2-Pack TP-Link Tapo S505 Smart WiFi Light Switch w/ Voice Control

AlphaDag13

Oct 9, 2024 7:15 PM

963 Comments

Joined Jul 2019

AlphaDag13Oct 9, 2024 7:15 PM

963 Comments

Can this also dim?

1

9000RPM

Oct 9, 2024 9:02 PM

746 Comments

Joined Nov 2013

9000RPMOct 9, 2024 9:02 PM

746 Comments

Quote from SkyeC

:

This is not a dimmer, i think this is just an on/off or toggle switch, but if younwant to get started with smart switches and you want to stick to one brand and get these, and some dimmers too, don't get this junk. TP link makes terrible dimmers. They are wirecutters' choice but I got a bunch was pretty annoyed. I had trouble with about 1 in 5 not connecting to my wifi, but worse than that is that, it cuts the lights off when dimmed to about 25%. It's adjustable in the app but only makes a tiny difference. It's very annoying, a dimmer should never actually cut the lights off, ideally maybe down to 1% would be perfect but with this, you're turning it down and only 3/4 of the way or so and the light is off. It also reacts much slower than Casita or any of the other bame brand electronic dimmers.

I usually like wirecutter but this is a bone headed pic and I would really avoid these unless you just want the toggles and don't want dimmers on your network, AND don't mind returning a batch or two after they won't connect.

Weird. I have a total of 18 (dimmers, 3 ways, motion). 2 of them are Tapo and the rest are Kasa, no issues whatsoever for 2+ years. I made a similar comment on another post but you did not mention the square footage of your house and your wifi coverage.

3400sqft over 4 levels and I have wifi access points in a triangular configuration with no dead spots anywhere.

11

SharpDime649

Oct 10, 2024 12:49 AM

187 Comments

Joined May 2020

SharpDime649Oct 10, 2024 12:49 AM

187 Comments

Quote from 9000RPM

:

Weird. I have a total of 18 (dimmers, 3 ways, motion). 2 of them are Tapo and the rest are Kasa, no issues whatsoever for 2+ years. I made a similar comment on another post but you did not mention the square footage of your house and your wifi coverage.

3400sqft over 4 levels and I have wifi access points in a triangular configuration with no dead spots anywhere.

I don't have nearly as many as you, but I have maybe four switches (1 motion sensing and 1 dimmer) and 4 TP link smart plugs. I personally haven't had any issues. Connects to google home and Alexa no problem.

3

SkyeC

Oct 10, 2024 6:53 AM

707 Comments

Joined Aug 2013

SkyeCOct 10, 2024 6:53 AM

707 Comments

Maybe i got some duds, the switches with issues connecting were in the same room as the router, and another room seperated by 2 walls, but even the further room is plenty strong enough for the wifi to connect.

darius11

Oct 10, 2024 11:29 AM

1.2K Comments

Joined Jul 2015

darius11Oct 10, 2024 11:29 AM

1.2K Comments

Quote from SkyeC

:

This is not a dimmer, i think this is just an on/off or toggle switch, but if younwant to get started with smart switches and you want to stick to one brand and get these, and some dimmers too, don't get this junk. TP link makes terrible dimmers. They are wirecutters' choice but I got a bunch was pretty annoyed. I had trouble with about 1 in 5 not connecting to my wifi, but worse than that is that, it cuts the lights off when dimmed to about 25%. It's adjustable in the app but only makes a tiny difference. It's very annoying, a dimmer should never actually cut the lights off, ideally maybe down to 1% would be perfect but with this, you're turning it down and only 3/4 of the way or so and the light is off. It also reacts much slower than Casita or any of the other bame brand electronic dimmers.

I usually like wirecutter but this is a bone headed pic and I would really avoid these unless you just want the toggles and don't want dimmers on your network, AND don't mind returning a batch or two after they won't connect.

Dumb question but have you found a dimmer that takes the same lights to 1% instead of turning off at 25%? With dimmable LED bulbs this is YMMV I've found and seems to be more related to the bulb than the dimmer.

I have Kasa dimmers all over the house and they work a lot better with the wafer-style recessed lights and other bulbless fixtures than they do with most of my older bulbs.

1

frugal23

Oct 10, 2024 12:11 PM

701 Comments

Joined Dec 2008

frugal23Oct 10, 2024 12:11 PM

701 Comments

Can this control a ceiling fan with light switch?

9000RPM

Oct 10, 2024 4:10 PM

746 Comments

Joined Nov 2013

9000RPMOct 10, 2024 4:10 PM

746 Comments

Quote from darius11

:

Dumb question but have you found a dimmer that takes the same lights to 1% instead of turning off at 25%? With dimmable LED bulbs this is YMMV I've found and seems to be more related to the bulb than the dimmer.

I have Kasa dimmers all over the house and they work a lot better with the wafer-style recessed lights and other bulbless fixtures than they do with most of my older bulbs.

go to each dimmers setting and do the calibration

Last edited by 9000RPM October 11, 2024 at 06:19 PM.

