Thank you so much for the explanation regarding the wall switch. You are the only one I’ve seen so far who explained why we can’t just slap a smart switch on the wall
Thank you so much!! I've been trying to do this for like a decade but all the solutions were super complex or required running power to the switch. This was incredibly easy!
Thanks. I bought the same relay but was thinking i needed a smart switch on the wall... not a plug for the device. Now its easy. Mfg does not show or explain this in the instructions.
I know I'm a bit late on the commentary, but I had done a similar setup with a relay and TP-Link Kasa switch that replaced the existing wall switch. I did have to run a neutral wire to help power the switch, but it worked a bit like a 3-way switch. If I turned off the fireplace with my voice, I could see in my alexa app that the fireplace was turned off, or if I physically pressed the switch, it would also show the change to the switch to let me know the fireplace was on or off. Does this work in the same way with your setup? For instance, if I turned the fireplace on with the physical switch, can I tell my assistant to turn it off after with my voice and the smart plug would know what state the fireplace was in (on/off)? The setup I did before was at my old place. Was looking to see if there might be a simpler setup.
I got so excited seeing how easy this looks that I started to go order the relay. Went to check how much room I have underneath my fireplace to see if I might need a longer USB cord and discovered I don’t have an outlet underneath my fireplace 😩 At least I discovered it before I ordered the relay switch.
Is yours a gas fireplace controlled by a switch? Did you look in every corner underneath the fireplace? Upon first inspection I didn’t immediately notice an outlet either and found it behind some old instructions the builder left underneath there.
Rey G It is a gas fireplace with a switch above the mantle. I will look again but I even pulled the logs out and couldn’t see an outlet. Just the wires that then ran through a hole in the wall to run up to the switch.
Another great video Ray! Thanks for sharing. I hope one day my HomeKit devices can grows as big as you have in your home! Merry Christmas to you & your family. Keep the videos coming!
from the wiring it looks like it completes the circuit either using the old rocker switch or the relay(controlled using siri via a smart plug). So if you turn on using hte rocker switch, and want to turn it off you have to use the switch. Just avoid using the switch all together and use the smart option.
Hi Rey! Thanks so much for your HomeKit videos!I just discovered you! Utter newbie question on this video... I have a "fireplace key" (no wall switch) to light the older gas fireplace in the house I just moved into. Do you know if I need to install a wall switch first, in order to have a voice/ remote controlled fireplace?
Can you work a thermostat into this setup? For example, you would set a thermostat and the fireplace would turn on and off as the thermostat called for heat.
Great video , It looked so easy I ordered the relay right away. But I forgot that we have 2 switches for the fireplace. One to ignite the fireplace and one to turn on the blower. I connected the relay and now I can control the blower, but I can't ignite the fireplace. Any thoughts on how to resolve this situation.
Thank you for this video! I just popped open my fireplace and I see that the wall switch actually turns on a plug that’s already plugged in under the fireplace (confirmed by removing that plug and the wall switch no longer does anything) The plug itself separates into two wires that look like in your video. But there’s also a 4 of other wires that look like in your video, two labeled labeled SWI. I’m not really sure which ones to unplug. The SWI wires connect to some 240V wiring it appears (with wire nuts), so that makes me a bit more nervous! I did unplug one of those SWI wires, and the fireplace switch no longer works, so that seems like the right set, but that they connect to much thicker wiring makes me still nervous! Thanks for any help you can offer! :)
Super helpful video, thanks for that! Glad I saw this before buying a smart switch. I do have a question though, assuming you turned it on with the smart outlet, can you turn it off on the wall switch? What happens if you turn on the switch?
So awesome. Probably 2-3 yrs ago I removed the switch from my fireplace to install a smart switch and found low-voltage wires. Have wondered since then how to do exactly what you just showed us all. Seriously man, way to go. Thank you. Question: If you can leave the wall switch OFF but still use HomeKit to trigger the fireplace ON, I assume the only way to turn it back off at that point is to use HomeKit again?
This is a great step by step video!! Thank you!! I had one question I may have missed. What happens if you turn on the fireplace with the switch then tell Siri to turn it off. does the switch and Wemo then become like a 3-way switch. Does the Wemo know to turn it off or do you now have to give the commands backwards due to the switch being in the on position? I hope that made sense.
