Kasa Smart Light Switch HS200, Single Pole, Needs Neutral Wire, 2.4GHz Wi-Fi Light Switch Works with Alexa and Google Home, UL Certified, No Hub Required , White, HS200

I made the jump to a "Smart Home" a little over a month ago after Alexa joined our family. After talking to some friends, doing some research and assesing my needs I settled on TP-Link because of the variety of Smart products they offered, no requirements for a Hub, the lower cost and the ability to control everything from one simple app on my Smart phone and Amazon"s Alexa.I have not been disappointed. After a very short learning curve, I surprisingly found the installation and set-up of all the TP-Link Smart devices extremely easy and intuitive. I have installed several different Smart devices including three different bulbs (LB-100, 120 & 130) depending on the area, as well as, Smart Switches (HB-200) and Smart Plugs. All of it has installed, programed and worked with few problems.The only criticism I have is the Kasa App. I have found it to be a bit bugy at times, but since I use it primarily for programming and setting up new devices and scenes, rather than operationally, it has not been an issue since Alexa handels most of that work. So far, in the six weeks my Smart Home has been in operation I have only had one problem where Alexa and the Kasa app lost communication with most of (but not all) of my TP-Link devices. But after a bit of head scratching I was able to restore communication.So here's a tip to remember: I first tried rebooting the devices by cycling the power breaker, but that didn't work. Probably due to multiple devices signaling simultaneously and overloading Kasa. But, powering each device down for a few seconds then back up, and testing it before moving on ro the next one worked without a problem.I also recommend using a different control application. I only have experience with Amazon Alexa, but it also interfaces with Google Home among others. I have found that controlling scenes from Kasa not to be reluable for some reason, while issuing the scene commands to Alexa works 90% of the time, with repeating the command becoming necessary about 10% of the time. But even with an occasional repeated command being necessary, TP-Link devices respond extremely well through Alexa's control. Plus Alexa is able to easily "group" multiple devices so you can control areas with a single command, or program macro activities that Alexa can perform with a single command. Capabilities Kasa does not have.This is another deficiency of the Kasa app. Without the ability to group devices or run macro routines, it relies on programmed scenes which are very limiting for operational control. So another controlling app like Alexa or Home is essential to the TP-Link Smart Home system.For me, because I have Alexa for operational control, both at home and away, these short comings in the Kasa app are non-issues. But if I didnt have this capability I think I would look to a different Hub controlled platform for my Smart Home lighting and device control.HS-200 Smart Switch:I am a retired electrician, so I found the installation easy. Most DIY homeowners with a basic knowledge of electricity and components should also have few problems with the installation.I found this Smart Switch easy to control and the installation is about the same as replacing a standard light switch. But, a big drawback is not have a dimming capability. To me this should be a no-brainer and i cant understand why this featire is lacking. Because that would makevthis a 5 star product.So before you procede there are a couple of precautions that should be noted.First, you must three wires plus the ground (usually bare or green), and one must be the neutral (usually white) third wire, or the switch simply will not work. This can be an issue in some older homes (and even in some newer ones too).The neutral wire is the "common" wire that runs throughout the house and is common to all circuits. It completes the loop in the circuit from the electrical box to the receptacle. The "hot" (or "line") wire (usually black) carries the electrical load for that circuit only (usually 15-20 amps max). And finally, the "load" wire (usually black, red, or it could even be white) completes the hot side of the circuit between the switch and the receptacle. To save time and money some electricians when wiring homes "old school" would complete the light circuit by running the neutral to the light receptacle and then run a 2 conductor (plus ground) to the switch. So even though you may have a white and black wire at the switch, the white wire is not a neutral, but the load wire that that completes the hot circuit when the switch is turned on (closed). So if you don't have 3 wires, one of them being the white neutral, you are out of luck using a Smart Switch. You can control the light however, by using Smart bulbs and then grouping them in the controling app (like Alexa).Another caution is wire management. Standard light switches don't take up much room, so the original installing electrician had lots of room in the box to stuff extra wire. This is a luxury you don't have since the Smart Switch is much deeper and takes up most of the box. The new switch also uses leads that are wire nutted to the circuit wires and not terminated on the switch itself. Because of this, it may be necessay to shorten the wires to make room in the box for the extra electronics and wire nuts.My advice is to open your intended switch boxes to survey your electrical wiring BEFORE you order the switches, so there are no surprises when it comes time to install.One last safety precaution. Be sure to turn off the circuit at the electrical panel (breaker box). Also don't assume that all switches in a multi-switch box are on the same circuit. It is often the case that multiple circuits are in the box. This is especially true when a switch is controling a plug. So check all wires in the box with a meter to insure nothing is hot.Finally, when wire nutting multiple wires it is VERY EASY to leave a wire loose. This can be very dangerous, as loose wires can work themselves free and cause arking and sparking that can damage connected equipment, and worse, start a fire. This is a common cause of electrical fires, and you might not know there is a problem until it's too late. So to ensure all wire nut connections are tight and secure, tug on each wire at the nut with needle nose pliers. If you can't pull it loose it should be good to go. Also make sure there are no bare wires poking out of the nuts. The switches use stranded wire so it's easy to have some stray strands loose outside the nut.So that's about it. The install is pretty easy most of the time, but if you don't think you're experienced enough to do the job safely, put this phase of the job in the hands of a professional. It should be an easy job for any professional electrician, and should not be terribly expensive. Consider it cheep insurance!

