This is a translation of the Korean article. Original application screens, image labels and demonstration audio are retained in their original languages.
I installed a 6-gang smart switch in place of the existing 4-gang mechanical switch.
The button display shows names, and the actions reflect our home's lifestyle.
When installing the smart switch, what I wanted was to reduce such inconveniences. I wanted things we usually use together to move together, separate the timing for turning off things that are turned off at different times, and make sure the current state is displayed correctly no matter which button is operated.
"When I turn on the vanity light, also turn on the exhaust fan.
When I turn off the light, keep the exhaust running for 15 more minutes.
Let me be able to turn off the hallway lights from both sides."
I explained these requirements to the agent and translated them into actual button and home equipment operations. Similar to program switches in large intelligent buildings,
I made it so that the role of a single button can be configured via software and linked to the operations of multiple devices.I connected the existing wall panel with lights, the newly installed smart switch, and the Apple Home app. Instead of replacing all home equipment with new products, I recombined the roles of already existing devices.
4-gang → 6-gang
When individual lights are turned on, the total lighting off button becomes active. Pressing this button turns off all the lit lights at once.
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Open video separatelyWith a single total button, you can turn the lights grouped together on and off simultaneously.
21 seconds · 4.5MB · Includes ambient sound
Open video separatelyThe 'Total Off' button seems easy to create. However, lights can be turned on via individual buttons and also via the Home app. If the batch button only remembers its own state, the actual lit lights and the button display will differ. This can cause situations where pressing it once results in unexpected behavior or requires two presses.
Therefore, we changed the batch button tocollectively assess the status of devices within the groupThis way, if any device is turned on regardless of the path, the batch display also turns on. When the last device is turned off, the display turns off as well.
If at least one device in the group is onOne button press → Turn all off
If all devices in the group are offOne button press → Turn all on
In the living room, I grouped the kitchen, dining table, living room, and hallway lights together. In the master bedroom, I grouped the lighting with the exhaust fan. I decided which devices to include based on how I actually use them. Here, 'customized' does not mean that AI automatically learned my habits,but rather that I programmed the life rules I wanted.
Some lights are on. Pressing the bulk button will turn them all off.
If the lights are on but the wall button appears off, you might wonder if you need to press it again. Therefore, I made it so that when individual lights are turned on, the overall dimming button's indicator also activates. When all devices are turned off, the overall indicator also turns off, and next time it will operate as an overall lighting function. I adjusted it so that states changed in the Home app are reflected on the wall buttons, ensuring you see the same state regardless of which side you operate from.
When you turn on the bathroom light, the exhaust fan also operates together. After turning off the light, only the exhaust continues to run for 15 minutes, and you can manually turn it off in between.
25 seconds · 3.4MB · Includes ambient sound
Open video separatelyBathroom lights and exhaust fans are often used together. So, I set it up so that turning on the vanity light also turns on the exhaust fan. However, if you turn both off when leaving, you have to reach for them again if you want more ventilation. I set the lights to turn off immediately, while the exhaust fan stops after 15 minutes.
I couldn't just add one timer and be done with it. This is because you might re-enter the bathroom or manually turn off the exhaust fan yourself. To ensure automation doesn't contradict human operation, I also defined exceptions.
it cancels the ongoing shutdown schedule. The exhaust continues to run, and it starts counting 15 minutes again from the next time you turn off the light.
manual operation takes priority. It immediately turns off the exhaust fan and cancels the schedule, preventing it from turning back on just because the light is on.
The master bedroom group includes the exhaust fan. Individual vanity light dimming applies a 15-minute exhaust run, but bulk dimming is treated as an explicit operation to turn off the entire group. The fact that the bulk indicator is on while only the exhaust fan is running is also an action resulting from this setting.
I assigned 'Hallway Light' to the 6-gang switch on one side, while leaving the 1-gang switch on the opposite side as is. The command sent from the 6-gang button was connected via Home app automation to control the actual hallway lighting.
Initially, I focused only on turning the lights on and off. However, I noticed a problem where the indicator light on the 6-gang side remained on even when the light was turned off from the opposite side. The fact that operation was possible did not mean that linkage was complete.
Therefore,I also created a pathto return the state of the actual hallway switch to the 6-gang button. When turned on from the opposite side, both the hallway indicator and the living room group indicator turn on together; when turned off, the hallway indicator follows suit. If all other lights in the living room group are off, the group indicator also turns off.
Now, I no longer need to remember which side was operated. Instead of running a new control wire for a long distance, I made it so that different switches share the same lighting state.
Individual control via four physical buttons
Added functions for 'Bedroom Light' and 'Bedroom All' to the extra button
By replacing the existing 4-gang mechanical switch with a 6-gang smart switch, I was able to use two additional buttons. In the bedroom, in addition to the four direct control roles of the existing setup, I configured 'Bedroom Light' (connected via a wall pad) and 'Bedroom All' (grouping multiple devices) as program functions.
