Split devices
One device, more than one place: the device sits where its hardware is, what it switches sits where it acts.
A relay behind the wall switch that powers the ceiling lamp. A wall panel with two relays: one for the WC light, one for the corridor light. A smart plug in the socket, its lamp across the room.
The rule
- The device stays where its hardware is (the wall, the socket). Network and Health show it there: that's where the radio and the battery are.
- Anything it switches (a light, switch, cover, fan or climate entity) can get its own spot where it acts.
- Each entity shows in exactly one place on the card: at its own spot if it has one, otherwise at the device.
Make one
- Place the device where the hardware is.
- In its card choose 📍 Split: it controls something elsewhere. Its switchable entities are listed (a hint says so when it has two or more).
- Press Place where it acts next to one and click on the plan (the lamp on the ceiling).
- A dashed line joins the device and the spot while you select either. ✕ brings the entity back to the device.
- Click the spot: it has its own Light on the plan (shape, size, colour), independent of the device and of the other channels. A relay that switches a lamp: set Acts as: Light and the card treats it as a lamp (bulb icon, Lights overlay, glow).
Even better, if you like: in Home Assistant open the relay's entity → ⚙ → Show as → Light. Device Floorplan moves the spot to the new light by itself, and every other dashboard sees a light too. The device at its hardware spot stays what it is (a wall switch never turns into a lamp).
Searching for an entity also helps: a row says Relay 2 · part of this device · can sit where it acts.
On the card
| Overlay | Shows |
|---|---|
| Live, Lights, Security, custom | Each placed entity as its own marker (its own icon and name; tap switches that entity) |
| Network, Health | The device only, at its hardware spot |
The device itself shows only what's left (sensors, signal, battery), and nothing in Live if nothing is left. Hover a relay's marker: Through Wall panel · Wi-Fi. If the device goes offline, its placed entities show as unavailable.
Lights behind a wall switch
A wall switch with light channels (Aqara, Sonoff, Shelly…) is one device in Home Assistant, and its lights belong to it. In the Editor:
- Place the switch where it is on the wall. The Type → Lights filter shows it too, because it has a light.
- Open its card → 📍 Split: it controls something elsewhere → Place where it acts for each light (the lamp over the coffee table, the ceiling light).
- Click each light spot to give it its shape and colour.
The lights then glow where the lamps are, and the switch stays a switch on the wall.
Buttons and remotes are not split devices
A wireless button or remote (Aqara, Hue Dimmer, IKEA, Matter buttons…) has no switch in Home Assistant: it only sends events (pressed once, pressed twice), and an automation turns the lights on. Home Assistant doesn't know which lamp it controls, so there is nothing to split:
- place the button where it physically is (the wall, the coffee table): Network and Health show it there (battery, signal);
- place the lights where they are: they are normal lights on the card (Live, Lights, glow).
Split devices are only for devices that switch something themselves (a relay, a wall switch with light channels, a panel with relays).
Examples
- Relay behind the wall switch: device at the wall, its light on the ceiling.
- Wall panel with two relays: the panel on the corridor wall, Relay 1 in the WC, Relay 2 in the corridor: three places, one device.
- Plug and lamp: either split it (plug at the socket, the lamp spot where the lamp is), or simply place the plug at the lamp: easier, only the Network view is slightly off.