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.
First Published here: MyPR.co.za
Did You Know?
- Cradock was founded in 1813 on the banks of the Great Fish River to cater for the migratory farmers who settled in this ruggedly beautiful area with its excellent grazing, abundant water and healthy climate.
- Cradock was officially renamed Nxuba on 26 August 2022. This change was officially gazetted by the Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture, Nathi Mthethwa, and it was part of a broader effort to rename towns with colonial or apartheid legacies in the Eastern Cape.
- Home to an actual Harry Potter’s grave: A British soldier with the name Harry Potter, who died during the South African War (Anglo-Boer War), is buried in the Cradock cemetery. His grave was discovered in 2002, long before the fictional character became a global phenomenon.
- Location of the last surrender of arms in the South African War: Cradock was the final place in South Africa where arms were officially laid down at the end of the South African War, with the event occurring four days after the Peace of Vereeniging was signed in 1902.
- Birthplace of Afrikaans publication: The first-ever article published in the Afrikaans language appeared in the local newspaper, the Cradock News, on December 4, 1868. This was a report on the separation of the Eastern Cape from the Western Cape, and the paper achieved the largest circulation in the country at the time.
- Second oldest cricket ground and library in South Africa: Cradock’s cricket ground and library are both the second oldest in the entire country, a testament to the town’s early establishment and development of civic amenities.
- Host to a total solar eclipse viewing by a Prime Minister: In 1942, the South African statesman and Prime Minister Jan Smuts came specifically to Cradock to witness a total eclipse of the sun, as the town was the best location for viewing the celestial event.