TP-Link Tapo Matter Smart Light Switch: Voice Control w/Siri, Alexa & Google Assistant | UL Certified | Timer & Schedule | Easy Guided Install | Neutral Wire Required | Single Pole | Tapo S505

TP-Link Quality Switch
I had started on my smart home journey many years ago and had initially used Belkin Wemo switches for my light fixtures. The Wemos never worked well, and I had switched them all out a number of years ago, replacing them with TP-Link Kasa switches, which have been trouble free and worked great with both Alexa and the Kasa app. I have 5 Kasa dimmer smart switches and I recently decided to add another one. In my search on Amazon I did find the Kasa switch but also saw that there was a newer model, which is this Tapo model. It looks to be the same as my Kasa switch, but also supported Matter.The Tapo switch looks and installs just like the older Kasa model. With installation, it’s straight forward, but key is having the neutral wiring as not all homes have them. You will also need to be a distinguish between the line and load wires (not important in older switches), so having a non-contact voltage tester would be helpful. The hardest part of the installation is tucking away the wires to get the switch to fit inside the wall box. The snap on cover plate gives the switch a nice clean look.With the switch installed, the next step is adding it to the app. It does not work with the old Kasa app, but the good news for me was that the Tapo app will work with my older Kasa smart devices. I downloaded the Tapo app and signed in with my TP-Link account, and it immediately populated all of my Kasa devices. Adding this switch was easy, just clicking on the “+” button and selecting the product. It found it right away and only took a few minutes. I have always liked the Kasa app and the Tapo app looks to be even better, as it’s intuitive, though I will need some time to try out the features. On my Alexa, I did unlink my Kasa skill and then linked the Tapo skill, though not sure if I really had to do that. Alexa found the Tapo switch right away and works as expected in controlling it.As Tapo supports Matter, I did also add it to Apple Home Kit. None of my older switches support Home Kit, so this is the only smart switch on Home Kit. To add to Home Kit, it just requires the QR code from the device, which I did not find in or on the box, so I initially thought it’s probably on the back of the switch, which didn’t make much sense to me. However, in looking at the device in the Tapo app, there was an option to show the QR code, so problem solved. Adding to Home Kit was also quick and easy once I had the QR code.I have over 2 dozen TP-Link smart devices in my home setup. All of them are in the Kasa line except for this new Tapo switch. I can attest to the quality of their devices and am happy that TP-Link is continuing to bring new functionality to their line.

Works as an automated switch
I use these in conjunction with a Tapo motion light switch. I haven’t rules set in the Tapo app that turn the bathroom fan on (using this switch) for 5 minutes after the motion light turns off. The app also lets me run this routine during certain time periods. I can also run a fan based on Tapos Humidity, motion or door sensors using the apps rules or Alexa routines. I also have the switch set to run the fan for 5 minutes when pressed. The switch connects well to Alexa. Installation is easy but requires a neutral wire. There’s a lot of functionality for the price, especially if you get these on sale during Prime Day. Tapo has other switches that are dimmable.

Great smart switches and plugs – TAPO
If you are in the market for smart switches and plugs – then Tapo is a must consider. These are reasonably priced, work as promised, comes in excellent packaging, and very easy to install.

Ce lot de deux interrupteurs intelligents Tapo Matter m’a vraiment impressionné par sa simplicité d’installation et sa compatibilité parfaite avec mon écosystème SmartThings. La configuration s’est faite en quelques minutes seulement, sans aucune complication. Depuis, ils fonctionnent sans faille : la réactivité est excellente et la connexion stable. Un produit fiable, bien conçu et idéal pour moderniser facilement son installation électrique. Je recommande à 100 %.

I’m not an electrician, and I was quite intimidated by the thought of installing this in my apartment suite rental. I put off on buying this for that very reason and went with smart bulbs instead. After a little research on the internet, I started feeling more comfortable with the idea of installing these switches. Here’s what you need to know (from a non technical standpoint).Your home needs to have a neutral wire in the switch box for this to work. There is apparently a workaround for homes without a neutral wire, but I can’t advise on that. If your home is a newer build, it may already have neutral wires. Here’s how to know if you have neutral wires in tour light switch box:-Turn the breaker to your light switch off and confirm there is no power to the switch (by turning the switch on to confirm no lights come on and also with the use of a non contact voltage meter).-Unscrew the screws holding the switch cover, and then unscrew the switch itself to pull it out. If there are only two screws on your switch with wires attached, then this is the product for you.(NOTE: If there are three screws with electrical wire attached to your switch, this is NOT the Tapo product for you. This means you have a three-way switch and Tapo makes a separate product for that.)-Now look inside the switch box to find a small bundle of wires (two or three maybe) all twisted together with a wire nut on them. This will be the neutral wires you are going to add the Tapo neutral wire to. If you have this small bundle of wire, you are good to go.(The only other thing you should see inside the box is a bare copper wire. This may be screwed to the box itself or may just be resting inside the box. This is the ground wire.)If your light switch and box meet the conditions above, then this Tapo product is for you and an easy one to install.The Tapo switch has four wires coming out of it, all labeled on the back. The Tapo switch also comes with wire nuts so you can securely add the Tapo wires to the existing wires. I would recommend removing then adding one wire at a time, leaving all the other existing wires alone until ready to connect them. In other words, disconnect ONE of the wires from your old switch, leaving the other one still connected. Connect one of the Tapo black wires to this one and then put the wire nut on it and make sure it’s secure. Next, disconnect the other wire from your old switch and connect the second Tapo black wire to this. Cap it with a wire nut.(Note that it doesn’t matter which black wire attaches to which of the old switch wires. If one of your old switch wires has TWO wires together going to ONE screw, keep these wires together and simply add one of the black Tapo wires to these wires.)Next, connect Tapo’s white neutral wire to the bundle of neutral wires existing in your box. After adding the Tapo neutral wire and putting a wire nut on it and testing that it is secure, finally add the green Tapo ground wire to the ground wire in your box.Make sure no bare copper wire is showing (except for the ground wire obviously). Push everything back into the box and screw the new Tapo switch into the box where the old switch was. I would turn the breaker back on at this point to see if the switch works. Even before being paired with your network. The Tapo switch will still turn on and off the power to whatever it controls. If it works, put the Tapo cover on. It’s a snap-on cover. Very easy to put on.The last thing to do id add the switch to the Tapo app amd to your network. And now you’re ready to start using your new Tapo switch!