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quickthrowman

This going to save maybe 10-15’ of 14/2 NM cable per light switch. Maybe 20-30’ of 14/3 if it’s a multi-way switch.

14/2 is about $0.45/ft and 14/3 is about $0.75/ft. A single pole switch is about $2.50-5.00.

This will cost more, assuming the wireless switch costs more than $15.

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Would it be feasible to just use low-voltage wire given that everything is LED now?

Also, for places where I don't have a wire but would like to add a recessed light, I wish I could find a battery powered one. I wouldn't mind getting on a ladder and plugging in a USB-C charger once or twice a year if it means I don't need to hire an electrician and fish wires around

Commercial lighting controls do tend to use low-voltage cable for switching, dimming, and occupancy sensing power/signaling, I am much less familiar with the residential world.

If this becomes mainstream, then the economies of scale should bring down the cost significantly. And cost aside, it would be safer and more customisable- you can install the switch anywhere and even change the location easily, don’t need a conduit with wires behind it.

Sure, but it’s compatible with smart devices without any jerry-rigging for backward compatibility, not to mention labor savings. You can probably use the transmitter to power other low energy IOT devices too.

You need to also consider labor cost of installing that cable and switch. That's usually more than the cost of the materials.

Romex is around 1.5-2 hrs per hundred feet and a single pole switch takes around 5 minutes. Even at $120/hr it’s around $30-40 of labor.

These wireless switches need relays to work, so factor that in. And then factor in the time it takes your $120/hr electrician to figure out how the wireless switches work.

I would use a $30 Lutron Pico with a button cell and RF communication over this silly device that generates its own power.

But what do I know, I only sell electrical services for a living.

For new construction. If it's a retrofit then the cost of fishing wire and cutting/repairing drywall has to be factored too.

Residential retrofits: Older Northeast US houses have ungrounded old cloth wiring, no cable protection, and no overhead light switches. While an electrician might be willing to touch the wiring, the walls simply cannot be cut cleanly, demoing them is a nightmare, and repair needs a skilled plasterer or a full demo and rebuild which is not all that much more effort. Assuming the wireless solution can plug in to a bulb socket or is simple to retrofit to a fixture

Will you rewire my house? I'm pretty sure I can't get an electrician to show up for less than a few hundred! Plus touching the panel I think will force us to bring the entire thing up to code (60s construction).

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