In this article Ben Pratt, the founder of B Electrical, looks into some of the ways you can make smarter lighting simple through the use of Shelly devices.
When it comes to modern lighting control, I’m a firm believer in keeping things simple, smart, and energy-efficient. That’s why I’m a big fan of Shelly.
Whether I’m working on residential projects, hospitality venues, or commercial installations, I always leverage the Shelly ecosystem to deliver seamless lighting experiences.
With the use of the free Shelly App to over 200+ integrations, Shelly makes it easy to control lighting alongside heating, blinds, and more, all in one unified system.
With that in mind, I’m going to give you a closer look at some of my go-to Shelly products and how I use them to create smarter, more energy-efficient lighting setups.
Shelly Mini 1PM – the perfect retrofit solution
The Shelly Mini 1PM is my secret weapon for turning ordinary light switches into smart ones without ripping up walls.
As the smallest relay in the world for smart control, I generally like to install them behind existing light fittings and switches so customers can control everything via the App, integrations or voice assistants.
Just like the other Shelly devices, it allows customers to set custom scenes and schedules, and to remotely switch lights on or off from anywhere.
Plus, with built-in power monitoring, my clients can track energy usage on individual circuits and optimise this accordingly, making more informed decisions about how and when they use their lighting.
Shelly dimmer series – versatile control for any lighting project
I rely on Shelly’s dimmer range to deliver flexible, reliable control across a wide variety of projects.
For residential retrofits, the Shelly Dimmer 2 is my go-to, especially in older properties where there’s no neutral at the switch. It fits neatly behind existing wall plates and allows seamless dimming of LEDs and traditional lighting.
For larger-scale or more advanced installations, I often install the Shelly Pro Dimmer 2 – a DIN rail-mounted, professional-grade option ideal for distribution boards in hotels or commercial spaces. It offers leading and trailing-edge dimming, LAN connectivity, and built-in protections, delivering robust, centralised control.
Shelly 0-10 V dimmers provide precise brightness control for 0-10 V compatible lights – perfect for landscapes or architectural highlights.
Shelly RGBW relays – colour and LED strip control
For customers who want dynamic lighting – think garden features, home cinemas, or ambient room lighting – I’ll always go for the Shelly RGBW PM.
With impressive responsiveness, it supports RGB or RGBW LED strips, as well as four independent white strips – perfect for cupboard lighting. Whether my customers are setting the mood for a chilled night in or a party, I’ll programme scenes so that they can activate their favourite presets through the Shelly App, schedules, or even a wall switch.
Shelly i4 – the master control panel
For advanced setups, the Shelly i4 is my favourite installation route, giving my clients multi-function control from a simple interface. I’ll wire up the i4 behind an existing switch or on a control panel to trigger up to 16 different scenes and actions (i.e. turn all lights off by pressing the switch by the front door).
The i4 doesn’t switch power directly but sends commands, making it perfect for customers who want button control without me having to spend a lot of time rewiring.
Wall Display – one touch control
Designed to fit the size of a standard pattress box, I’ll often add a Shelly Wall Display to offer a seamless retrofit solution to control lighting, heating, appliances, and music.
The centralised touch-screen control gives my clients an easy way to turn on/off lights or activate scenes without needing to grab for a smartphone. They can also see at a glance how much power their lights are using, helping them make smarter decisions about energy usage.
Switching options
I love Shelly because I can offer my clients a wide range of switch control options, making it easy to tailor the system to each project. Whether it’s using existing retractable wall switches, installing momentary push-buttons, or adding multi-gang keypads, Shelly works seamlessly behind the scenes.
In addition to retrofitting behind existing switches, I also lean on Shelly’s dedicated light switches, which are designed to complement the smart relays and dimmers.
For projects where a sleek, modern look is important, I recommend the Shelly Wall Switch series – available in single, double, and triple rocker configurations, as well as wireless Bluetooth versions. They offer a clean, minimalist design with high-quality finishes that fit well in both residential and commercial spaces.
Summary
Shelly strikes the perfect balance of affordable, flexible, and powerful. It works with existing wiring, offers both local and cloud control, and integrates easily with other platforms like Home Assistant, Google Home, and Amazon Alexa.
With Shelly, I can offer my clients top-notch smart lighting that doesn’t break the bank or complicate their lives. Simple, smart, and it just works.
COMMERCIAL PROJECT – SHELLY FOR HOSPITALITY LIGHTING
One of my standout projects was at the Marriott Hotel in London, where I integrated Shelly devices with the hotel’s existing Lutron lighting system.
By leveraging Shelly’s open API and compatibility with over 200+ platforms, I was able to bridge the two systems seamlessly.
This allowed the hotel to maintain its premium Lutron dimmers for guest room controls while using Shelly’s cost-effective modules for energy monitoring, and simplified management.
The result? A fully integrated system that enhanced guest comfort, improved energy efficiency, and provided the hotel’s facilities team with remote access and real-time control, without needing to overhaul the entire setup.
Get more details on the Shelly range of devices, available from NetXL here
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