Shelly 1L Gen3

The missing wire is the reason to buy it

Shelly 1L Gen3 solves a specific problem in an older lighting installation: the wall switch has no neutral conductor for a conventional smart relay. Its appeal is keeping the existing switch and light fittings while adding automation, without bringing a neutral to the relay position.

That makes its €32.90 price easier to understand. It costs substantially more than Shelly's €14.90 1PM Gen3, which includes a meter, but the cheaper model needs a neutral. Paying for the 1L is sensible when it avoids work that would otherwise make the project impractical. If a neutral is already present, the 1L gives you fewer features for more money.

Shelly's EU offer was in stock on September 9, 2026, with VAT and the matching bypass included; shipping and installation are extra. This review covers the 220 to 240 V, 50 Hz European model.

The bypass is part of the purchase

For LED lighting, the included Shelly Bypass for 1L/2L has to be fitted at the load. The installation therefore involves more than finding space behind the wall switch. Access to the fitting and room for that second component can determine whether the relay is a practical choice.

Shelly's instructions exempt incandescent lights from the bypass requirement. For LEDs, treat the bypass as required rather than an optional cure for flicker. Shelly's low-load guidance is inconsistent, so this review cannot promise that an especially low-wattage lamp will work correctly. That matters most when the intended load is only a tiny accent light.

The relay itself measures 37 × 42 × 16 mm, before allowing space for the wires. Its manual requires a qualified electrician for mains installation. The advantage is avoiding a neutral at the switch, not avoiding electrical work.

A good light switch, with a narrow job

The output is rated up to 200 W. Current product specifications list incandescent and LED lights without step-down transformers for lower-voltage lighting. That is a much narrower buying brief than a general-purpose relay for heaters or large appliances.

It switches one lighting circuit on or off. There is no brightness adjustment or energy measurement. Two physical control inputs do not make it a two-output device. If the goal is warmer evening lighting or a dimmable reading corner, an on/off relay alone will not deliver it.

For straightforward lighting routines, local timers and schedules are useful. The built-in browser interface, scripting and MQTT offer additional control without requiring Shelly Cloud for local operation. Current firmware provides Matter over Wi-Fi after updating and enabling it; a working unit need not be replaced to gain that path.

One light or two changes the value

The 2L Gen3 costs €36.90 and occupies the same size enclosure. For just €4 more, it can control two suitable lighting loads independently. Choose it when both circuits are available at the installation point, while accounting for its different output limits.

For one no-neutral lighting circuit, 1L Gen3 remains the simpler purchase. Where a neutral is available, the 1PM Gen3 is the stronger value choice: it costs less and adds consumption readings, subject to the actual load and installation.