Frequently asked questions

• How is it different from the M5 Matter version?

  This is the Wi-Fi model: it works through eWeLink and the Alexa, Google Home, SmartThings and Alice voice assistants, but it does not join Apple Home and does not use Matter. Sonoff's white M5 Matter series covers that scenario at a higher price.
• What does '86 type' mean — will it fit my back box?

  The 86×86 mm body mounts on a standard Ø60 mm round back box or an 86×86 square one. For narrow vertical 86×71 mm frames Sonoff offers the M5-80 series with the same electronics. The mechanism is 41.5 mm deep, so a 45 mm box makes installation much easier.
• Can I wire a cooker hood to the third key?

  Better not. A hood motor is an inductive load, and the M5-3C limit for those is 100 W per channel at 220 V — most hoods draw more on high speed. The switch is meant for lighting: 2 A (440 W) of resistive load per channel.
• What happens to the lights if the internet goes down?

  The keys always work — they are ordinary physical buttons. From the app on the same Wi-Fi network, commands travel directly over the LAN, bypassing the cloud. Until the ISP recovers you only lose voice control and remote access.
• Which voice assistants are supported?

  The manufacturer lists Alexa, Google Home, SmartThings, IFTTT and Alice via eWeLink account linking; Siri Shortcuts help on iPhone. There is no native Apple Home integration on the Wi-Fi version — that is what the M5 Matter series is for.
• Can the under-cabinet strip switch itself off?

  Yes. A countdown or inching mode is assigned per channel: turn the strip on for late tea and it goes off by itself after the minutes you set. Schedules work separately — a night light after 11 pm, for instance.
• There are only two wires behind my old switch — will it work?

  No: the electronics need a neutral on the N terminal, plus line and the three load wires. An electrician usually brings the neutral over from the nearest junction box. If that is impossible, look at the SwitchMan ZBM5 — the Zigbee version with optional neutral.
• How dark is the gray in real life?

  It is Dim Gray, a deep matte graphite — the same shade as the NSPanel. On the wall it looks darker than white ceramic yet softer than glossy black; a row of M5 switches and an NSPanel reads as one composition.