A regular Shabbat timer in the electrical panel switches the lights on and off all together: the whole circuit, at the same time. In a home with young children, parents who go to bed late and a Shabbat meal that ends at a different time every week, that just isnโt enough.
A smart home solves this: a separate Shabbat timer for every light, every shutter and the water heater, each with its own times. You set everything up in advance in the app before Shabbat begins, and on Shabbat itself you donโt touch a thing.
What you can do on Shabbat with a smart home
- Lighting by room. The kidsโ rooms go dark at 21:00, the living room at 23:30 and the parentsโ bedroom at 00:30, while the light over the dining table stays on until the meal is over.
- Different times for Friday night and Saturday. Each time is set by day of the week, so weekdays arenโt affected.
- By sunset. You can set things to run relative to sunset, for example 30 minutes before. The time shifts automatically with the seasons, so thereโs no need to update it every week.
- Shutters. Bedroom shutters close at night and open in the morning, or open only partway.
- Water heater. The water heater turns on an hour and a half before you get up on Shabbat morning, instead of running all night.
- Hot plate and water urn. An outlet that turns on before Shabbat and off after the third meal, or at any other time you choose.
- Back to the weekday. After Shabbat ends, the house automatically goes back to its usual routine.
Note: Devices that respond to people, such as motion sensors or lights that turn on when it gets dark, raise halachic questions. We recommend consulting a rabbi before using them on Shabbat. What we describe here is a fixed schedule set in advance, just like a Shabbat timer.
How it works
Shelly devices are small enough to fit behind your existing wall switch or inside the electrical panel. The wall switches keep working as usual, and you can also control and schedule everything from the app.
You set the times in the app, and they are stored in the device itself, so they keep running even if the internet goes down in the middle of Shabbat.
What to check before your first Shabbat
- Power outages. After a power outage, the device needs an internet connection to get the correct time; without it, the schedules wonโt run. We recommend connecting your router to a small UPS. Also set what each device does when power is restored: stay off, turn on, or return to its previous state.
- Wall switches. Anyone who presses a switch on Shabbat changes its state. If that worries you, for example in a home with young children, you can mark the switches, or install the devices in the electrical panel instead of behind the switch.
- Do a trial run first. Set the times and test them on a weekday evening before your first Shabbat.
- Holidays. For a holiday that falls midweek, set a one-time schedule for that day.
Which device fits where
| What you want to schedule | Device |
|---|---|
| Lighting on a standard switch (neutral available in the wall box) | Shelly 1PM Gen4 or 1PM Mini Gen4 |
| Lighting on a switch without a neutral | Shelly 1L Gen3 or 2L Gen3 for two switches |
| Dimmable lighting | Shelly Dimmer Gen4 |
| An electric shutter, or two lights on a two-gang switch | Shelly 2PM Gen4 |
| A water heater, or a hot plate or urn on an outlet | Shelly 1PM Gen4 |
| Several circuits in the electrical panel | Shelly Pro 4PM (four channels on a DIN rail) |
Youโll find all the models, with prices, under Smart Shabbat timers. Want an exact list for your home? Our free planner builds one based on your rooms and switches.
It saves electricity too
A regular Shabbat timer keeps everything on until the time set for the whole circuit. With separate schedules, each light is on only when itโs needed. The water heater alone, running for an hour and a half instead of all night, can save dozens of shekels a month. With a smart energy meter you can see exactly how much.
Installation
The devices are installed by a licensed electrician: behind the wall switches or in the electrical panel, with no need to open walls or run new wiring. After installation, add each device to the app. See Adding a new Shelly device to the app. Donโt have an electrician? Book an electrician who knows Shelly.
FAQ
Do I need to touch my phone on Shabbat?
No. You set the times before Shabbat, and the device runs them on its own.
What happens if the internet goes down on Shabbat?
The schedules keep running, because theyโre stored in the device. Only after a power outage does the device need an internet connection to get the time, which is why we recommend a UPS for the router.
Can I keep my old Shabbat timer in the panel?
Yes. You can replace only the circuits you want to separate and leave the rest as they are.
Does it work for shutters too?
Yes. The Shelly 2PM Gen4 schedules opening and closing, including opening partway to a set percentage.
Is it permitted according to halacha?
A fixed schedule set before Shabbat works just like a regular Shabbat timer. For specific halachic questions, such as sensors, actions triggered by light or changing the times, consult your rabbi.