Turning on the living room light from your phone, scheduling the outdoor lighting to come on at dusk or switching everything off in one go when you leave the house: all this is possible without redoing your electrical installation. You simply add a smart module behind the existing switch. You keep your switches, lamps and cables, and add remote control on top. Here is how to make your lighting smart, which module to choose and which precautions to take.
Contents
Switch and smart module: how it works
A smart module (or smart relay) is a small unit that fits inside the wall box, behind the switch, or in a junction box. It connects to your Wi-Fi and controls the lighting circuit instead of the switch. The wall switch is connected to the module's input: it keeps working normally.
The result: you switch the lights on and off as before, but also from the app, by voice or on a schedule. And if the internet goes down, the physical switch still works.
Which Shelly module to choose?
Our Smart Home section offers several Shelly modules. The specifications below are those stated on their product pages:
| Module | Channels | Key feature | Ideal for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shelly 1PM Gen3 | 1 channel, 16 A | Measures the circuit's actual consumption | A light, but also a water heater, pump or high-power socket |
| Shelly 1 Gen4 | 1 channel, 16 A | Dry contact, Wi-Fi 6, Zigbee and Matter | 230 V lighting, gate, door strike or low-voltage circuit |
| Shelly 2PM Gen3 | 2 channels, 10 A each | Per-channel metering, roller shutter mode | Double switch (two separate lights), or a roller shutter |
The Shelly 1PM Gen3 and Shelly 1 Gen4 are 280 DH, the Shelly 2PM Gen3 is 395 DH (up-to-date prices on the product pages). None of these modules needs a gateway for Wi-Fi: they connect directly to your modem. They work with the Shelly app and, according to their product pages, with Amazon Alexa, Google Home, SmartThings and Home Assistant.
What to check before installation
- A neutral wire: these modules are powered at 110–240 V and need both live and neutral. In many homes, the neutral does not reach the switch box but only the ceiling light. In that case, the module can be placed in the junction box or near the light fixture. Your electrician checks the wiring diagram in the instructions.
- Space in the box: Shelly modules measure 37 × 42 × 16 mm. They fit in most wall boxes, but a shallow box already full of wires can be a problem. Send us a photo on WhatsApp if in doubt.
- Circuit power: stay below the module's maximum current (16 A for the 1PM Gen3, 10 A per channel for the 2PM Gen3), with a suitable circuit breaker upstream (16 A maximum according to the product pages).
- Type of load: for inductive loads (LED drivers, transformers, motors), the 2PM Gen3 product page states that the manufacturer requires an RC snubber.
- Wi-Fi: the signal must be good at the location of the box. A box recessed in a concrete wall reduces range.
Brico MIM tip: start with one or two rooms (the living room and outdoor lighting, for example). You will quickly see the benefit of schedules and scenes, then you can extend to the rest of the house without changing anything on your first modules.
Installation steps
Important: the connection is made on a 230 V installation. Shelly's product pages recommend having it done by a qualified electrician. This is a matter of safety and compliance. The steps below are to help you understand the work:
- Switch off the circuit breaker for the circuit at the electrical panel and check there is no voltage with a tester.
- Remove the switch and identify the wires: live, neutral, lamp return and switch wires.
- Connect the module according to the wiring diagram in its instructions (power supply, switch input, output to the lamp).
- Refit the switch, place the module at the back of the box without crushing the wires, then close it up.
- Restore power and add the module in the app: it appears as a Wi-Fi network « Shelly… » when first set up.
- Set the switch type (push button or toggle switch) in the app, then test.
Everyday use ideas
- Scheduled outdoor lighting: on in the evening, off at a set time.
- Presence simulation during holidays, by turning on lights in different rooms at different times.
- Voice control with an assistant such as the Amazon Echo Dot 4th generation.
- Wall control panel: the Shelly Wall Display 4″ brings the home's controls together on a touch screen.
- Consumption monitoring with PM modules, to know what a circuit really costs.
To go further, read our guide smart home: where to start with home automation.
Frequently asked questions about smart switch modules
Do I need to change my switches?
No. The module fits behind the existing switch, which keeps working. You keep your existing switches.
What happens if the internet goes down?
The wall switch still controls the light. Only features that go through the cloud (remote control from outside the house, for example) require a connection.
Can one module control several lamps?
Yes, if they are on the same circuit controlled by the same switch, within the module's power limit. For two separate circuits, choose a 2-channel module such as the 2PM Gen3.
Do you deliver everywhere in Morocco?
Yes, Brico MIM delivers to all cities in Morocco, with cash on delivery.
Make your lighting smart
Shelly modules, wall displays and voice assistants: switch to a smart home without major works.
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