With more buttons, you might get confused about which one to press. Therefore,it was important to use Korean labels for functions like 'Vanity Light', 'Bedroom All', and 'Bedroom Ventilation'.Instead of memorizing numbers or positions, you press the button by reading its name. It has become a wall-mounted control panel that can be used without taking out your smartphone.
| Function Name | Button Role |
|---|---|
| Vanity Light | Individual Lighting Control |
| Shower Light | Individual light control |
| Washbasin light | Starting point for linking light control and exhaust fan |
| Master bedroom light | Connect existing wall pad lights via program |
| Master bedroom overall | Master bedroom light and exhaust fan batch control |
| Master bedroom exhaust | Individual exhaust fan control + delayed shutdown |
| Function name | Button role |
|---|---|
| Sink light | Individual light control |
| Induction cooker light | Individual light control |
| Dining table light | Individual light control |
| Living room light | Connect existing wall pad living room lights |
| Hallway light | Two-way linkage with the actual switch on the opposite side |
| Living room overall | Kitchen, dining table, living room, and hallway group control |
In the photo above, you can see six Korean names for the bedroom switch. The table above lists functions and does not indicate terminal order. The connection structure differs between the bedroom and the living room, so '4 direct connections + 2 programs' are not applied identically to both.
The wall switch's functions are also connected to Apple Home. This structure allows you to control the same lights via the wall button and the Home app, and make voice requests to Siri. You can check and control the home's lighting without standing in front of the switch.
If your home and mobile phone are connected to the internet and the home hub and remote access are set up correctly, you can turn lights on and off using the Home app from anywhere in the world. If you remember leaving a light on after going out, there is no need to return home.
If you request by the name registered in the Home app, Siri will control that light. Modes grouping multiple lights can also be executed via voice.
Remote control requires a home hub such as HomePod or Apple TV and an internet connection. In this configuration, services connected to the NAS bridge must also function normally.Apple's Siri/Remote Control Guide
This is a method of linking single-press actions to life conditions. Below are usage examples that can be added to this configuration.
You request a schedule to turn off at a specified time. You can check if the schedule was successfully registered from Siri's response.
You can request to turn it on at a desired time. Daily recurring schedules are set up in the Home app's time automation.
Connect the living room lighting to the 'When People Arrive' condition in the Home app. It is set to operate based on arrival using location information.
Connect the lights or modes to turn off to the 'When People Leave' condition. You can also set it to 'When the Last Person Leaves' so that lights do not turn off while family members are still present.
The support range and recognized phrases for time schedules vary depending on Siri's language and device environment. The arrival/departure examples are sentences expressing desired actions, and location permissions and Home app automation must be set up separately. This does not mean that all four examples above were set up and verified in this home.Apple's Mode/Automation Setup Guide
I did not provide a complete program design from the start. I explained scenarios such as 'if even one light is on, the overall indicator should be on', 'the exhaust fan should run a bit longer', and 'even if it's turned off on the opposite side, please show that it is also off here.'
The agent organized which devices each button controls and added group control and exhaust fan delay logic to the Homebridge plugin. I tested by pressing the actual wall buttons and explained parts that differed from my expectations. Through this process, we refined the actions from simple on/off operations to ones that are practical for daily use.
Instead of device commands, I explained when, what, and how I wanted to use them.
I separated devices directly connected from those controlled via the bridge, and implemented action rules in code.
I alternated operations between the wall button and the Home app to check for display errors, delayed status updates, and manual interruptions.
What was difficult was not so much creating an additional button,but ensuring that commands and states do not get tangledwith each other. For example, if a status sent to align the indicator light is interpreted as input from a new button, unwanted batch actions may occur again. I also had to handle issues where late-arriving previous states would revert recently changed indicators.
I worked with the agent to fix and test this part. The completed switch does not request AI judgment every time a button is pressed. The agent assists in the creation process, while daily operations execute predefined rules.
To implement a similar feature, it is advisable to first distinguish the roles of physical devices and software. This case has been connected with the following configuration.
There are paths for lights and exhaust fans directly connected to the smart switch, as well as control paths via a bridge. Some operational rules run on the NAS, but because the Tuya linkage includes external service paths, this should not be viewed as a configuration that operates entirely without internet.
| Category | Component | Role |
|---|---|---|
| Physical Device | MANHOT MH03-6W 6-Gang Wi-Fi Switch | Handles physical input from wall presses and control of individually connected devices. Based on the labeling of the actual product used; functionality is not guaranteed for products with the same appearance. |
| Physical Device | Existing Corridor 1-Gang Switch | Controls the actual corridor lighting and serves as an operation point on the opposite side. |
| Connection Basis | 2.4GHz Wi-Fi · Smart Life/Tuya | Transmits commands and status for the smart switch. |
| Execution Environment | NAS Homebridge | Connects the switch to Apple Home and executes custom operational rules. |
| Modified Software | Switch processing section of the Tuya Linkage Plugin | Implemented exposure of 6 channels, function names, group status, physical display synchronization, and delayed exhaust fan operation. |
| Existing Facility Connection | IMAZU RS485 Bridge | Controls wall-mounted panel lights that are not directly wired to the smart switch. |
| Automation Connection | Apple Home | Responsible for command and status linkage between Home app operations and the corridor switch. |
If any channel included in the group is on, the group is displayed as on. Pressing the master button sends commands to all members in the opposite state of the current status. Since the bedroom group includes the exhaust fan, if the lights are off but the fan is running, the group is considered on.
