Do Smart Switches Work Without Wifi?

Yes, but not "smart" is the answer in most cases.

Many smart switches rely on the cloud for communication, even if you have a smart home hub to connect your smart devices together.

The rule of thumb for most installations and situations is that if you physically switch the load-bearing smart switch (not the auxiliary switch), the lights connected to the circuit will operate as expected without the internet.

However, any rules or scenarios you set up will not work again until your wifi is reconnected to the cloud. Once the connection has been re-established, most smart switches will revert to the state they were in before the connection was lost.

 Smart Switch

If you want to maintain smart functionality when the internet goes down, some brands such as Insteon and Lutron will continue to provide the smart schedules, scenarios and sensors you programmed when the internet went down. This is because their proprietary communication networks and centralised controllers work locally and do not require a cloud or home wifi network. Shop for our zigbee smart switch, welcome to contact us today or request a quote.

Electrical Codes and Building Codes

The NEC or National Electrical Code is part of the National Fire Code series administered by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA).  

Although the NFPA is a private trade association and the NEC itself is not subject to federal law, it is often used by state and municipal authorities to promote standardisation of safe electrical practices.

In many cases, it can be modified or changed by your local governing body. Since the 2014 and recent 2017 NEC code revisions, all new electrical installations must have a dedicated neutral conductor at all switch locations, assuming your municipality follows these codes and there is no city-specific code.  

 Smart Switch

In addition, the existing earth conductor can be extended to the neutral (only for smart switches with 5 or fewer devices on a single circuit), specifically to handle this new type of smart switch

Regardless of who is undertaking your smart lighting project, yourself or a licensed electrical contractor, you should be aware as soon as possible of any local, regional or national regulations that may affect your project and may need to be complied with.  

Remember, for example, that any work carried out to your home that does not meet safety standards could invalidate your insurance if something happens during or after installation, or if regional laws are breached.

Dimmers and bulbs

Many smart switches can dim the light bulbs connected to the circuit. If this is one of your requirements, make sure you check that the switch you choose has the required functionality before you buy.  

However, an important thing to remember is that while a smart light switch will allow you to dim your lights, your bulbs must be able to be dimmed for them to work properly.

Although most modern CFL and LED bulbs are designed to be dimmable, be sure to check compatibility with the type of bulb you intend to control in that discrete circuit.