How to Set Up TP-Link Smart Switches for Home Automation

Overview

In this article, we’ll show you how to set up TP-Link’s smart switches for home automation. We’ll go over the basics of setting up the hardware and then show you how to create scenes and integrate the switches with other smart devices in your home. By the end of this article, you’ll be able to control your lights, fans, and other appliances with just a few taps on your smartphone.

Hardware

To get started, you’ll need a TP-Link smart switch. We recommend the HS200 or HS210 model. These switches are easy to install and come with everything you need to get started. If you already have a TP-Link smart switch, you can skip this step.

Installation

Installing a TP-Link smart switch is a simple process. Just follow these steps:

1. Turn off the power to the circuit you’ll be working on.
2. Remove the old switch from the wall plate. For HS200 and HS210 switches, this simply involves removing the two screws that hold the switch in place.
3. Connect the black wire from the switch to the black wire from the wall. For HS200 and HS210 switches, this is the “Live” wire.
4. Connect the white wire from the switch to the white wire from the wall. For HS200 and HS210 switches, this is the “Neutral” wire.
5. Connect the green wire from the switch to the green wire from the wall. For HS200 and HS210 switches, this is the “Ground” wire.
6. Screw the switch into place on the wall plate. For HS200 and HS210 switches, this simply involves screwing the two screws back into place.
7. Restore power to the circuit.

Configuration

Now that the hardware is installed, it’s time to configure the switch. This is done using the TP-Link Kasa app, which is available for iOS and Android. Once you have the app installed, open it and tap the “Add Device” button.

On the next screen, select “Smart Switch” and then “HS200” or “HS210”. If you don’t see your switch model listed, tap the “Can’t find your device?” link and follow the instructions to manually add your switch.

Once you’ve selected your switch model, the app will guide you through the rest of the configuration process. This includes connecting your switch to your home’s Wi-Fi network and giving it a name.

Scene Creation

With the switch configured, you can now start creating scenes. A scene is a group of devices that you can control with a single tap. For example, you could create a scene that turns on the lights, adjusts the thermostat, and starts the coffee maker. To create a scene, open the TP-Link Kasa app and tap the “Scenes” tab.

On the “Scenes” tab, tap the “Add Scene” button and give your scene a name. Then, tap the “Add Device” button and select the devices you want to include in the scene. Once you’ve added all the devices you want, tap the “Done” button.

To run a scene, simply tap it in the “Scenes” tab. The app will take care of the rest, turning on the devices in the scene and adjusting them to your desired settings.

Automation Integration

In addition to manual control, TP-Link’s smart switches can also be integrated with automation platforms like Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, and IFTTT. This allows you to control your devices with voice commands or create custom automations that are triggered by other events. For example, you could create an automation that turns on the lights when you arrive home or that starts the coffee maker when your alarm goes off in the morning.

To set up automation integration, open the TP-Link Kasa app and tap the “Automations” tab. Then, tap the “Create Automation” button and select the trigger for your automation. For example, you could trigger the automation with a schedule, a device event, or a location.

Once you’ve selected the trigger, you’ll need to select the action. For example, you could turn on/off a device, adjust a device setting, or run a scene. When you’re done, tap the “Save” button to activate the automation.

Remote Access

In addition to controlling your devices locally with the TP-Link Kasa app, you can also control them remotely. To do this, you’ll need to set up TP-Link’s Cloud service. This service allows you to access your devices from anywhere in the world, as long as you have an Internet connection. To set up the Cloud service, open the TP-Link Kasa app and tap the “Devices” tab.

On the “Devices” tab, tap the “Add Device” button and select “Cloud Device”. Then, follow the instructions in the app to create a TP-Link Cloud account and link your devices.

Once your devices are linked to the TP-Link Cloud, you can control them from anywhere in the world using the TP-Link Kasa app. Just open the app, tap the “Devices” tab, and select the device you want to control.

Conclusion

That’s all there is to setting up TP-Link’s smart switches for home automation. With the switches installed and configured, you can now control your devices with just a few taps on your smartphone. You can also create scenes and automate your devices with other smart devices in your home.