If the fireplace is turned on via the switch, it will need to be turned off with the switch. If HomeKit/Siri is used to turn on the switch, you’ll need to use that same method to turn off the switch. Neither Siri/HomeKit nor the switch will recognize the others commands. Hope that clarifies it. Thanks for watching!
I was scrolling through the comments to see if someone asked this too.. Instead of a switch, I have a thermostat remote. I was hoping it would work like a 3 way switch where I tell Google to turn on the fireplace, but then it will turn off via the remote once it gets to temperature. The low voltage makes it a bit harder to make fireplaces "smart" like how we can control a furnace or AC with a smart thermostat. Still a lot cooler than what I had before!
@@ReyG_HKSH just saw this comment after I posted the exact same question. Well, good to know. Would there be any issue though, if someone turned the switch with the outlet on as well?
@@felipebedulli Either won’t be responsive. If you used the physical switch, Siri (or Alexa, Google) won’t respond to an action until the switch is returned to it’s off state. And obviously vice-versa.
Great video! I didn't know they were low voltage too. Not sure if someone already asked this... My fireplace actually has 2 wall switch and both must be turned on to start the fireplace. I'm not quite sure how it works but I know both need to be on. Do you think I could use TP-Link Kasa smart switches?
You’ll need to use one or the other. If you turn on with the physical switch you will need to turn off with the switch before you can use HomeKit, and vice-versa.
Great Video Ray! Quick question to ask mine has Pilot light , does yours has pilot ? Does this relay switch work in my case too ? Do I need to do any extra steps.
Hey Rey, I really like your presentation. Unfortunately the wall switch to the fireplace is essentially neutralized/ non-functional once HomeKit takes over. Unless, I missed something let me know
SInce your fireplace was already setup to turn on with a light switch, couldn't you have just replaced the switch with a Wemo smart light switch to accomplish the same thing?
That’s a great video how to convert it to smart fireplace, just one question, in the case of loosing internet connection, will you be able to use the wall switch to shut the fireplace off, if you used Seri to turn it on?
The way you turned it on is the way you’ll need to turn it off. If you used Siri under HomeKit, you should still be able to access your home network and use the Home app to turn off the fireplace, though you won’t be able to do that remotely… but you probably shouldn’t be using the fireplace remotely anyway.
I currently have a Heat & Glo fireplace with electronic ignition and it is ran with a SMARTBAT II box with remote control. For some reason, my remote got disconnected from my box and will not reconnect. Instead of purchasing a new Smartbat II and remote, I tried to plug my electronic ignition into a smartplug and set the remote box that is connected to the fireplace to the ON position and it works to turn the fireplace on and off just as your video does. Do I still need to use the low voltage relay switch in your video to make it work "safely" or am I good to go? I just don't want what i have set up to be unsafe, as in not cutting the propant when I tell alexa to turn off the fireplace, but I also don't want to purchase uneccessary relay switch when it already works with the smartplug. Thanks
This is an awesome video! I recently bought a smart switch and was quickly disappointed. My outlet in my fireplace is only two prong so I might need to either replace my outlet or find a smart plug that is two prong. If I am going to replace the outlet, do you think it would be possible to install a smart outlet? I just recently installed one in my bedroom and love it!
@@ReyG_HKSH thanks! Funny thing... I thought I had an outlet under my fireplace... I even just bought a blower for my fireplace that I can plug into it. Turns out, I do have an outlet but it isn't connected to any electricity! Lol! So now I got a much larger project on my hands.. looks like I'll be calling in an electrician. One day, my fireplace will be smart though!
@@ReyG_HKSH hey Rey! Just wanted to say I purchased the relay in your video and tried it on another fireplace in our bedroom. We have an outlet very close to the fireplace which is the one I converted to a smart outlet. I officially have a "smart" fireplace! Thanks!
I don't know if anyone spotted this yet, but I'm subbing simply for the fact that I love the renovations you've done to the former White residence. Be careful lighting that fire with Siri, there might still be some lingering gasoline fumes that could ignite and cause a major calamity. Actually surprised you didn't find a bundle of cash, a .38 Snub and a sample teenth of some crystal blue persuasion underneath the fire place. Sweet Easter egg brother, much appreciated.
