Rewire circuits without smart home: push buttons, one switch, permanent power
Not every change needs a smart device. Retiring a switch position, moving to push buttons with an impulse relay or putting the lamp on permanent power usually works with the cables already in the wall.
Guides
- Convert an intermediate circuit to push buttons and an impulse relayReplace intermediate switching with push buttons + impulse relay, using the existing cables. Wiring plan box by box, relay in the junction box.
- Reduce a two-way circuit to one switchRetire one of two switches: the two-way circuit becomes a one-way circuit. Wiring plan box by box, a blank plate for the second switch.
Devices and goals
Lamp on permanent power (e.g. Philips Hue)
The lamp always has power; the switches are retired.
Needs: Works with any installation.
Keep just one switch
Only one switch still works; the other positions get a blank plate.
Needs: Almost always works.
Every switch toggles the lamp (two-way / intermediate)
Every switch toggles the lamp, as in a two-way or intermediate circuit.
Needs: Enough cores between the switches.
Push buttons + impulse relay
Push buttons at every position and an impulse relay that toggles on every press.
Needs: Room for the relay, ideally in the junction box.
What fits which circuit?
Worked out for each textbook circuit: does it fit, and how many steps it takes.
| Installed today | Lamp on permanent power (e.g. Philips Hue) | Keep just one switch | Every switch toggles the lamp (two-way / intermediate) | Push buttons + impulse relay |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| One-way | ✓ fits8 steps | ✓ fits0 steps | ✓ fits0 steps | ✓ fits9 steps |
| Two-way with junction box | ✓ fits18 steps | ✓ fits16 steps | ✓ fits0 steps | ✓ fits17 steps |
| Two-way, no junction box | ✓ fits10 steps | ✓ fits10 steps | ✓ fits0 steps | ✓ fits11 steps |
| Intermediate | ✓ fits28 steps | ✓ fits26 steps | ✓ fits0 steps | ✓ fits29 steps |
| Push buttons | ✓ fits17 steps | ✓ fits17 steps | ✗ doesn’t fit | ✓ fits0 steps |