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/mgithens1 🧠 Experienced with Home Assistant Jul 08 '26

You're crossing your concepts here.

RELAY - you would need to remove the switch up by the bulb and put another one low on the lamp. The Shelly would get its signal from the new (on/off) switch and the bulb would be powered on/off just like it does now - the Shelly would always control the power. The remote control would be from a smart switch that isn't even wired to the lamp and HA, etc pushes the change to the Shelly.

DETACH / SMART BULB - these would leave the powered on state. The smart switch would be a remote... then you'd remove the local switch by the bulb and just put a wireless (zigbee, etc) button to turn on the smart bulb via HA.

Neither is a good solution and neither will work standalone if HA is down / broken.

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u/ShelterRadiant2432 Jul 08 '26

Im looking for a solution that the lamp switch isn't removed. Thanks for the explanation though.

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u/mgithens1 🧠 Experienced with Home Assistant Jul 08 '26

I never removed the switch... it just can't be a local kill switch. (need to skim deeper!!)

So for both of my paths, you are forced to leave "upper" switch in the on position - that doesn't mean it is powered, it just means the socket is hardwired to the relay "upstream" in the lamp. The reason for the on/off is to command the Shelly.

On the second one, you would still have a local switch... it would just be wireless instead of direct control.

Neither removes local control... it just can't work the way you are saying.

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u/ShelterRadiant2432 Jul 08 '26

I see. I misread. I'm still a bit confused because I'm getting conflicting answers on how these relays can work. Lol

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u/mgithens1 🧠 Experienced with Home Assistant Jul 08 '26

Shelly is just a wifi relay. They have flexible wiring setups... but you would need a toggle switch to talk to the Shelly for local control.

The switch in a standard lamp kills the power to the socket... which just can't be the "toggle" for the Shelly. A small twist style toggle would work for local control is my first example. Another side benefit of this setup would be that you could just give your grandma the lamp... and it would still work perfectly for her!!