No Blue Sky in sight. When we moved in there was a damn pizza on the roof. Took me the better part of the day to scrape that thing off 🤬 thanks for the support! 🙏
Funny I was searching to do this in my new home that is being built. Originally I only found one solution that does work with Alexa and google from iFlame.
Hello I have been looking for a smart way to do the same with the fireplace. I noticed that I have the same fireplace as yours. My question is Does the usb cable and wemo get hot? And risk to melt? Thanks
I don’t believe there is a risk of any of the components for this solution being damaged from heat. There is likely heat shielding and hot air rises. Our house was built 8 years before we purchased it and when I opened up the cover underneath, the installation instructions for the fireplace were stored there with no damage.
Zero problems and still works really well, although we don’t use the fireplace that much outside of late fall/winter season out here in Southern California. 😎 Thanks for watching! 🙏
Hi Rey, this might be a stupid question but if you turn the fireplace on with Siri then try turning it off with the wall switch, because you are putting the wall switch into the "on" position, would there not now be two sources of electricity going to the fireplace causing it to overload?
Not a stupid question at all, it was something I wondered about. The method you used to turn on the fireplace, will be the only method you’ll be able to turn it off. So turn it on via Siri will disable the switch and vice-versa. Also, it is a low-voltage switch doing little more than indicating on/off state. Hope that helps.
The gas fireplace isn’t plugged into an outlet and the switch is low voltage. This was the only easy solution currently available. Thanks for watching! 🙏
@@ReyG_HKSH I had the same question. I'm not following you here. In the video, it shows the fireplace is initially plugged into an outlet. Couldn't you just take out that black power cord and plug it directly into the smart plug?
Thank you so much for the explanation regarding the wall switch. You are the only one I’ve seen so far who explained why we can’t just slap a smart switch on the wall
Thanks for watching, I’m glad you found it useful! ☺️
Thank you so much!! I've been trying to do this for like a decade but all the solutions were super complex or required running power to the switch. This was incredibly easy!
You are very welcome! Thank you for taking the time to comment and let me know you found this video useful! 🙏
Hey Rey, would love to see you do a HomeKit home tour. Love your work
It’s in the plans at some point but need more HomeKit devices to make it worth it 😉
Great video Ray! Very cool. I’ve thought about doing something like this for a while. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks, it’s a really easy upgrade, so highly recommended.
Great idea and tutorial! I never knew those fireplace switches were low voltage switches.
This. I bought an aqara switch to try it out. Oh well. I can use it elsewhere.
I just had the thought to put a smart switch on my fireplace - glad I saw this before I went forward with wasting my time on that 👍
Glad you found it useful. Thanks for watching 🙏
WoW really cool 👍 I don’t have a fire place but if I had I would definitely do that ! 😄🏡
Time to upgrade the living space 😉
I never knew those fireplace switches were low voltage switches. Now I know how to get this done.
Great job
Glad this video could help, thanks for watching!
Thanks. I bought the same relay but was thinking i needed a smart switch on the wall... not a plug for the device. Now its easy. Mfg does not show or explain this in the instructions.
I know I'm a bit late on the commentary, but I had done a similar setup with a relay and TP-Link Kasa switch that replaced the existing wall switch. I did have to run a neutral wire to help power the switch, but it worked a bit like a 3-way switch. If I turned off the fireplace with my voice, I could see in my alexa app that the fireplace was turned off, or if I physically pressed the switch, it would also show the change to the switch to let me know the fireplace was on or off. Does this work in the same way with your setup? For instance, if I turned the fireplace on with the physical switch, can I tell my assistant to turn it off after with my voice and the smart plug would know what state the fireplace was in (on/off)? The setup I did before was at my old place. Was looking to see if there might be a simpler setup.
Thanks for this, been wanting to do this for some time. Great vid.
Glad you found it helpful. Thanks for watching!
Beautiful fireplace. Did you install it? What brand is it? Thanks for the tutorial, Rey!
Thanks! The fireplace came with the house. I’m glad you found the video useful. 🙏
I got so excited seeing how easy this looks that I started to go order the relay. Went to check how much room I have underneath my fireplace to see if I might need a longer USB cord and discovered I don’t have an outlet underneath my fireplace 😩
At least I discovered it before I ordered the relay switch.
