GE Cync 3-Wire Smart Switch Review - PCMag

Most astute switches necessitate a neutral (white) ligament to support a Wi-Fi connection, but if your location was built earlier 1985 (or thereabouts), this mightiness not beryllium an option. If you autumn into the second category, the Cync 3-Wire Smart Switch ($44.99) is worthy a look due to the fact that it ditches that precondition. Instead, it uses interior circuitry and your existing load, line, and crushed wires to guarantee accordant Wi-Fi access. We similar that the power responds to some Alexa and Google Assistant dependable commands, but we're disappointed that you can't usage it with ceiling fans oregon different third-party devices via IFTTT. The Wyze Switch is simply a amended prime if you request enactment for different smart home platforms, but the Cync Smart Switch is worthy checking retired if you ain an older location due to the fact that it circumvents the request to rewire your junction box.

It Works Only With Light Fixtures

With a achromatic decorativeness and a elemental toggle, the Cync Smart Switch intimately resembles a accepted airy switch. Under the screen sheet are a reset fastener and a tiny LED that flashes bluish during setup and glows reddish successful the lawsuit of a connectivity issue. Around backmost are 2 achromatic wires that link to your home’s load and enactment wires, on with a greenish ligament that connects to your home’s crushed wire.

In the box, you get ligament nuts, mounting screws, a mounting plate, a screen plate, an installation guide, and a bulb adapter. Use the adapter if you program to power Cync bulbs oregon non-dimmable LED lights, arsenic good arsenic if the circuit successful question draws little than 15W of power. Also enactment that GE recommends this power lone for lights, not for ceiling fans oregon thing else.

It has a built-in 2.4GHz Wi-Fi vigor that allows it to link to your location web and a companion app, arsenic good arsenic enables enactment for Alexa and Google Assistant dependable commands. It doesn't enactment Apple's HomeKit level oregon IFTTT applets, however. And dissimilar with the Cync Smart Plug, you can't configure the power to enactment successful a concatenation of events that involves different first-party devices, specified arsenic Cync Indoor Smart Camera.

Cync 3-Wire Smart Switch App Experience

The power uses the aforesaid mobile app (available for Android and iOS) arsenic different Cync devices. It appears successful a dedicated sheet connected the location surface on with immoderate different devices from the institution that you use. From the panel, you tin crook the power connected oregon disconnected arsenic good arsenic entree the settings section. There, you tin edit the instrumentality name, delegate it to a room, adhd it to a group, specify a bulb type, and configure Wi-Fi settings.

(Credit: PCMag)

The main leafage has a Routines fastener successful the apical close country and an Add Devices enactment astatine the bottom. Tap the Routines enactment to acceptable up a Scene. Essentially, you tin specify a radical of devices to crook connected oregon disconnected astatine circumstantial times of the time oregon connected peculiar days of the week. Any Scenes you acceptable up look arsenic progressive buttons connected the Scene screen.

No Neutral Wire oregon Hub Required

The Cync power didn't origin maine immoderate issues during setup, but if you aren't comfy moving with high-voltage electricity, you should prosecute a professional. You tin usage the written usher to implicit the installation oregon travel the video instructions successful the app (which you request to download anyway).

First, I turned disconnected the breaker that supplies powerfulness to the power I wanted to regenerate and removed the aged hardware. In summation to labeling the wires, I besides urge taking a representation of the wiring for aboriginal notation earlier continuing.

Next, I connected the location load and enactment wires to the achromatic wires connected the Cync power and past connected the location copper crushed ligament to the greenish wire. I secured each 3 utilizing the included ligament nuts. I tucked the wires into the junction box, secured the power to the box, attached the mounting sheet and cover, and restored powerfulness to the circuit. The LED began to flash bluish astatine this point.

(Credit: John Delaney)

I opened the Cync mobile app, tapped Add Device connected the location screen, and selected Wired Switches from the list. I confirmed I had already installed the switch, verified that the LED was flashing blue, and waited a fewer seconds for the app to admit it. The pairing process took conscionable a fewer seconds aft I gave the power a name, specified a country location, and entered my Wi-Fi credentials; it showed up connected my Alexa instrumentality database soon thereafter. To implicit the installation, I installed a speedy firmware update.

The Cync power worked arsenic intended during testing. It responded instantly to connected and disconnected commands from the mobile app, and it carried retired Alexa dependable instructions quickly. An Alexa regular I created for the power to crook connected erstwhile a Ring Floodlight camera detected question besides worked flawlessly. It adhered to the usage schedules I acceptable up without a problem, arsenic well.

A Simple Smart Light Toggle

If your older home’s wiring has kept you from outfitting it with astute airy switches, the GE Cync 3-Wire Smart Switch offers a solution. It's cleanable for houses that were built earlier the mid-80s due to the fact that it doesn't necessitate neutral wiring oregon a hub. Rather, the power relies connected a Wi-Fi vigor to link straight to your network, arsenic good arsenic alteration dependable and app controls. That said, if your domicile does person neutral wiring, you tin prevention immoderate wealth with the Wyze Switch, which supports acold much third-party integrations.