Group Status = Is any member on?
Master Button Input:
Current Group On → Turn all members Off
Current Group Off → Turn all members On
Individual Device Status Change:
Recalculate group status
Update Home app display and physical master button displayThis code is pseudocode explaining the principle. Actual implementation adds processing during command execution, sequential transmission, and criteria for reflecting late-arriving status.
When a status sent to update batch indicators returns and is re-executed as a batch control command, it can cause a loop. We distinguish recent commands, display updates, and statuses returned from devices to prevent unnecessary re-execution.
Actual devices and external services have delays in transmitting status. Therefore, we correct so that previous statuses arriving immediately after reflecting new status on the screen do not revert the display, and handle checking subsequent statuses again. This does not eliminate communication latency itself.
| Situation | Processing |
|---|---|
| Turn on washbasin light | Turn on ventilation and cancel existing end scheduling. |
| Turn off washbasin light | If the ventilation is operating and not in a manual stop state, schedule shutdown after 15 minutes. |
| Turn on again while waiting | Cancel end scheduling and switch to a new usage cycle. |
| Directly turn off the ventilator | Prioritize manual operation and cancel scheduling. |
| Turn off entire master bedroom | Also end ventilation included in the group and cancel scheduling. |
| Homebridge restart | If saved end time and device status meet conditions, restore remaining schedules. |
Schedule restoration is a feature implemented in the program and verified through mock testing. It does not mean continuous operation has been verified under all field conditions such as power outages or communication failures.
Actual wiring of the power supply and load must be verified according to the product and existing facility conditions. This material explains functional design and software integration and does not provide electrical wiring procedures.
Before this switch installation, I first connected the scattered control methods within the house. Lighting, heating, and ventilation required the Wall Pad app; Samsung air conditioners needed SmartThings; and the door lock required a separate app. Even though it was the same house, it was inconvenient that different apps had to be used depending on what was being turned on or off.
So, instead of buying all new devices,I collected signals from existing facilities in a NAS and gathered them into Apple Home via Homebridge.Finding and attaching different connection methods for each device was the key.
| Existing devices | Connection method | Changed usage method |
|---|---|---|
| Apartment IMAU Wall Pad | Communication was collected using a USB-RS485 adapter. By operating lighting or heating one by one and comparing the changing packets, commands and statuses were interpreted. | Existing lighting, heating, and ventilation are controlled in Apple Home, and actual statuses are received and displayed again. |
| Old Samsung Air Conditioner | SmartThings products that do not support Matter were connected to Homebridge using the Samsung Developer API. | Cooling in the same room and wall pad heating are selected from a single tile. This path uses the internet and the SmartThings cloud. |
| Unit Entrance Door Lock · Common Entrance | The LG Smart Lock at the unit entrance was connected to Home. For the common entrance, separate control lines and video lines from the kitchen monitor were branched and delivered to the NAS. | Entrance control and entrance video, which were scattered across apps, are now checked together in Apple Home. |
In particular, the common entrance could not be resolved solely by the wall pad's lighting circuit. The fact that the kitchen monitor also receives entrance calls and opens the doorwas noted. Separate control signals coming through that monitor were utilized, and video was received via baluns and encoders into the NAS, connecting to Apple Home's camera and doorbell notifications.
With this connected foundation, this 6-gang switch was added. The added buttons move wall pad lighting via the NAS and control multiple devices in the room at once. In the process of gathering existing facilities into Home, it transitioned into a task of aligning wall switch operations with our daily lives.
The exhaust fan maintenance time was set to 15 minutes. The delayed shutdown logic was verified through shortened-time tests; however, field verification records waiting for the full 15-minute duration were not found separately.
Home app tests were confirmed after the last status correction, but further review is needed through actual usage to verify all physical button combinations and long-term stability.
In the future, I want to refine group configurations for frequently used scenarios such as bedtime and leaving home. The next steps include adding sensors to refine conditions or reduce unnecessary operation time. However, sensor-based exhaust or power savings have not been verified in this case.
Rather than increasing the number of switches to six, it was better that we could directly decide how to use that button. The process of turning requirements arising in daily life into actual operations together with an agent. This time, the result is mounted on the wall.
Related case: The story of gathering different apps and devices into Apple Home