The Kasa Smart Light Switch HS200 is a fantastic upgrade—and you don’t need to be an electrician to install it. Just take note of your old wiring setup before swapping in the Kasa switch. The printed instructions in the box aren't great, but the product description and YouTube videos make installation very straightforward.Pro tip: check behind your wall plate with a flashlight before buying to ensure you have the required wires. The whole process took me under 30 minutes—just remember to cut the power at your breaker box.Set up was smooth once I downloaded the Kasa app and created an account ahead of time. The LED ring can be hard to see in a bright room during Wi-Fi pairing, and expect a short wait for a firmware update after connecting. Alexa integration was seamless—it appeared instantly in the app once linked.You might need a file if your box extends past the wall to get the plate level. If your box is recessed, small plastic washers are available to bring the switch level to the wall—don’t use metal ones, as they’re not insulated. I had no problem using the existing wall plate with the Kasa switch.After 3 months of use, it’s been rock-solid. Highly recommended!

Okay, let's craft a detailed review for the Kasa Smart Light Switch HS200-BL, assuming a positive experience for this example.Overall Rating: 5 out of 5 stars (based on the image and assumed positive experience)Headline: Effortless Smart Lighting Upgrade - Works Perfectly!What's most important to know? This Kasa Smart Light Switch is a fantastic way to easily upgrade your home lighting to be controllable from your phone, voice assistants, and schedules. Note: It requires a neutral wire connection. Make sure you check your wiring before purchasing.Add a photo or video: (Imagine a photo here showing the installed switch seamlessly blending with the existing wall plate. Maybe a shot of the phone app controlling the light, or a video demonstrating voice control via Alexa or Google Assistant.)Written Review:I recently decided to dive into smart home technology, and the Kasa Smart Light Switch HS200-BL was the perfect place to start. I was initially a bit intimidated by the installation, but it turned out to be surprisingly straightforward.What I liked:Easy Installation (with Neutral Wire): While the neutral wire requirement is crucial, assuming you have it, the installation was much simpler than I anticipated. The instructions were clear and easy to follow. I felt confident and safe doing it myself.Seamless App Integration: The Kasa app is intuitive and user-friendly. Setting up the switch and connecting it to my Wi-Fi network was a breeze. I love how easily I can control the light from anywhere.Voice Control Perfection: Integrating with my Amazon Alexa was incredibly simple. Now I can just say, "Alexa, turn on the living room light," and it works flawlessly. This is a game-changer for convenience.Scheduling and Automation: Being able to set schedules for the light is a huge plus. I have it set to turn on automatically at sunset and off when I leave for work. It adds a level of automation and security I really appreciate.Reliable Performance: The switch has been working flawlessly since I installed it. No connectivity issues, no glitches, just consistent and reliable performance.Affordable Price: Compared to some other smart lighting solutions, the Kasa Smart Switch offers excellent value for the price.What could be improved:Neutral Wire: While the description mentions the neutral wire, perhaps making this requirement even more prominent in the product title or bullet points would be helpful for those less familiar with electrical wiring. Also, it would be great if they made the same switch that deosnt require a neutral wirePhysical Button Feel: The physical button on the switch feels a little different than a traditional toggle switch. It's a minor thing, but it takes a little getting used to.