Frequently asked questions

• Why three keys on one frame in a kitchen-living?

  An open space usually has several light lines — spots over the hob, the table lamp, the under-cabinet strip. The ZBM5-3C splits them across three adjacent white keys, each switching its own line, so the mood changes at the wall, not only in the app.
• Does it need a separate hub or does it work straight through the router?

  It needs a Zigbee coordinator. SONOFF lists ZBBridge, ZBBridge-P/U, NSPanel Pro and iHost on eWeLink, plus the ZBDongle-E/P for Home Assistant (ZHA and Zigbee2MQTT). Unlike the Wi-Fi M5, the ZBM5 does not connect directly to the Wi-Fi router.
• Does it work without a neutral in the box?

  Yes — in no-neutral mode it becomes an end device and needs a 3 W minimum per gang, so at least a couple of spots or a strip per line. Wire a neutral to the N terminal and each gang becomes a 10 A relay, while the mechanism works as a Zigbee router and strengthens the mesh.
• What load does each key carry and what are the LED limits?

  Each gang switches 10 A, with 10 A total across all three. LED fixtures are capped at 400 W per gang at 240 V (200 W at 100 V); incandescent goes up to 2400 W at 240 V. It covers kitchen-living lighting with margin, but a cooker hood or boiler does not belong here.
• What is Detach Relay and when is it available?

  Detach Relay separates the key from the relay: a press sends a command to a smart lamp without cutting its power — handy when Zigbee bulbs sit under the spots and must stay energised. It works in neutral mode only, not without a neutral.
• Can I add the switch to Apple Home?

  Not natively. Through a SONOFF hub and eWeLink you get Alexa, Google Home, SmartThings, IFTTT and Alice. In Home Assistant via a ZBDongle it pairs easily and can be bridged onward from there, but direct Apple Home support is not offered on this version.
• How does it differ from the Wi-Fi M5 version?

  The M5 uses an ESP32, connects straight to the router and works through eWeLink with no hub; the ZBM5 talks Zigbee 3.0 and needs a coordinator, but runs scenes locally and accepts an optional neutral. The limits differ too: the ZBM5 carries 10 A per gang versus the M5's 2 A.
• Will it fit a standard Moldovan back box?

  The 87×87 mm body mounts on a Ø60 mm round box or an 86×86 square one. The mechanism is 40.2 mm deep, so a 45 mm box makes fitting easier; in older buildings the electrician brings the neutral over from the nearest junction box.