Wemo WiFi Smart Light Switch 3-Way review: One of the best ways to render a three-way circuit smart

Wemo has handily solved a frequent grievance lodged in opposition to smart mild switches: Many don’t assist three-way circuits, and the ones that do sometimes require the presence of a companion change at the different location(s) controlling the circuit, thus rising the price and the complexity of any set up. The Wemo WiFi Smart Light Switch 3-Way doesn’t, and it may well additionally be used as a single-pole change.

This new change appears to be like an identical to Wemo’s older single-pole change, so it’ll mix proper in if in case you have that gadget put in elsewhere in your house. The solely distinction is on the bottom of the unit, the place the extra wiring required for a three-way set up snakes out. This additional wiring is the solely problem I had with the change. Because the Wemo makes use of pigtails (versus backstabs) to join to your in-wall wiring, you’ll want 5 wire nuts (included with the equipment) to join every little thing collectively. That’s a lot of {hardware} to jam into the typical junction field, though I used to be fortunate to be putting in my evaluate unit to one aspect of a two-gang field, so I had a little additional room to work with.

Christopher Null / IDG

Wemo’s instruction handbook is clearly designed for novices with zero electrical expertise. It’s thorough; straightforward to comply with, wire by wire; and it contains full-color diagrams. My unit put in with out grievance and, not like many smart switches, was even straightforward to mount flush in opposition to the wall when it got here time to put every little thing again collectively.

Wemo’s smart change may be very enticing, consisting of a easy rectangle with an illuminated circle at its base that you simply’ll press use to toggle the energy on and off (this isn’t a dimmer). The circle adjustments shade primarily based on circumstances: pink for errors, inexperienced when a timer is working, and so forth.

On the software program aspect, setup continues through Wemo’s app and a HomeKit code (should you’re utilizing the iOS app; there’s an Android model of the app should you’re not). Again, I had no hiccups in any respect in tying the change into my Wi-Fi community (be aware that the change helps solely 2.4GHz Wi-Fi networks). The software program aspect of the setup was accomplished in lower than a minute.

Within the Wemo app, there’s admittedly not a entire lot to do. You can flip the lights on or off, rename them, or assign a customized icon or {photograph} to every change. Wemo’s scheduling system can also be fairly refined and succesful, and also you’ll even discover useful extras similar to an auto-off timer that may shut off the lights after a time you specify, ought to the children overlook.

Christopher Null / IDG

The excellent news is that since Wemo ties into so many third-party methods, together with Alexa, IFTTT, and Google Assistant, you possibly can incorporate it simply into different guidelines and automations exterior of the Wemo app (it’s value noting, nevertheless, that the change…