Verdict
Neat, easy to suit and straightforward to make use of, TP-Hyperlink’s Tapo S220 Good Gentle Swap provides good management to a lighting circuit. It’s an effective way to combine non-smart and specialist bulbs into lighting and different automation situations, but it surely does have some limitations – mainly that it’s no use for two-way wiring similar to on the steps. Nonetheless, at this value it’s an ideal addition to an present good setup.
Cons
- One-way wiring solely
- No dimmer
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Make dumb lights goodThis good change replaces a regular one, letting you flip two lighting circuits on and off utilizing the Tapo app.
Introduction
Good bulbs are getting extra different, however you’ll be able to’t but discover one for each becoming or utility. Step ahead TP-Hyperlink’s S220, a two-gang good gentle change to interchange a single standard one.
The S220’s two switches can toggle the facility to 2 separate lighting circuits, or you’ll be able to management them manually or routinely by way of the Tapo app.
The S220 ought to match the prevailing backbox behind most traditional fashionable gentle switches. There’s additionally a single change model, the S210. Every circuit can deal with as much as 600 watts of lighting, or a ceiling fan of as much as 50W.
Whereas most Tapo gadgets join on to your present Wi-Fi community, the S220 and S210 require both the H100 or H200 hub. You should purchase the previous for round £15.
Design and options
- Good, slimline design
- Bodily, app and voice management
- On and off, however no dimming
The TP-Hyperlink Tapo S220 Good Gentle Swap has a contemporary, fuss-free design. Moderately than two small switches on a big backplate, it’s all switches – you merely press both facet gently to toggle the facility on and off.
Unlock the entrance plate, pull it off and you may match and alter the batteries with out going close to any reside wiring.
In lots of circumstances, the S220 is a simple alternative for a traditional gentle change, however there are some necessities and limitations. First, it makes use of low-energy 868MHz wi-fi communications, so that you’ll want both the Tapo H100 or H200 hub to attach it to your community and get good management of it.
Second, this and the single-gang S210 are each one-way switches, which means their energy is both on or off, reasonably than switched between two doable outputs. This implies you’ll be able to’t use them the place you presently have two switches controlling a single gentle circuit, similar to on the steps.
Supplied you’ve bought an acceptable change to improve, it shouldn’t be too exhausting to suit the S220. As a result of it’s battery powered you’ll be able to add it by way of the Tapo app and get it configured earlier than bodily connecting it. After turning off the related lighting circuit (or the entire home if you wish to be extra cautious) out of your fuse field, you’ll be able to unscrew the prevailing becoming, be aware of its wiring configuration and take away it.
The Tapo app exhibits you learn how to wire the S220 up, and I discovered the method pretty easy, however we all the time advocate you seek the advice of an electrician if you happen to’re in any doubt.
The one difficulty I encountered was that the S220 is sort of deep, and my backbox accommodates fairly a mass of wires – I needed to tease the change into place earlier than I might get it to suit flush.
There’s not far more to the S220. The app presents it as two separate lighting switches, reasonably than a single two-gang change, which makes extra sense relating to creating automations. You may, for instance, add each circuits to a ‘bedtime’ routine that turns them each off, or to a ‘film evening’ routine that turns a eating space gentle off and the TV space gentle on.
The Tapo app is appropriate with Alexa and Google Assistant, so you can too management both change together with your voice, or add them to Google Residence routines. The one actual omission is that the switches are on/off solely – in order for you dimming management you’ll want to purchase the Tapo S200D dimmer change, which is single-gang solely. Reassuringly, the S220’s bodily switches nonetheless work even when the Tapo hub or your web connection are down – they’ll fail if the batteries are flat, although.
This brings me to my solely different criticism. Being battery-powered means there’s no mains energy consumption, but it surely might imply battery waste. Thankfully, the S220 labored advantageous once I tried it with a pair of rechargeable AAA batteries.
Newest offers
Must you purchase it?
You need to add good controls: It is a nice alternative if you wish to add good controls to dumb lighting or a ceiling fan
You need extra options and color altering: A Philips Hue-based system will make extra sense.
Last Ideas
It is a easy and efficient means so as to add good on/off management to older or designer lights the place good bulbs can be inconceivable or impractical. It’s moderately simple to suit, and straightforward to configure for good management by way of the Tapo app. It’s a disgrace it wants a hub, however the H100 is sort of cheap, and it helps different sensors and switches that might provide help to automate extra in your house. If you happen to can match good bulbs, a Philips Hue system with a Retrotouch Pals of Hue Good Swap gives you extra versatility.
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FAQs
You’ll want both the H100 or H200 hub if you happen to don’t have already got one.
Energy on the hub, faucet Add within the Tapo app, then comply with the prompts to get the hub up and working. As soon as it’s, set up the batteries or take away the insulating tab in the event that they’re already put in. Then faucet Add and once more, comply with the prompts.
No. It makes use of low-power networking, so it wants a Tapo hub to have the ability to speak to your different gadgets.
