This is a write up of my LocalDeck Deployment which adds 24 buttons with status LED's to a standard (UK) light switch with no permanent wall modifications.
This write up will focus more on the hardware side of the project as software is highly specific to my home assistant setup.
As with all my write ups, It is my hope that I may spark or inspire an idea for others to start their own project. I have had many ideas based upon other peoples projects and can only hope that I can do the same for others.
To start with I got a standard single gang 45 degree back box and put the LocalDeck on it to see how it would look.
It works extremely well and if you are looking for a more solid stand for the LocalDeck which is at a higher angle than the stock one and lets you use the rear USB port then getting one of these is a great solution.
Now that the entire premise of the idea was greenlit I moved to modifying the backbox so that it could easily be mounted to a light switch without permanently modifying the original setup. For this I opted to get a faceplate spacer and attach this to the top of the back box.
This required grinding part of the spacer down to get a flat surface then drill some holes in both the spacer and the backbox and use M2 bolts to hold them together. I then drilled a few extra holes through the join and in the backbox for cables to be routed from the switch to the backbox. This is how I will power the setup as I have both live and neutral at the intended switch.
Once this was on I noted that the angle of the localdeck was such that it would potentially interfere with the light switch when it was in place so I opted to add a spacer to the front of the backbox to give enough room.
Now with the framework ready it was time to decide on the wiring.
It was at this point I decided to modify the LocalDeck and add wires to the unpopulated connections on the board. I feel I could have made do with the rear USB connection but such a connector at the angle it would be may limit some future options, Also given the connections were already ready to accept the modification it seemed easy enough to just solder on a couple of wires. I used some kapton type to hold the wire in position as I routed it to the rear usb connector which conveniently had space on its side to allow the cables to pop out. I also put kapton tape behind where the keyhole mounts on the rear panel are. This is to ensure that if the screw is too long and touches the board that it will not be able to short anything.
I used a small 5v power supply with a max output of 2.4A. Please note that the LocalDeck original PSU is rated at 3A. During testing I noted it didn't get much over an amp (maybe 1.2A at most) to be sure I also limited the brightness of the LEDS (main power consumer) to 80% brightness in firmware. at 80% brightness they use about 50% power
I used Wago Connectors on both the 230v and the 5v circuits to ensure a solid connection which making it easy to disconnect and also add additional things later.
Now that it's almost ready for deployment It was time to put the faceplate and custom keys on the LocalDeck and I have to say that it does look really smart once fully assembled.
Now was time to work on the software side of things. This is mostly a hardware write up and the software is very specific but I will note that I did customise the firmware a bit and I use two automations to control everything. One Handles button presses and the other updates the LEDS as required for feedback/device status/battery indicator/etc...
Once ready It was time to Mount it to the light switch. If you're doing this kind of thing please ensure that the power to the lighting circuit is switched off.
The keypad is a little close to the switches so I may modify the back panel to extend the keyhole slots to allow it to drop down a little further
With the keyhole mounting system it could be easily pushed out of position potentially exposing access to live mains. This does pose a small safety risk but given the household has no children it is limited. However, maybe adding a retention system of some sort might be a good idea. A single screw somewhere should probably do it.
There is plenty more room for expansion inside the backbox and I am considering adding a second ESP32 setup to the deployment. Which could have various things attached to it: sensors/voice assistant/relays for the light switches/etc...
I am pretty sure I will revisit this little setup soon and will potentially detail modifications in a future write up.
I am very happy with the way it has turned out and It has gone down well with other members of the household.
Being able to put something that looks "built in" in place without permanent modification to walls and such is a big bonus.
They are a great company that makes excellent value products. They have had some issues but have resolved them and listened to feedback better than most companies 1000 times their size. if you're in the market for some smart home stuff then check them out and see if they have something that fits your purpose.
My LocalDeck Review/Feedback write up - https://github.com/MichaelMKKelly/LocalDeck-Review/
LocalBytes Website: https://www.mylocalbytes.com/
LocalDeck Product Page: https://www.mylocalbytes.com/products/localdeck-bundle
LocalDeck Documentation: https://blog.mylocalbytes.com/kb/2024-04-01/refs-localdeck/