Is yours a gas fireplace controlled by a switch? Did you look in every corner underneath the fireplace? Upon first inspection I didn’t immediately notice an outlet either and found it behind some old instructions the builder left underneath there.
Rey G It is a gas fireplace with a switch above the mantle. I will look again but I even pulled the logs out and couldn’t see an outlet. Just the wires that then ran through a hole in the wall to run up to the switch.
Another great video Ray! Thanks for sharing. I hope one day my HomeKit devices can grows as big as you have in your home! Merry Christmas to you & your family. Keep the videos coming!
Thank you! Hoping to knock out a couple more HomeKit related vids during my holiday vacay from the day (paying) job 🤓 😁
from the wiring it looks like it completes the circuit either using the old rocker switch or the relay(controlled using siri via a smart plug). So if you turn on using hte rocker switch, and want to turn it off you have to use the switch. Just avoid using the switch all together and use the smart option.
Agree wholeheartedly 😊 Thanks for watching! 🙏
Hi Rey! Thanks so much for your HomeKit videos!I just discovered you! Utter newbie question on this video... I have a "fireplace key" (no wall switch) to light the older gas fireplace in the house I just moved into. Do you know if I need to install a wall switch first, in order to have a voice/ remote controlled fireplace?
Can you work a thermostat into this setup? For example, you would set a thermostat and the fireplace would turn on and off as the thermostat called for heat.
if you turn it on by voice command/app, are you able to turn it off manually via switch?
The method used to turn it on should be the same method used to switch it off. It will be unresponsive otherwise. Thanks for watching. 🙏
Hey Rey great video whats the app to download TV xStream Fireplace Relay Switch
Great video , It looked so easy I ordered the relay right away. But I forgot that we have 2 switches for the fireplace. One to ignite the fireplace and one to turn on the blower. I connected the relay and now I can control the blower, but I can't ignite the fireplace. Any thoughts on how to resolve this situation.
Great video! This is exactly what I needed. Subscribed and purchased via your affiliate link 👍🏼
Thanks so much for the support! 🙏
Thank you for this video! I just popped open my fireplace and I see that the wall switch actually turns on a plug that’s already plugged in under the fireplace (confirmed by removing that plug and the wall switch no longer does anything) The plug itself separates into two wires that look like in your video. But there’s also a 4 of other wires that look like in your video, two labeled labeled SWI. I’m not really sure which ones to unplug. The SWI wires connect to some 240V wiring it appears (with wire nuts), so that makes me a bit more nervous! I did unplug one of those SWI wires, and the fireplace switch no longer works, so that seems like the right set, but that they connect to much thicker wiring makes me still nervous!
Thanks for any help you can offer! :)
Sounds like it will work, you’ll need to figure out which wires to splice or plug into.
@@ReyG_HKSH Yep it’s all done. Got it working soon after. So nice to have it working!
Good to hear, just in time for the season! Happy Holidays!
@@ReyG_HKSH Thanks, - and to you!
Super helpful video, thanks for that! Glad I saw this before buying a smart switch. I do have a question though, assuming you turned it on with the smart outlet, can you turn it off on the wall switch? What happens if you turn on the switch?
Glad you found this video helpful and that you found the answer in another comment. Thanks for watching! 🙏
Thank you, I needed this and going top order mine now.
Awesome glad this video was useful. Thanks for watching and taking the time to comment! 🙏
Is your fireplace an electronic ignition or millivolt system?
I believe it is an electronic ignition fireplace.
Brilliant video!!! Great idea. Keep the ideas coming. Please keep sharing any other cool ideas.
Thanks for watching! Will try and keep the content coming so if you haven’t yet, please subscribe 😊
So awesome. Probably 2-3 yrs ago I removed the switch from my fireplace to install a smart switch and found low-voltage wires. Have wondered since then how to do exactly what you just showed us all. Seriously man, way to go. Thank you. Question: If you can leave the wall switch OFF but still use HomeKit to trigger the fireplace ON, I assume the only way to turn it back off at that point is to use HomeKit again?
Yes, you are correct. The switch will become inoperable if HomeKit/Siri was used to operate initially. Same in reverse as well.
This is a great step by step video!! Thank you!!
