Control Your Smart Home with SwitchBot API and Node-RED on Raspberry Pi

Discover how to utilize the SwitchBot API with Node-RED on a Raspberry Pi for advanced smart home automation.

October 26, 2026
2 min read
3 views

Exploring Smart Home Automation

If you’re diving into the world of smart homes, chances are you’ve come across SwitchBot relay switches. While the SwitchBot app offers a user-friendly way to manage your devices, it might fall short when it comes to more advanced functionalities. This article will guide you through the process of using the SwitchBot API with Node-RED installed on a Raspberry Pi to customize your smart home experience beyond the app’s capabilities.

Getting Started with Raspberry Pi

I’ve been using the Raspberry Pi 4 Model B continuously since I purchased it in 2019. This small yet powerful computer is perfect as a smart home server due to its low power consumption and versatility, running Linux like a standard PC. Many guides are available for setting up Raspberry Pi, so I'll skip the basics and focus on utilizing it for smart home integration.

What is Node-RED?

Node-RED is a powerful tool allowing users to create workflows by interconnecting various nodes, making it ideal for smart home automation. Although it's not exclusively designed for smart home applications, its capabilities for data acquisition, device control, and communication with external services make it a perfect fit. You can easily set up processes such as:

Controlling your air conditioning based on temperature and humidity data.
Adjusting lighting based on its current state.
Modifying lighting brightness or color according to the time of day.

By utilizing visual programming, Node-RED makes it easy to connect these nodes and even allows for more complex programming with JavaScript.

Installing Node-RED

To set up Node-RED on your Raspberry Pi, simply execute the official installation script. After installation, you can start Node-RED, and it’s advisable to configure it to run on boot for continuous operation. Access it via your browser using the correct local network URL, and you’re set to begin your automation journey.

Utilizing the SwitchBot API

The SwitchBot API allows for enhanced control of your SwitchBot devices via external programs. We will focus on SwitchBot API v1.1, which supports actions like retrieving the status of devices and sending commands over HTTP.