Céliane with Netatmo (Legrand): discovery, installation, price, advice and support

I recently purchased a Céliane with Netatmo starter kit. If my installation is not yet finished, I wanted to tell you about my beginnings with the latter. Available from €95, is the Céliane with Netatmo kit a good set to get started in home automation? Answers in this article…

Netatmo + Legrand

You may not know it, but Netatmo has been part of Legrand since the end of 2018. Indeed, the French industrial group Legrand specializing in electricity has offered itself the specialist in connected devices Netatmo. Together, they have created several Céliane, Doxxie and Mosaic home automation systems. These are the names of different ranges from Legrand's traditional catalogue: electrical socket, switch, USB socket, RJ45 socket, controls... In short, you get the idea. When we bought our apartment, we chose the Céliane range from Legrand. I told you about it in a previous article (cheaper renovation)…

Connected home and interoperability

As you know, on Cachem, we regularly talk about home automation and different existing solutions. To bring consistency with all devices (roller shutter, light, connected socket, etc.), you have to juggle between applications or go through a multi-vendor platform such as Jeedom, Home Assistant, Domoticz, etc. Then, it may be interesting to want all this little world to be controlled from a smartphone or tablet through a unified application and why not with Apple Home (HomeKit), Google Home or Alexa.

Aesthetics according to Céliane

If you want to go back to basic things (socket and switch), it can quickly become complicated. For example, I have EVE and Fibaro sockets at home. Aesthetically, it must be admitted that it is not very pretty. Indeed, these modules are added to the socket as an appendage...

There are of course smart wall sockets like at Fibaro at 60€ per unit. You can of course control it with your smartphone or tablet, provided you have a compatible bridge. Then, you need a switch if you want to control the socket, for example, without having to take out your phone. The bill can go up very quickly… but there is always a concern for aesthetic inconsistency. Another solution is micromodules. They solve part of the problem, they are relatively expensive when choosing recognized manufacturers.

Ok Google, Hey Siri…

I quickly approach the problem related to voice control. If it is possible to turn a light on or off by voice, a problem often encountered is when an unconnected physical switch can control the light. You can wake up your assistant, he won't be able to do anything for you. It is for this reason that I address the socket and the switch simultaneously.

Céliane with Netatmo

What made me think is to see that a simple connected switch can sometimes be very expensive (EVE Light Switch: €99.95) and that aesthetically it did not pass the required criteria. I had already had a quick look at the Céliane kits and found them expensive. However, on closer inspection, they are not the most expensive… Above all, the sockets and switches are much more aesthetic. I took the 4-product kit from Leroy Merlin, you can find it elsewhere, I'm sure .

I didn't connect it right away and waited a few days...

Unpacking and installation

The box was a little damaged, but everything was present inside and in its place. Inside we find: a Control socket, a general wireless control, a wireless control, a switch with connected dimmer (with its compensator). Of course, we have the finishing plates that go with it, but also with site protections and small repositionable adhesive strips.

I started installing the Control plug. It is a central element of the installation, because it is a normal socket with above what is called the bridge (home automation box). It seems to me that some call it the diamond (in connection with its shape).

I turn off the current at the circuit breaker and I do the installation. I wanted to put her behind a couch. However, I had the good idea to install it in an easily accessible location at first. You will understand why a little later. So I follow the manual and the first steps. I connect neutral, phase and earth. If you're not an electricity pro, there are color codes 😉 You can always be wrong, but hey...

It is important to note that all smart sockets can handle up to 3680 W (16 A), including the Control socket.

Follow the guide

If we follow the guide, we are offered to install the wired switch connected with a dimmer. Bad luck, I don't want to install this product in this room, but in another. Next step, I restore power. As in the guide, the LED on the Control socket turns red. Don't ask me why, I can't wait to take out my laptop to pair it with it to add it to my network. Spoiler alert: my biggest mistake. Immediately from Home on the iPhone, the bridge was visible… without even having it associated with the Wi-Fi network. I download the app and launch it… Creating an account and adding the product only takes 2 minutes. The mobile application updates the Control socket and everything restarts. This step takes about 5 minutes in total.

The plug light no longer lights up. I plug a light into it. I can control it from my phone. Great !

The trouble begins

I take out the general wireless command. This is a kind of wireless switch equipped with a socket with two logos (home in / home out). It runs on a small CR2032 battery. It is important because in addition to having a general command role through scenarios (set of commands), it allows opening the ZigBee 3.0 network to add a module to the installation. You understand, it has an important role… Except that there, nothing works as expected. I try several things, but nothing works. It flashes: green, green and red. A little pissed off, I search the internet (forum and blog), but nothing seems to work. Some talk about doing a Reset, which other sites strongly advise against, at the risk of making it unusable. I pull out the other wireless light control that comes with the kit. It doesn't work either: green, green and red.

