A long long time ago I had a girlfriend named Shelley. This Shelly I speak about here is a completely different ‘animal and yet it does evoke the same feelings I had then!
True story: I met Shelley whilst playing “Father Christmas’ Little Helper” delivering Christmas presents to clients of Straton Electrical. Those were good times – working during the holidays from a young age.
This Shelly is a global brand of smart home and Internet of Things (IoT) devices developed by the Bulgarian company Shelly Group (formerly Allterco Robotics). The products are primarily known for being compact, affordable, and highly versatile, allowing users to automate existing home appliances without needing a specialized central hub.
A standout feature of Shelly products is their retrofit design, which means they are small enough to be installed inside standard electrical wall boxes behind existing light switches or power sockets.
Core Product Categories
- Smart Relays: These are the brand’s flagship products. They act as wireless switches to control lights, garage doors, and appliances. Notable models include the Shelly Plus 1, Shelly 1PM (with power monitoring), and the high-capacity Shelly Pro series for DIN-rail mounting in electrical panels.
- Smart Lighting: Includes WiFi-enabled bulbs like the Shelly Duo (white/cool) and Shelly Vintage (filament style), as well as the Shelly RGBW2 controller for LED strips.
- Sensors and Detectors: Devices that monitor environmental conditions, such as the Shelly BLU Motion (motion), Shelly Flood (water leak), and Shelly H&T (humidity and temperature).
- Plug & Play Devices: External smart plugs like the Shelly Plus Plug US that allow you to make any plugged-in appliance smart instantly.
- Energy Monitoring: Dedicated meters like the Shelly Pro 3EM for measuring electricity consumption across three phases in a home or business.
Key Technical Features
- No Hub Required: Most Shelly devices connect directly to your home Wi-Fi and can be managed via the Shelly Smart Control App.
- Broad Compatibility: They integrate with major ecosystems including Amazon Alexa, Google Home, Samsung SmartThings, and Home Assistant.
- Multi-Protocol Support: Newer generations (Gen3 and Gen4) support multiple communication standards including Bluetooth, Zigbee, Matter, and Z-Wave.
- Local Control: Unlike many smart brands, Shelly devices can operate entirely on a local network without a cloud connection, which appeals to privacy-conscious users and DIY “makers”.
- Advanced Scripting: Many models support custom micro-JavaScript for creating complex, localized automation routines directly on the device.
Product Generations
- Gen3/Gen4: Feature faster processors (ESP-Shelly-C38F), increased memory (8MB), and Matter certification for better interoperability.
- Shelly Pro Line: Designed for professional installation in breaker boxes, often featuring LAN (Ethernet) connectivity for maximum stability.
- Shelly BLU Line: A range of ultra-low-energy devices that communicate primarily via Bluetooth.
Have a look at the Shelly Products available online from Stratlec.
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