I had one question I may have missed. What happens if you turn on the fireplace with the switch then tell Siri to turn it off. does the switch and Wemo then become like a 3-way switch. Does the Wemo know to turn it off or do you now have to give the commands backwards due to the switch being in the on position?
I hope that made sense.
If the fireplace is turned on via the switch, it will need to be turned off with the switch. If HomeKit/Siri is used to turn on the switch, you’ll need to use that same method to turn off the switch. Neither Siri/HomeKit nor the switch will recognize the others commands. Hope that clarifies it. Thanks for watching!
I was scrolling through the comments to see if someone asked this too.. Instead of a switch, I have a thermostat remote. I was hoping it would work like a 3 way switch where I tell Google to turn on the fireplace, but then it will turn off via the remote once it gets to temperature. The low voltage makes it a bit harder to make fireplaces "smart" like how we can control a furnace or AC with a smart thermostat. Still a lot cooler than what I had before!
@@ReyG_HKSH just saw this comment after I posted the exact same question. Well, good to know. Would there be any issue though, if someone turned the switch with the outlet on as well?
@@felipebedulli Either won’t be responsive. If you used the physical switch, Siri (or Alexa, Google) won’t respond to an action until the switch is returned to it’s off state. And obviously vice-versa.
Great video! I didn't know they were low voltage too. Not sure if someone already asked this...
My fireplace actually has 2 wall switch and both must be turned on to start the fireplace. I'm not quite sure how it works but I know both need to be on. Do you think I could use TP-Link Kasa smart switches?
Is there a way to upgrade a fire place that has an analog knob
Can you turn it on with Siri and turn off with the wall switch?
If you turn on with the wall switch, does HomeKit know it’s on?
You’ll need to use one or the other. If you turn on with the physical switch you will need to turn off with the switch before you can use HomeKit, and vice-versa.
Great Video Ray!
Quick question to ask mine has Pilot light , does yours has pilot ? Does this relay switch work in my case too ? Do I need to do any extra steps.
When the fireplace is on. Can u still use the switch to turn fireplace off?
Whichever process you use to turn on the switch will need to be the same to turn it off. Thanks for watching!
Hey Rey, I really like your presentation. Unfortunately the wall switch to the fireplace is essentially neutralized/ non-functional once HomeKit takes over. Unless, I missed something let me know
Nope, that is exactly right, and vice-versa. Thanks for watching 🙏
SInce your fireplace was already setup to turn on with a light switch, couldn't you have just replaced the switch with a Wemo smart light switch to accomplish the same thing?
What a great solution, Ray! Great video and fantastic idea. Keep 'em comin'~
Thank you! 🙏
That’s a great video how to convert it to smart fireplace, just one question, in the case of loosing internet connection, will you be able to use the wall switch to shut the fireplace off, if you used Seri to turn it on?
The way you turned it on is the way you’ll need to turn it off. If you used Siri under HomeKit, you should still be able to access your home network and use the Home app to turn off the fireplace, though you won’t be able to do that remotely… but you probably shouldn’t be using the fireplace remotely anyway.
@@ReyG_HKSH
👍gotcha, thanks.
Can you remove the thermopile after you put in the switch because the switch is now supply the voltage to the gas valve?
Does anyone have any ideas to solve the issue of one switch method preventing the other from working? What about a sonoff mini in 3 way mode?
Do you still need the thermopile once you put in this relay switch?
Has the heat effected the smart plug at all?
I currently have a Heat & Glo fireplace with electronic ignition and it is ran with a SMARTBAT II box with remote control. For some reason, my remote got disconnected from my box and will not reconnect. Instead of purchasing a new Smartbat II and remote, I tried to plug my electronic ignition into a smartplug and set the remote box that is connected to the fireplace to the ON position and it works to turn the fireplace on and off just as your video does. Do I still need to use the low voltage relay switch in your video to make it work "safely" or am I good to go? I just don't want what i have set up to be unsafe, as in not cutting the propant when I tell alexa to turn off the fireplace, but I also don't want to purchase uneccessary relay switch when it already works with the smartplug. Thanks
This is an awesome video! I recently bought a smart switch and was quickly disappointed. My outlet in my fireplace is only two prong so I might need to either replace my outlet or find a smart plug that is two prong. If I am going to replace the outlet, do you think it would be possible to install a smart outlet? I just recently installed one in my bedroom and love it!