The wireless control works as shown with a CR2032 battery. Its installation is facilitated, even on an old electrical installation. For example, if you had an outlet controlled by a switch… Sometimes the neutral wire (blue) is missing. The control here does not need it, unlike many connected switches.

Help…

On the Legrand website, I find a phone number and a contact form. It is Sunday (the day of installation) and it is 6:40 p.m. I decide to fill out the form. The number of characters is limited, you have to be concise.

The next day, Monday at 11.15 a.m., I received an answer from Legrand. This one is not adapted to my concern, but I can answer without limits of characters/words. Finally, there is a limit, but as much to tell you that I made a pavement… Tuesday a little before noon, I received a call from Legrand. In a few minutes, the customer service person found the cause and explained to me what to do.

I have to plug in another device (socket or switch) in 220v and then I have to press the Reset button for a brief moment (1 second maximum). As I don't have much time, the person offers to call me back the next day to check that everything is working. If I was able to add the requested product the same evening, I did not attempt the manipulation. The next day, at the agreed time, the same person calls me back, we did the installation together and checked that everything was working correctly.

My error comes from the fact that I had fun adding the product to my smartphone… well before having finalized the installation. I should not have. However, even if the support was surprised by the behavior of the Control plug which should have remained in its initial mode (red light).

I was amazed by the speed, efficiency and friendliness of the support person. It's so rare these days...

Céliane switch with dimmer

I have since installed the switch with dimmer connected. It is very easy to install. Unlike wireless controls, it looks like a standard switch. My light is on the ceiling. It consists of 4 LED spotlights. I changed them to dimmables to take advantage of the dimmer. A small compensator is provided in the kit. Whether the spots are dimmable or not, it must be installed. The latter avoids many inconveniences: flashing strobe type or LED still bright even when the switch is off.

I thought I read that the LED should be 5W or more. This is a mistake on my part and the rendering was clearly not there. It is absolutely necessary that each makes more than 5W. If it helps, I took this one (from Leroy M.) and the result is very good.

Attention, the switch with connected dimmer can control up to 5 lamps maximum.

Pairing two Céliane devices

For information, in order to associate 2 Céliane with Netatmo devices (a wireless control to a connected socket), you must:

In addition, it is possible to control several sockets with one and the same wireless control.

Home+Control app

First, the app is relatively easy to use. From the opening, we find the installation directly room by room. At the top left, a toothed wheel provides access to settings for your home, connected devices, scenarios, actions according to a diary, alerts, etc.

At the top right, 4 bars of different levels provide access to electricity consumption (not in Watts, but in Euros). You have several views: by hour, by day or by month over the calendar year. It is possible to go back to past consumption. To have a consumption in Watt, you will have to go through the main menu, then select a room and a device.

Then, using the button at the bottom of the home screen (4 dots in a white disc), you will have access to actions/events, but to shortcuts for 4 scenarios. Of course, the application works over Wi-Fi, but also from a mobile network (3G/4G/5G).

Even more…

Finally, in addition to controlling the Céliane installation, the application allows you to add other products. Indeed, beyond the Legrand kits (all-in-one), it is possible to add products individually. A socket here, a back and forth there, but also a roller shutter control, a connected thermostat, a videophone, a micromodule, a contactor, multifunction contactor, remote switch, energy meter and ecometer, load shedder, motion detector , siren, camera, etc. If you have products other than Legrand, such as Somfy shutters, you can add them to the application. If you are equipped Bubendorff, there is a solution too. Finally, you can also add Bticino or Aldes brand products to control your ventilation. All this, from the same application. Note that I had confirmation that many Legrand/Netatmo products were going to be added in a future version.

Finally, the devices communicate on the ZigBee 3.0 protocol. It is possible to use Céliane with Netatmo products in Jeedom or another, via a ZiGate module for example.

This is what I can tell you after two weeks of use. I am delighted with the installation and it should evolve further in the coming days. So all is not rosy. I read here and there some negative comments and I keep them in memory. For my part, I fell in love with this kit and I think I will continue to equip myself. The fact that it is also compatible with Apple and Google natively, but also that it uses the ZigBee standard reassures me for the future. The products are pretty (invisible), they work well, the application is simple and functional. Being able to call or be called back by efficient support is also an additional guarantee and that reassures me for the future. However, there is the price. We agree, it's not the cheapest on the market... but it's not the most expensive either. If we look at the price of a kit compared to certain elements of other brands (with a minimum of quality) purchased separately, they are sometimes much more expensive.HARDWARE / DESIGN10OS & APPLICATIONS8PERFORMANCE / RESPONSIVENESS9.5ONLINE & PHONE SUPPORT9.5PRICE89AMAZONCASTORAMALEROY MERLIN