I received and installed this switch today. It is easy to install, but it does protrude from the wall (thickness of frame/housing) enough that a standard switch plate will not pull flush against the wall behind it. This only matters if you're using it in a box with other switches and need a double or triple switch cover (like my application). It did include a single switch cover that is deep enough, and it appears to be a nice one. You must use the native app for initial setup and linking to Alexa. It appears you needs BOTH apps running for Alexa control. I would prefer if Alexa could recognize and configure this switch without the native app. The included (paper) instructions were not useful for setup. I had to trial and error my way through, but it was intuitive enough that between Alexa and Smart Life apps, I figured it out pretty quickly. Depress and hold the switch for 7 seconds to enter pairing mode. The switch works fine being controlled by either app, although the smart-life app is very basic, just on/off and building a simple timer schedule. Through Alexa however, you have greatly expanded capability, such as sunset to sunrise, with offsets, easily configured as a routine. I have mine set that way (through the Alexa routine. Once thing that seems counterintuitive is that the LED status light is RED for on, and GREEN for off. There does not appear to be a way to change that, but, a quick google search revealed that this convention appears to actually be an old electrical standard. Red for "Power on, unsafe" and green for "Power off, safe". All in all I'm happy with this unit, and it does everything the manufacturer claims it does. Read more
The media could not be loaded. I recently upgraded my home lighting system. I selected the BN-LINK WiFi Smart In-Wall Light Switch. Installation was pretty easy, and I would say that anyone that has ever done any fix-it stuff around the house would probably not have difficulty installing the switch. There are instructions instructions provided made the process straightforward. One of the standout features is its integration with Amazon Alexa – setting it up to work with voice commands was quick and easy. The convenience of being able to control the lights with simple voice prompts adds a new level of ease to my life. What sets the BN-LINK switch apart is its compatibility without the need for a hub or a neutral wire. This not only simplifies the setup process but also makes it more accessible for those who may not have a neutral wire in their electrical system. The switch has been reliable in its performance, responding promptly to commands through the app or Alexa. While I appreciate the convenience it offers, it's important to note that occasional connectivity issues have arisen when the home network had connectivity issues. However, these instances have been rare and didn't significantly impact my overall use of the device. In would say that the BN-LINK WiFi Smart In-Wall Light Switch is a great addition for those looking to modernize their home lighting with user-friendly features and seamless smart home integration. Read more
Overall I'm satisfied with this switch. It installed simply. It is a tad too wide for standard deco-style faceplates requiring a little manual whittling of the faceplate to fit. It works easily with the Smart Life app. The cloud-based scheduling and dawn/dusk scene triggers work well as long as you have a stable internet connection. Setting it up works reliably provided you have fixed 2.4GHz wifi (no hybrid with 5GHz) and turn off any VPN app on your phone while setting up the switch. It works well with Google Home, though with occasional service hiccups. Or, if you prefer local automation that doesn't depend on the cloud, there are Tuya and Tasmota firmware images available which make this switch work with Home Assistant and other solutions. It lasted 4 years and 1 month before starting to have stability problems. It locked up twice requiring a power-cycle at the breaker and then hard reset and re-setup to get it working again. Then it died completely after another month. No light, no response to button presses. A leaky 470uF 10v capacitor inside testing way below spec caused the failure. Replacing that repaired it. Here's hoping it lasts for several more years of operation. Read more
I bought one of these switches several months ago and it worked great. I was able to set it up using the SmartLife app and put it on a regular schedule. When I ordered what was supposedly the exact same switch more recently Amazon either sent me a newer version or just the wrong one. The new one requires use of the BN-Hub app which is complete garbage and can't even setup a regular dusk to dawn on/off schedule for a light switch. Read the reviews of the app. It's complete garbage. I wish I could get the same switch I ordered previously but I guess when Amazon says "buy again" that means buy whatever we feel like sending you this time not necessarily the same product you ordered before. Read more
Contrary to some reviews, I had this switch installed in 15 minutes. If you aren't familiar with electric circuits, get someone to help you. You need two things, a neutral wire and to know which wire is your hot one and which one is the load wire. You can test for this with a multimeter or a contactless tester. The neutral wires, if present are usually two or more white wires in the back of the gang box connected with a wire nut. You just have to take the wire nut off, add the white wire from the switch and put the wire nut back on. OF COURSE, MAKE SURE YOU SHUT THE CORRECT CIRCUIT BREAKER OFF BEFORE YOU TOUCH ANY WIRES. The black wire from the switch gets connected to the HOT or LINE wire from the switch you are replacing and the red wire from the switch gets connected to the LOAD or non-hot wire from the old switch. The green wire gets connected to the bare ground wire. Download the BN-LINK SMART app and follow instructions. If you don't have a neutral wire, you will have to do a search for the no-neutral version of this switch. Read more
