Three-way switch + smart switch in Home Assistant — what are you actually using that works?
I have a staircase with a three-way switch setup (two switch locations) and I am trying to find a reliable smart switch solution that works with Home Assistant.
Single switch setups are straightforward. Three-way makes it a nightmare, and here is why.
In the most common US three-way wiring configuration, the LINE (incoming power from the panel) enters one switch box, and the LOAD (the wire going to the light fixture) exits from the other switch box. Two traveler wires run between the two boxes to complete the circuit. This means the LINE and LOAD are physically separated — they are not in the same box.
Most smart switches expect to have both LINE and LOAD present in the same box. In a standard three-way setup, that is simply not how the circuit is wired. You also cannot assume the neutral wire is available at either switch location, since older wiring often only runs neutrals to the fixture, not to the switch boxes.
The most recommended solution I keep finding is the Inovelli Blue Series 2-1 paired with their AUX switch, but the cost is significant for a single circuit.
My question: What are you actually running for a three-way switch in Home Assistant that works reliably? Zigbee or WiFi — open to either. Especially interested in whether anyone has found a budget-friendly option that genuinely works in a US three-way wiring configuration.