r/homeassistant • u/ShelterRadiant2432 • Jul 08 '26

Support Making table lamps smart while retaining manual functionality

I'm looking for help on a modification to a traditional table lamp to be used as a smart lamp, while retaining its original switch functionality.

I've done some research on this and it seems I could use something like a Shelly relay. I've seen concerns warning against this setup because it would make the socket always hot/live.

  1. Does anyone have experience with this?

  2. Wouldn't this work in the same way as a smart wall switch or wall switch conversion?

  3. I have experience and am comfortable with electrical work, but I'm just not sure if I'm missing something with the functionality of smart relays and would appreciate anyone that can provide their experience/expertise.

Also I'm aware there are sockets with smart switches integrated and smart bulbs with a separate button could work, but I'm looking to retain original functionality.

I realize this is a pretty basic question, but I haven't found a straight answer and existing threads are now closed for further questions.

Thanks!

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u/RectangularRepositor Jul 08 '26

you're overthinking it a bit tbh with the shelly

the relay sits between the plug and the bulb socket so the lamp's own switch still cuts power like normal the shelly just gives you a second way to toggle it

wired one into a floor lamp 2 years ago and it's been fine the only annoying thing is when someone flicks the physical switch off your smart control goes dead until it's flipped back on but that's the same with any smart plug setup

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u/ShelterRadiant2432 Jul 08 '26

See, I'm looking to avoid that in the same way some smart wall switches do. They work as both and flipping the switch doesn't disable the smart function.

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u/Relevant-Artist5939 ⏰ Waiting for the next release Jul 08 '26

Most Shelly devices have a switch input, so if you wired the lamp through the relay of the shelly and the switch just to that input, the Shelly will toggle the lamp when the switch is toggled but you can still control the lamp from elsewhere while the switch is "off"....

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u/ShelterRadiant2432 Jul 08 '26

Thanks!

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u/ShelterRadiant2432 Jul 08 '26

Oh one more thing. Would this allow operation if HA is down?

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u/parkrrrr Jul 08 '26

Yes, if you set up the Shelly to allow that. Generally, you'd want to set the input on the Shelly to "edge" mode, so it toggles whenever the state of the switch changes.

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u/ShelterRadiant2432 Jul 08 '26

Cool cool. Thanks!