Having replaced over half of our standard LED light bulbs with the Philips Hue Personal wireless LED light bulbs only one problem remained, how to replace the UK light switch with the Philips Hue light switch? UK light switches are square, and Philips Hue wireless light switches are rectangular, it is not a case of simple case of just replacing one with the other, it just doesn’t fit whatever you try to do.
Fortunately someone very resourceful has tackled the problem and provided a neat solution. Armed with a bank of 3D Printers, this eBayer produces and sells a variety of different UK light switch to Philips Hue light switch adapter plates. The adapter plate screws over the top of the existing UK light switch to allow access to the original wall mounted on/off switch.
The adapter shown plates below are a 10mm deep, singles. Other sizes include 5mm, a wider slot to accommodate access to up to two light switches, and version that acts as a blanking plate.
Behind each adapter plate is a rare earth magnet to allow the remote to be retained within the slot. Also included are longer screws and screw blanking caps.
The finish of the 3D adapter plate printed is excellent. Yes you can see the grain of the printed material, it is not a problem and not something you’ll be staring at all day anyway. One item to note is that the the adapter is not glossy, if this is an issue and you’re a dab hand with a spray can of paint it would be something you could modify. In the photo above you can see tiny hairs of plastic, these were easy to brush off as you will see in the later photographs.
Step 1: Here’s our standard UK light switch; to get started simply remove the screws from the switch.
Step 2: Place the light switch adapter over the original light switch and replace the screws, use the longer screws if required. The adapter plate is orientated with the indentation at the top. The original light switch remains accessible through the opening.
Step 3: Place the Philips Hue remote light switch into the adapter plate’s slot, the magnet on the rear of the adapter plate will hold the Hue remote light switch in place.
Step 4: Optional – add the supplied screw blanking plates. These are a friction fit and do require a little work with a nail file or similar to get them to fit flush. I don’t feel they are needed and have only attached them in the photograph below for illustrative purposes.
The original Philips Hue adapter plate is no longer needed and can be stored or re-sold.
This is a brilliant product, a wonderful invention, and reasonable value at £10.99 including UK postage.
(PHILIPS is a registered trademark of Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
I had to search for Philips Hue remote light switch to find out what they were. Not one for me, but I must say the solution is ingenous and well done the flea bayer for providing it
One day all bulbs will be like this, but it is fair to say they are quite expensive at the moment. I was cynical at first, but I wouldn’t go back to a standard LED bulbs.
I’m the ebayer in question, thank you so much for the review! Whilst I’m obviously making a bit of money out of this the feedback I get and this review (my first non-ebay one!!!) do mean a lot too. I originally designed this to fill a personal need and have been taken by surprise at how many people want them that I struggle to keep up with demand!
A bit of shameless self-promotion now (sorry), I can also do custom designed Hue Switch mounts, I’ve done some for a dutch chap, someone from the Czech Republic, 4 gang switches, various weird and wonderful non-standard switches, etc, etc. I also do Lego light switch covers that you can attach lego figures or blocks too but no one seems interested in those for some reason!
Thanks once again for the well written and laid out review. It really is appreciated!
Chris
Hi Chris,
Thank you for your comment! I wondered if anyone would see this blog post, and I guess the comment has answered my question!
My reasons for the review is:
(a) to try and get the solution out to other UK Hue users as I had a terrible time in trying search on how to solve the issue before I eventually found your eBay listing.
(b) as a roundabout way of saying thank you to you.
I am pleased to be your first non-eBay review!
Regarding the Lego switches, as a father of 3 young boys I don’t want them seeing light switches as ‘toys’? Their lego gets everywhere as it is, and grazing my knuckles on their latest creation isn’t my idea of fun, though that may just be me as a grumpy old bloke! The lego light switches are very cool though, if I didn’t have kids I’d probably have a few :) :)
Oh, have to add visitors are in awe when I remove the Hue remote from your light switch to see the hard-wired switch below, it wasn’t what they were expecting.
Will be in touch for a few more faceplates in the future, and possibly a couple of custom faceplates when we expand Hue lighting to the rest of our house.
If there is anything I can help you with please let me know?
Many thanks,
Steve
Hi,
I wanted to comment also. I spent a good few hours scouring the web for a solution to the problem we have here in the UK when it comes to compatible, sensible solutions to the Hue light swtich covers. The dimmers come with a stick on wall mount, which is a poorly thought through design given you have to attach this to the wall… next to the light switch… which my family consistently and habitually turn off, which makes the Hue bulb investment useless and uncontactable. I stumbled upon Chris Crute’s design and got in touch. He took my requirement and delivered the first one to test… it was perfect in dimensions, usability and practicality. I ordered a few more and have just put in an order for another – this time to cover over a 3 gang switch.
I’ve got to say Chris has been super helpful and is on to a winner here. Well done Chris – perfect product to resolve ‘first world problems’. Thanks
Thanks for the review – and do the original 3D printer / ebayer! I’ve been looking at various similar things and initially I went for a fish key plate and simply ended up sticking the hue module at the side.
Now I’ve got some double sockets to replace, so I’ve had another look and these seem ideal. Ordered one to test – no doubt will be back for more!
Thanks
J
I’ve got five of these switch covers from Chris so far and agree that they’re great. My wife hasn’t adopted Alexa voice control of lights as much as I have but she is happy to use the dimmer switches. By hiding the original light switches I’ve completely eliminated the occasions where she accidentally disabled the Hue bulbs by switching them off.
Thanks for this. It’s amazing how hard it is still to find a solution to this problem. I’m don’t really fancy bypassing the switch and using a blank faceplate so this is absolutely perfect. I’ve been in touch and now just have to wait for them to come back in stock.
I’m sure you lot are familiar already but I’ve only just started using the iConnectHue app which allows pretty much unlimited customisation over all the dimmer buttons. Absolutely incredible – I’m never going back to normal bulbs!