If you have enough room to work and install a smart outlet this solution will work.
@@ReyG_HKSH thanks! Funny thing... I thought I had an outlet under my fireplace... I even just bought a blower for my fireplace that I can plug into it. Turns out, I do have an outlet but it isn't connected to any electricity! Lol! So now I got a much larger project on my hands.. looks like I'll be calling in an electrician. One day, my fireplace will be smart though!
Good luck with your new project. Winter is here so a smart fireplace is just the thing for this season! Thanks for watching! ☺️
@@ReyG_HKSH hey Rey! Just wanted to say I purchased the relay in your video and tried it on another fireplace in our bedroom. We have an outlet very close to the fireplace which is the one I converted to a smart outlet. I officially have a "smart" fireplace! Thanks!
@@nicole0233 Awesome! Glad this video could help and thank you for taking the time to comment to let me know! 😊
I don't know if anyone spotted this yet, but I'm subbing simply for the fact that I love the renovations you've done to the former White residence. Be careful lighting that fire with Siri, there might still be some lingering gasoline fumes that could ignite and cause a major calamity. Actually surprised you didn't find a bundle of cash, a .38 Snub and a sample teenth of some crystal blue persuasion underneath the fire place. Sweet Easter egg brother, much appreciated.
No Blue Sky in sight. When we moved in there was a damn pizza on the roof. Took me the better part of the day to scrape that thing off 🤬 thanks for the support! 🙏
Is there a version that is available in Canada? We have lots of fireplaces :)
check out The Brad Lloyd , he lives in Ontario. He has a video of a smart fireplace install
Do you know if this relay would work on a fireplace controlled by an RF remote?
Funny I was searching to do this in my new home that is being built. Originally I only found one solution that does work with Alexa and google from iFlame.
This solution will work for all, just need the smart outlet that works with your platform of choice. Thanks for watching!
Any way to do this if my fireplace turns on only with a remote control?
Yes! Check out @TheBradLoyd, he has a solution based on this on his channel. Thanks for watching! 🙏
Hello I have been looking for a smart way to do the same with the fireplace. I noticed that I have the same fireplace as yours. My question is Does the usb cable and wemo get hot? And risk to melt?
Thanks
I don’t believe there is a risk of any of the components for this solution being damaged from heat. There is likely heat shielding and hot air rises. Our house was built 8 years before we purchased it and when I opened up the cover underneath, the installation instructions for the fireplace were stored there with no damage.
Rey G thanks
I have an electric remote controlled fireplace.. can i automate that? 🙈
You’re in luck actually, @TheBradLoyd shows how to do just that in one of his videos. Check him out!
How is everything holding up to the heat?
Zero problems and still works really well, although we don’t use the fireplace that much outside of late fall/winter season out here in Southern California. 😎 Thanks for watching! 🙏
I'm confused as to why simply replacing the wall switch with a smart wall switch wouldn't work? There are smart switches that work with low voltage.
Hi Rey, this might be a stupid question but if you turn the fireplace on with Siri then try turning it off with the wall switch, because you are putting the wall switch into the "on" position, would there not now be two sources of electricity going to the fireplace causing it to overload?
Not a stupid question at all, it was something I wondered about. The method you used to turn on the fireplace, will be the only method you’ll be able to turn it off. So turn it on via Siri will disable the switch and vice-versa. Also, it is a low-voltage switch doing little more than indicating on/off state. Hope that helps.
Clear and thorough. This is exactly what I needed - thank you! Subscribing for more homekit info :)
Thanks for watching! 🙏
Can this work with android?
It will work with any smart plug.
DIY novice here. What’s the reason for the relay? Couldn’t you just plug the fireplace in directly to the smart plug?
The gas fireplace isn’t plugged into an outlet and the switch is low voltage. This was the only easy solution currently available. Thanks for watching! 🙏
@@ReyG_HKSH I had the same question. I'm not following you here. In the video, it shows the fireplace is initially plugged into an outlet. Couldn't you just take out that black power cord and plug it directly into the smart plug?
Dude! Mute the 'Hey Siri'. So annoying… 😳
😬
it looks like a Chinese knock off to me
Priced like one too 👍