#StarterTips - Always check your wiring and use deep junction boxes!

Everything Matter
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Hi everyone!

If I could go back to when I first started building my smart home, my absolute biggest piece of advice would be about the physical infrastructure: Always check your wiring and install deep wall boxes!

When I was doing a major bathroom renovation recently (which included setting up some smart lighting like my Aqara T1M), I realized how crucial this is. Many beginners buy smart in-wall relays or switches only to discover that they don’t have a Neutral (N) wire at the switch location, or that their standard wall boxes are simply too shallow to fit a smart module alongside the traditional wiring.

My advice for beginners:

  • Before you buy: Open up your light switches and check if you have a Neutral wire.
  • If you are renovating: Always ask your electrician to pull a Neutral wire to every single switch and to install deep (or pocket) electrical boxes.

This one small step saves hours of frustration, prevents cable crowding, and gives you the freedom to easily install any Aqara module behind your standard switches for a completely invisible, reliable setup.

Good luck to everyone aiming for the FP400 trial! StarterTips

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@shaft28 Love this tip—checking the wiring and planning for deeper wall boxes is one of those “do it once, thank yourself forever” moves, especially during a renovation.

A couple of extra practical notes that line up with Aqara’s own install guidance:

  • Kill power at the breaker/fuse box and verify it’s off before you touch anything. Aqara’s installation steps repeatedly call this out—toggle the light a few times to confirm power is actually disconnected before wiring.
  • Don’t over-pack the wall box. When mounting the switch, the guidance is to tuck wires carefully, avoid crushing conductors, and avoid over-tightening screws—deep boxes make all of that dramatically easier (and safer).

Also, your point about Neutral is key for beginners: Aqara has both neutral and no-neutral wall switch variants, so knowing what you have behind the plate can save a ton of back-and-forth purchases.

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