including recessed and can lights) are compatible with its switches. Smart devices and assistants aside, you'll also want to ensure that your smart switch is compatible with the lights you have installed - especially if they're LED lights. Try to find a switch that is compatible with those devices if you want to better integrate it with your smart home network. When shopping for a smart switch, keep in mind what kind of smart devices and assistants are already in your home or you may own down the road. Again, it's convenient, and there's also something that feels slightly futuristic about saying, 'Hey Google, turn off all the lights' as you're walking out of the house.

Most smart switches are compatible with Alexa, Google Assistant or Siri (or some combination of the three), enabling voice commands and further integration with your smart home. Try These Energy-Saving Tips for Renters to Lower Your Utility Bills.You Can Actually Save Money by Using Electricity at These Specific Times.Plus, the ability to remotely flip a light switch on or off, or set it to a timer to do so automatically, can add a level of security to your home while you're away. I'm kidding a bit with the couch thing (though I've definitely been there), but the fact remains that controlling your light switches via an app on your phone or simply saying, 'Alexa, turn on the lights' is convenient. Sure, you can walk over to a light switch and flip it on or off, or maybe adjust the dimmer setting, but what about when you're away? Or, even more importantly, when you're comfy on the couch and want to turn the lights down without standing up? Such situations, among others, are where a smart switch will come in handy. I get it: 'Why would I need a smart version of something that's literally as simple as flipping a switch?' I can think of a few reasons, but it ultimately comes down to what justifies almost every smart home technology: convenience. They'll run you a bit more than standard switches and may require a bit of know-how to install, but you may find smart switches to be well worth the small trouble. Smart switches are available online or at your local big-box hardware store and come in a variety of colors and configurations, including dimmer settings. It is IP68 sealed dustproof and waterproof.There's a smart version of just about everything you can plug in, from TVs to refrigerators and even the plug itself, but what about the switches that control power to said devices and other fixtures in your home? You'll want a smart switch for that, of course. Like all our rocker switches this is a genuine Carling Technologies product. When using our custom etched actuators you would NOT want to add a “Bottom Lens” for this switch (What’s this?). All actuators sold on this site will fit this switch.

This V-series switch is meant to be paired with our custom etched rocker actuators (covers) or other actuators for a complete switch unit.

With pins 1-2-3 and 4-5-6 isolated, you can provide two different inputs… for instance, you could put 12V+ into pin 2, and 12V- into pin 5, and with a few jumpers can reverse polarity on an electric motor, which is a very common use for this switch. We say it’s flexible for a reason: Notice in the wiring schematic, that the two halfs of the switch are isolated from each other… which allows flexibility to use, say… the right side (pins 4-5-6) for current switching, and the left side (1-2-3) for a low voltage external lamp.

This switch may also be used as a SPDT switch by simply not using 3 of the terminals. The lamp acts as a backlight, triggered by an external signal. This switch would be used when you want to feed (2) loads from 1 or 2 sources momentarily (like opening and closing an electric or hydraulic door/hatch, or a boat’s tilt/trim system). It has one independent lamp at the top of the switch (What’s this?). It is Double Pole Double Throw (DPDT) and it’s function is (ON)-OFF-(ON), where (ON) represents a momentary function. The VLD1-A60B is a fairly common and flexible rocker switch. Description (ON)-OFF-(ON) Momentary Switch

On off rocker switch