Most of us now have a wide range of smart appliances and devices in our homes, including smart locks, smart lighting, smart security cameras, smart humidifiers, smart doorbells and smart thermostats, thanks to advancements in smart home technology. But if not, one of the very first steps in transforming your home into a smart home is to change the lighting. Setting smart plugs, placing smart light switches, or replacing old bulbs with smart light bulbs are all options. However, we think smart light switches and dimmers integrated in your walls are the most stylish smart lighting option. On the other hand, a smart dimmer switch can change the settings of the bulbs in the fixtures it controls, whereas a smart switch can only turn a connected light bulb or fixture on and off.
So simply put, a smart dimmer light switch works by sending wireless signals via your home Wi-Fi or mesh network to replace a traditional built-in light switch on your wall. These switches can control the brightness of your lights, ceiling fans, or anything else connected to the switch.
How to Select a Smart Dimmer Switch?
It can be difficult to comprehend smart home technology if you are unfamiliar with it. So, we’ve compiled a list of things to think about before purchasing one of today’s smart dimmer switches. Before you go out and buy a smart dimmer switch, here’s what you should know about them and how to choose the best one for your home.
1. Compatibility with existing bulbs
Double-check whether the smart dimmer switch will work with the lights/ bulbs you already have and that the bulbs are dimmable.
2. Size of the switch box
Smart dimmer switches are big and clunky due to the added electronics. Make sure your switch box is the right size. If your box is already crammed with wires, choose a switch with terminals rather than wire leads.
3. Neutral wire
Most of the time, it is necessary to connect a smart dimmer switch to a neutral wire. If your home was built before 1978, however, you may not have neutral wires. There are exceptions though, and you can still find smart light switches that don’t necessitate a neutral wire.
4. Hire a pro or do it yourself
Installing a dimmer switch generally requires the use of tools and the ability to work with electrical wiring. Although it is not difficult, some people may benefit from hiring assistance.
5. Get rid of your smart bulbs
Never use a smart dimmer with smart bulbs. Because most of them aren’t compatible, they’ll flicker, spark, strobe, or buzz.
TP-Link Kasa Smart Wi-Fi Light Switch Dimmer HS220
We recommend the TP-Link Kasa Smart Wi-Fi Light Switch Dimmer HS220 if you are looking forward to get the most efficient and extensive smart dimmer switch.
Kasa is a sub-brand of TP-Link, a well-known networking device manufacturer that also sells smart home devices that can connect to your smart home network. The Kasa HS220 smart dimmer switch is recommended because it is a remarkable choice that is both budget friendly and useful enough to justify replacing traditional switches. You can easily customize all of the lighting in your home thanks to a wealth of smart functionality and customization.
On the other hand, Kasa is a user-friendly app that comes with smart dimmer switches. With straightforward controls for Presets, Schedules, and Timers, you can easily manage your lights with the app.
When you buy the TP-Link Kasa Smart Wi-Fi Light Switch Dimmer HS220, you’ll have:
- Smart light switch, dimmer x 1
- Wall plate x 1
- Wire nuts x 2
- Quick start guide
Product Specifications of TP-Link Kasa Smart Wi-Fi Light Switch Dimmer HS220
| Standards And Protocols | Secured Wi-Fi Network |
| Protocol | IEEE 802.11b/g/n |
| Wireless Type | 2.4GHz, 1T1R |
| System Requirements | Android 5.0 or higher, iOS 10 or higher |
| Environment | Indoor use only |
| Dimensions( H X W X D ) | with panel 5.06*3.33*1.74 in. (128.65*84.65*44.21mm) without panel 4.13*1.71*1.74 in. (105*43.5*44.21mm) |
| Weight | 0.15 kg (net weight) |
| Input Voltage | 100 – 120VAC 60Hz Neutral wire required |
| Maximum Load | 150W LED/300W Incandescent/150W CFL |
| Dimming Type | Leading Edge Dimming / Triac Phase Cut |
Features and Characteristics of TP-Link Kasa Smart Wi-Fi Light Switch Dimmer HS220
TP-Link Kasa Smart Wi-Fi Light Switch Dimmer HS220 ranks high in best smart dimmer switch reviews thanks to its incredible features. So, let’s take a look at what they’ve got.
1. Easy to Use
Before all else, the TP-Link Kasa Smart Wi-Fi Light Switch Dimmer HS220 is extremely easy to operate, which is clearly what you want from a smart dimmer switch. Moreover, the Kasa Smart app walks you throughout every step of the wiring process and connects you to your home’s Wi-Fi network.
“Installed my new TP-Link Kasa Smart Dimmer Switch and I must say directions were easy to follow and easy to add to Alexa!!! Planning on getting another one for my dining room. Keep up the good work TP-Link!!!!” – Happy customer on Amazon
2. Control with Voice
Despite the low price, this product works great with popular voice assistants and thus allows for integration with Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, and IFTTT, making it incredibly valuable. With an Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, or Microsoft Cortana-enabled device, you can easily control lighting levels with voice commands.
