Smart lighting, switching and energy monitoring with Shelly, hidden behind the switches you already have. Designed and programmed by Tom, an official Shelly installer based in Kew.
Official Shelly Installers
Shelly has authorised The Electric Crew as official Shelly installers. See our listing on Shelly’s installer map →
Home Automation That Works With Your Home, Not Against It
Most smart home automation falls into one of two traps: cheap smart bulbs that go dark the moment someone flicks the wall switch off, or big proprietary systems that cost a fortune and mean cutting into your plaster to install.
We take a different approach. Our home automation is built around Shelly, small smart modules that sit hidden behind your existing wall switches. You keep the switch plates you already like, guests and kids can still flip a light on the normal way, and you still get full automation, scheduling and remote control from your phone.
★★★★★
Have had the electric crew complete works for my house automating lights, setting up aps to manage the automation, Installing keyless front gate and door, and security cameras… Couldn’t be happier with the service and the result.
— Mark Wilkins, Google review
Why We Use Shelly
Shelly modules install inside your existing wall box, out of sight. That means:
- You keep your physical switches. No one has to learn a new way to turn on the bathroom light at 2am.
- No brand lock-in. Shelly works with Apple HomeKit, Google Home, Amazon Alexa or Home Assistant, whatever your household already uses.
- Renovation and retrofit friendly. Shelly works over your Wi-Fi, so there’s usually no need to run new cabling through double-brick or timber-framed homes.
What We Automate
Lighting and Scenes
Downlights, dimmable pendants and LED strips, controlled individually or grouped into scenes. “Goodnight” turns off the whole house with one press.
Switching Appliances
Switch heaters, pumps, fans and other appliances on and off from your phone, on a schedule, or automatically.
Energy Monitoring
See exactly how much power an appliance is drawing, and cut power to it remotely if something’s been left on.
Blinds and Climate
Bring blinds, heating and cooling into the same system as your lighting, so everything follows the same schedules and scenes.
Garage Doors and Entry
Check whether the garage was left open from your phone, or have it close automatically. Great for holiday rentals too.
Security and Holiday Mode
Lights that react when the alarm triggers, or a holiday mode that makes the house look occupied while you’re away.
Shelly and Home Assistant, for Whole-Home Control
For clients who want more than basic scheduling, we pair Shelly with Home Assistant, an open-source, local-first smart home platform. Everything runs on your own network rather than a cloud server overseas, so commands are instant and your automations keep working even if the internet drops out.
We can also set up detached switch programming, so a single press, double-tap or long-press on your existing wall switch triggers different scenes.
Shelly Products We Install
Shelly 1 and 1PM
For garage doors, gates, single light circuits, exhaust fans and heated towel rails. The PM models also measure power use.
Shelly 2PM
For two-gang light switches, motorised blinds, roller shutters and awnings.
Shelly Dimmer
For dimmable LED downlights, pendants and strip lighting, with smooth dimming from the switch or your phone.
Shelly Pro 3EM
A switchboard energy meter that shows your home’s power use in real time, and is ideal for tracking solar.
Shelly Pro relays
Heavy-duty switchboard modules (Pro 1, Pro 2 and Pro 4PM) for whole lighting circuits, hot water, pool pumps and air conditioning.
Shelly Wall Display
A sleek 4-inch touch panel at light-switch height for room control, scenes, temperature and thermostat settings.
Built on a Network That Can Actually Handle It
Smart home automation is only as reliable as the network underneath it. We build our Shelly and Home Assistant installations on UniFi networking, so your lighting, security cameras, access control and automation all sit on one dependable network instead of competing for bandwidth.
If your Wi-Fi is already patchy, we can fix that first.
How It Works
Free consultation
Tom walks through your home and talks about what you’d like to automate.
System design
We plan which switches, appliances and rooms to automate, and check your Wi-Fi.
Neat installation
Shelly modules fitted behind your switches, safely and tidily.
Setup and handover
Apps, scenes and schedules set up, and everything explained.
Ready to talk it through?
Book a free consultation. Tom will come out, look at your home and talk you through your options.
Shelly vs Smart Bulbs vs Proprietary Systems
| Shelly (what we install) | Smart bulbs | Proprietary systems | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wall switches | Keep working normally | Switching off cuts the smart features | Often replaced with special keypads |
| Installation | Hidden behind existing switches | Swap the bulbs | Often new cabling and wall work |
| Works with | HomeKit, Google, Alexa, Home Assistant | Usually one brand’s app | Locked to one brand |
| If the internet drops | Switches and automations keep working | Varies by brand | Varies by brand |
| Cost | Start small and add rooms over time | Low, but limited | Usually a large upfront investment |
Why Choose The Electric Crew for Home Automation
Shelly devices connect to 240V mains power. In Australia, installing them yourself is illegal and dangerous. With a licensed electrician, you get:
- Compliance and safety: every module wired with correct circuit protection, backed by a Certificate of Electrical Safety.
- Network stability: as UniFi specialists, we make sure your Wi-Fi can support dozens of smart modules without slowing down.
- Proper setup, not just wiring: we configure the apps, set up your first automations, and make sure the system makes sense to everyone in the household.
- Official Shelly installer: Tom designs and programs every system himself.
Recent Home Automation Projects
Automated Holiday Home
Automated Garden Lights
Home Automation FAQs
Does Shelly work if my internet goes down?
Yes. Shelly modules operate on your local Wi-Fi network, so your schedules, physical switches and automations keep working even if your internet provider has an outage. You only lose remote control from outside the house until the connection returns.
Can I keep my existing switch plates?
Yes. Shelly modules sit behind your existing switches, so your switch plates stay exactly as they are, which suits period and heritage homes. Some older homes lack a neutral wire at the switch, and Tom will choose Shelly models that suit your wiring.
Do I need an electrician for home automation?
Yes, and it’s a legal requirement in Victoria. Shelly and similar modules connect directly into your 240V wiring. Our electricians install them safely and issue a Certificate of Electrical Safety for the work.
How much does home automation cost in Melbourne?
It depends on the scope. Many clients start small, automating lighting in a few key rooms, then expand over time to blinds, climate, garage and security. We’ll walk through your home and give you a clear, tailored quote rather than a generic package price.
What’s the difference between Shelly and cheap smart bulbs?
Smart bulbs lose their smart features the moment someone uses the wall switch, because that cuts their power. Shelly modules sit behind the switch instead of in the bulb, so the switch and the automation both keep working, all the time.
Do I need a neutral wire at my light switch for Shelly?
Most Shelly modules need a neutral wire at the switch. Many older Melbourne homes don’t have one, but that’s usually easy to solve: we can run a neutral from the ceiling space, or use Shelly’s no-neutral modules with a bypass. Tom will check this during your free consultation.
Can Shelly control my garage door or driveway gate?
Yes. A Shelly 1 connects safely to most existing garage door and gate motors, so you can open, close and check them from your phone, or set them to close automatically.
Home Automation Across Melbourne’s Inner East and North
We install Shelly home automation from our base in Kew, across Melbourne’s inner east and inner north.
Book your free consultation
Tell us a bit about your home and what you’d like to improve. Tom will be in touch to arrange a time to come out.
- Send your details or give Tom a call
- Tom visits and walks through your home with you
- You get honest advice and a clear quote
Prefer to talk? 📞 0404 828 977
★★★★★ 5.0 from 62 Google reviews · Licensed electricians · Family-run since 2014