Sonoff
Sonoff SwitchMan ZBM5 Zigbee Wall Switch (2 Gang, 86-Type)
- Zigbee2MQTT / ZHA
- Local control
- Zigbee
Prices verified September 2026
See more smart wall switches picks on our Amazon storefront →Our verdict
Sonoff's flexible-wiring Zigbee switch: it detects whether you've got a neutral wire and adjusts its own operating mode, and in neutral mode it also doubles as a Zigbee router. Sold as a bare module behind an 86-type back box, not a finished faceplate, so budget for your own cover plate. The module measures 120×74×39.4mm — make sure your back box is at least 35mm deep before ordering. Load tops out at 10A resistive or 400W of LED per gang at 240V, with a 3W minimum draw required in no-neutral mode; Sonoff doesn't officially support smart bulbs on that wiring, and we haven't confirmed whether a bypass capacitor helps with flickery LED loads.
What can Home Assistant control on the Sonoff SwitchMan ZBM5 Zigbee Wall Switch (2 Gang, 86-Type)?
| Control | Type | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| Switch (per gang) | Switch | Per-gang relay on/off, each reporting its own state independently. |
| Operating mode | Sensor (read-only) | Reports end device or router — auto-selected by the module based on detected wiring, not settable from HA. |
| Detach relay (per gang) | Switch | Enabling a gang stops the physical button from switching its own relay so it can instead drive a scene/automation. |
| Network indicator | Switch | Turns the blue network-status LED on the module on or off. |
| Power-on behavior | Select | Sets relay state after a power loss (on/off/previous/toggle), per gang. |
The reported operating mode is read-only — HA only ever sees the module report back end device or router after it has already picked a mode from the wiring; there's no toggle to force it. On units installed without neutral, Zigbee2MQTT's post-pair configure step throws a benign cluster error while the mode reads end device — cosmetic and non-fatal, since on/off state, the physical button, power-on behaviour and the network indicator all keep working through it. Each gang also exposes a detach-relay setting that decouples the physical rocker from its own relay so a press only reports a state change instead of switching the load — a genuinely per-gang bitmask, letting you decouple one gang while leaving the other wired normally.
Specs
| gangs | 2 |
|---|---|
| protocol | Zigbee 3.0 |
| dimensions mm | 120 x 74 x 39.4 |
| led load caveat | No-neutral mode requires a minimum 3W load and does not officially support smart bulbs; bypass-capacitor need for flicker on non-smart LED loads not confirmed by Sonoff documentation |
| neutral required | false |
| back box depth min mm | 35 |
| min load no neutral w | 3 |
| max load led w per gang | 400W@240V / 200W@100V |
| max load resistive a per gang | 10 |
| zigbee router in neutral mode | true |
How does the Sonoff SwitchMan ZBM5 Zigbee Wall Switch (2 Gang, 86-Type) compare?
| Product | From | Protocol | Local control | Integration |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sonoff SwitchMan ZBM5 Zigbee Wall Switch (2 Gang, 86-Type) (this product) | — | Zigbee | Yes | Zigbee2MQTT / ZHA |
| Aqara Light Switch H2 EU (2 Gang) | £41.99 | Zigbee, Thread, Matter | Yes | Works with HA |
| Aqara Smart Wall Switch H1 (No Neutral, Double Rocker) | £38.99 | Zigbee | Yes | Zigbee2MQTT / ZHA |
| Aqara Smart Wall Switch H1 (With Neutral, Double Rocker) | £38.99 | Zigbee | Yes | Zigbee2MQTT / ZHA |
Frequently asked questions
- Does the Sonoff SwitchMan ZBM5 Zigbee Wall Switch (2 Gang, 86-Type) work with Home Assistant locally?
- Yes. The Sonoff SwitchMan ZBM5 Zigbee Wall Switch (2 Gang, 86-Type) is controlled locally in Home Assistant through Zigbee2MQTT or ZHA, so it keeps working if your internet connection or the Sonoff cloud goes down. Control and state updates stay on your own network.
- Which protocol does the Sonoff SwitchMan ZBM5 Zigbee Wall Switch (2 Gang, 86-Type) use, and do I need a hub?
- The Sonoff SwitchMan ZBM5 Zigbee Wall Switch (2 Gang, 86-Type) uses Zigbee. To pair it with Home Assistant you need a Zigbee coordinator (for example a SkyConnect/ZBT-1 or Sonoff dongle) attached to your Home Assistant host. Sonoff's own hub is not required when you integrate through Zigbee2MQTT or ZHA.