3. Control from Anywhere
When you leave a light on when you’re not at home, it’s sometimes a deliberate safety precaution, and other times it’s a frustrating burden. In any case, this smart dimmer switch allows you to control your lighting as needed from a distance, as well as control the atmosphere of any space with the touch of a button. You can use the Kasa app or your beloved voice assistant device to control it from anywhere.
4. Group
You can use the Kasa Smart App’s Grouping feature to group together your other Kasa devices, such as smart plugs and smart bulbs, for unified control with just one click on your smartphone to create ‘Scenes.’ For example, to make it easier to turn on the lights in your living room when you get home, group your bulbs, plugs, and light switches together. Simply make it a part of a scene for when you wake up, go to sleep, or to make it appear as if you’re at home when you aren’t.
5. Schedule
You can use ‘Schedules’ to program your smart dimmer switch to turn on and off automatically while you’re at home or away. You can also set your device to turn on and off based on your location using IFTTT or Nest.
6. Gentle Off
At this price point, the Kasa app offers a level of customization that is unbeatable. It has settings for dimming fade speeds for on and off, and how long that fade off should last – four preset speeds range from instant to a few seconds. Those controls can be useful; for example, you can use ‘Gentle Off’ to gradually dim the lights in your child’s room as they fall asleep, or to give yourself enough time to leave a room without stumbling over something in the dark.
7. Brightness Control
This is ideal for setting the environment for any activity from fancy dinner parties to comfy study sessions. Plus, managing the brightness of both energy-saving LEDs and traditional incandescent bulbs in any room. You can dim or turn off the switch by using the app or simply asking your voice assistant – Alexa or Google Assistant. The Kasa Smart HS220 keeps track of your dimming preferences. If you turn off the light when it’s dimmed to 50%, for example, the Kasa Smart HS220 will turn on to that setting the next time you trigger it, unless you’ve programmed it to do anything other than that.
8. Custom Actions
You can program custom actions for the switch using the app. This is determined as to whether you tap it twice or press it long enough to do something like turn it on and off instantly, fade it off, or dim it to a preset level. A double tap, for example, can turn the light on to 50% and a long press can fade it off after a minute.
9. Dimming Calibration
This feature is available at the bottom of the Kasa app’s Device Settings menu. That is to say, this is how you fix it if you’ve ever dimmed lights with a smart switch and thought they weren’t dim enough, or if you’ve experienced flicker.
Open the setting and drag your finger across the dimming strip to find the minimum level at which the bulbs will light up. Click Test once you’ve done that. The lights will then gradually brighten from the lowest to the highest setting. There should be no flickering during the process. So if you notice flickering, you may need to adjust the levels or, if the bulbs aren’t compatible, replace them.
10. No Hub Required
You don’t need a hub with this model because it connects directly to your secured 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi network. So, there’s no need for a third-party smart home hub.
Flaws of TP-Link Kasa Smart Wi-Fi Light Switch Dimmer HS220
Kasa has clarified that retailers are selling multiple versions of this dimmer switch model, and some users have reported that one version makes a subtle squeak when the rocker is physically moved. However, it’s not uncommon for businesses to upgrade their hardware without notice. But if you’re bothered by this problem, you can return the dimmer to the store or contact Kasa directly. Whereas Kasa will provide a two-year warranty.
Remember that this is a single pole dimmer switch. This means it can only control one circuit from a single location, making it less flexible than 3 or 4 way switches.
This switch works with incandescent bulbs up to 300 watts and LED bulbs up to 150 watts. However, some users have reported hearing some buzzing when using the switch with multiple LED light bulbs.
How to Install TP-Link Kasa Smart Wi-Fi Light Switch Dimmer HS220
The Kasa smart dimmer switch is also simple to set up and doesn’t require the use of a smart home hub to function. For installation, the Kasa app includes detailed, easy-to-follow instructions. After all, it takes less than 30 minutes to complete and only requires common household items. However, this model, like many other switches and dimmers on the market, necessitates the use of a neutral wire. That means it may be difficult to install in homes with older electrical wiring. But neutral wires are standard in most homes built after 1978.
- Firstly turn off the electricity.
- Remove the old switch.
- Make sure there are no neutral wires. Look in the back of the junction box for a bunch of white wires folded up and secured with a wire nut. These are neutral wires, which are necessary when using a smart switch.
- Disconnect the old switch’s wires completely.
- Connect the wires to the new smart dimmer’s corresponding wires.
Smart Dimmer Switch | Conclusion
You can use a smart home system to monitor and manage your home based on your personal tastes. If you don’t want to think about the whole system, you can opt for standalone devices like motion sensors, smart locks, smart lighting, smart security cameras, smart humidifiers, smart doorbells, smart switches and smart dimmer switches to manage your home using your smartphone or tablet. A smart dimmer light switch has many features similar to some of the best smart light bulbs in the market, but most importantly – without the added cost! So why not have smart dimmer switches to dim your lights when you study, watch a movie or when dinner is ready, as well as brighten them when you get ready to go to college, work etc with ease?
