Behaviour in heat: the SmartKnob's thermal management

Pairing practically takes care of itself. You start it on the SmartKnob or in the dashboard and then power up the module. An LED and a sound on the SmartKnob confirm that the connection is up. That is all there is to it: no cable to the SmartKnob, no configuration, no searching for networks. The only thing that matters is that your SmartKnob is already running, because the modules always connect to it. With Lighty: right after pairing, its wall push buttons stop responding. Create a light widget for each light in the dashboard and switch on "Push button" in it, then they switch again.

Yes, up to 20 modules at the same time, in any combination. That is enough for almost any camper conversion, from a compact panel van to a fully equipped motorhome. If you want to add several modules one after the other, the SmartKnob stays ready to receive for a short while after each successful pairing. You simply power up the next module.

The two modes only decide which Wi-Fi network you use to open your dashboard on your phone or tablet. They have no effect on your modules. • AP mode: the SmartKnob opens its own Wi-Fi network and you connect your phone or tablet directly to it. You need no router and no internet, ideal when you are parked off-grid. • STA mode: the SmartKnob joins your existing Wi-Fi network, for example your camper router or your phone's hotspot. That is handy if you want internet access at the same time, for instance for online updates. You can switch between the two at any time.

You are still never locked out. If the SmartKnob loses the connection to your Wi-Fi network, because the router is off, you have moved to another pitch or you are simply out of range, it automatically opens its own Wi-Fi network again. You can then reach the dashboard directly through it straight away. As soon as your usual network is back, it reconnects to it by itself. You do not have to do a thing.

Ampy and Lighty keep their settings and carry on working. You simply keep switching and dimming lights and appliances at the wall switch, fuses and voltage protection stay active, and the outputs stay as they are. The display, dashboard, scenes, automations, the double tap for all lights and the wireless push buttons pause. This is a fallback, not a permanent state: without the SmartKnob you cannot change settings such as fuse values, and dimming only works with push buttons, not with switches. The one exception: an Ampy output set up as a heating element switches itself off after 10 minutes for safety, so that no boiler keeps heating unattended. We are also working on a backup function where a module takes over the dashboard, so that the whole system can still be operated from your phone and tablet.

The wall surface under the mounting plate must be flat: no more than 0.5mm of unevenness across the whole area of the mounting plate. If the wall is bent, curved or warped, the SmartKnob will not click in cleanly. Check the surface with a straight edge before screwing the plate on. Double-sided tape on the back of the mounting plate gives extra hold.