Replacing an existing dimmer switch with a smart one? Is there a direct swap?

[NeilF]

I was looking at the Ener-J wifi smart light switch to replace an existing dimmer powering 7 GU10 bulbs.

But from my noddy electrics understanding I think it's not a direct swap? ie: I don't think I swap over the old dimmer with 3 wires to the new Ener-J using those same three wires?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yByWYoDP4CE
(wiring covered at 3m30s)

Has anyone got a recommendation for a good friendly swap over (old dimmer to new dimmer) to a smart dimmer switch?

The idea would be then to replace the 7 GU10's to dimmable LED units to save power too.



EDIT
Is my issue that the three wires I have provide only a series dimmer switch wiring option? So I'd need to put a smart switch in, and replace all the GU10 bulbs for smart ones, so the switch and bulbs are always powered, and the switch/dimmer commands all 7 bulbs what to do?

 

[Slade2]

Not sure this helps but I have a single smart light bulb on a switch. The switch just turns the light on and off. The thing is, if I turn the light of with the switch it turns it off, which means I then cannot ask Alexa to turn it on again because the actual bulb isn't getting any power and Alexa tells me that `Light` isn't responding. So, I leave the switch on so the bulbs always has power and I can use Alexa to turn the light up or down. I can also do this via the app, and I can also dim the bulb by saying Alexa, turn the light down to 50%. or 25%.

If I was you I would just forget about the switch and start replacing the bulbs but I would check that you can set them up in a group, that way you can control them all in one go.

I plan to move in the coming years and having to remove all my new smart switches to take them with me would be annoying whereas I can just replace all the smart light bulbs with the old ones when I leave

You also have the option of just getting a permanent live to the bulbs and then use Alexa/apps to control all of the lights, you can then remove all of the physical switches.

 

[Semple]

I've not yet bought any smart switches, but from brief reading I think the switch needs a negative as it always has to stay powered, even when switched off.

 

[NeilF]

Not sure this helps but I have a single smart light bulb on a switch. The switch just turns the light on and off. The thing is, if I turn the light of with the switch it turns it off, which means I then cannot ask Alexa to turn it on again because the actual bulb isn't getting any power and Alexa tells me that `Light` isn't responding. So, I leave the switch on so the bulbs always has power and I can use Alexa to turn the light up or down. I can also do this via the app, and I can also dim the bulb by saying Alexa, turn the light down to 50%. or 25%.

If I was you I would just forget about the switch and start replacing the bulbs but I would check that you can set them up in a group, that way you can control them all in one go.

I plan to move in the coming years and having to remove all my new smart switches to take them with me would be annoying whereas I can just replace all the smart light bulbs with the old ones when I leave

You also have the option of just getting a permanent live to the bulbs and then use Alexa/apps to control all of the lights, you can then remove all of the physical switches.

I've not yet bought any smart switches, but from brief reading I think the switch needs a negative as it always has to stay powered, even when switched off.

From the noddy stuff I've learned while looking into this.

Most dimmer switches simply appear to be placed in series with the live lead to the bulb(s). They have a live lead going to them (eg: using brown) and then out of the switch the load live heads off to the bulb(s) to light them (eg: using blue wire). This is "no-neutral" wiring, which all/most smart dimmers cannot work with. The only way to make say half a dozen GU10s controlled by such a dimmer switch smart, would be to wire up the switch to be constantly on (so all bulbs are always powered) and the switch itself basically isn't used, and to then replace all the bulds with smart bulbs controlled by a (new) smart switch somewhere.

Clearly this is more complicated and expensive than a single smart dimmer controlling what ever (regular) bulbs are in the ceiling. So if you want to use a dimmer like in the OP, it seems you need the socket wired specifically in that (less usual) way.