FrancoisP59

Oct 10, 2024 9:03 PM

211 Comments

Joined May 2017

FrancoisP59Oct 10, 2024 9:03 PM

211 Comments

I can control a bathroom fan but not a ceiling fan.

consig1iere

Oct 10, 2024 9:48 PM

263 Comments

Joined Nov 2017

consig1iereOct 10, 2024 9:48 PM

263 Comments

Does anyone know if this supports Tasmota?

Luigis3rdcousin

Oct 10, 2024 9:52 PM

6.1K Comments

Joined Jul 2017

Luigis3rdcousinOct 10, 2024 9:52 PM

6.1K Comments

Quote from SkyeC

:

This is not a dimmer, i think this is just an on/off or toggle switch, but if younwant to get started with smart switches and you want to stick to one brand and get these, and some dimmers too, don't get this junk. TP link makes terrible dimmers. They are wirecutters' choice but I got a bunch was pretty annoyed. I had trouble with about 1 in 5 not connecting to my wifi, but worse than that is that, it cuts the lights off when dimmed to about 25%. It's adjustable in the app but only makes a tiny difference. It's very annoying, a dimmer should never actually cut the lights off, ideally maybe down to 1% would be perfect but with this, you're turning it down and only 3/4 of the way or so and the light is off. It also reacts much slower than Casita or any of the other bame brand electronic dimmers.

I usually like wirecutter but this is a bone headed pic and I would really avoid these unless you just want the toggles and don't want dimmers on your network, AND don't mind returning a batch or two after they won't connect.

My advice to you would be to look at your router, I use several TP link devices and I have an ASUS WiFi 6 main router with a secondary Netgear nighthawk router setup as an access point. I set all my smart lights and smart plugs to that second router and I don't have a lot of issues. We already have 20 other devices connected to our main router. We would get tons of disconnects and drops all the time like you said if I had all our devices and smart devices on one router. Typically 20 per frequency is a safe bet, so I set a dedicated 2.4ghz channel and 5ghz channel, same with my second access point since smart plugs prefer the 2.4
If your router is using the smart connect feature that could very well be the problem you were having.

Smart connect on most routers combines the 2.4 and 5ghz channels together. IT decides what devices goes where and it often does a sucky job of it. So I disable the smart connect feature.

Last edited by Luigis3rdcousin October 10, 2024 at 02:54 PM.

MeSandy

Oct 10, 2024 11:20 PM

1.4K Comments

Joined Jun 2013

MeSandyOct 10, 2024 11:20 PM

1.4K Comments

Quote from AlphaDag13

:

Can this also dim?

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CBNXTBSY?

Dimmer is at $23 for 2 Pack

5

blckgrffn

Oct 11, 2024 12:12 AM

818 Comments

Joined Dec 2009

blckgrffnOct 11, 2024 12:12 AM

818 Comments

Can I use of these switches as a trigger for another switch? For example, turning on one single pole switch for a large room turns on another zone of lights in the same room that are controlled by a different switch (of the same type)?

If so I need this yesterday…

Jaxidian

Oct 11, 2024 12:37 AM

2.8K Comments

Joined Oct 2012

JaxidianOct 11, 2024 12:37 AM

2.8K Comments

Quote from SkyeC

:

This is not a dimmer, i think this is just an on/off or toggle switch, but if younwant to get started with smart switches and you want to stick to one brand and get these, and some dimmers too, don't get this junk. TP link makes terrible dimmers. They are wirecutters' choice but I got a bunch was pretty annoyed. I had trouble with about 1 in 5 not connecting to my wifi, but worse than that is that, it cuts the lights off when dimmed to about 25%. It's adjustable in the app but only makes a tiny difference. It's very annoying, a dimmer should never actually cut the lights off, ideally maybe down to 1% would be perfect but with this, you're turning it down and only 3/4 of the way or so and the light is off. It also reacts much slower than Casita or any of the other bame brand electronic dimmers.

I usually like wirecutter but this is a bone headed pic and I would really avoid these unless you just want the toggles and don't want dimmers on your network, AND don't mind returning a batch or two after they won't connect.

I have some Tapo dimmers and run some lights at 10% on a regular basis. If your lights turn off at 25%, then that's probably your bulbs' fault. My dimmers even allow you to custom calibrate to your bulbs. Maybe you could do that to fix your problem?

Jaxidian

Oct 11, 2024 12:39 AM

2.8K Comments

Joined Oct 2012

JaxidianOct 11, 2024 12:39 AM

2.8K Comments

Quote from blckgrffn

:

Can I use of these switches as a trigger for another switch? For example, turning on one single pole switch for a large room turns on another zone of lights in the same room that are controlled by a different switch (of the same type)?

If so I need this yesterday…

I do this. I use a Matter connection to Google Home and use a routine to set a second dimmer to 10% when I turn the first dimmer to off. We do this in our kitchen to leave a night light on at all times (we live in a wooded area and it's often dark in the kitchen).

1

2-Pack TP-Link Tapo S505 Smart WiFi Light Switch w/ Voice Control

$18

$45

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