The Ultimate Guide to Inching Feature

The Ultimate Guide to Inching Feature

What is the Inching feature

First thing first, many of you may ask “what the heck is an inching switch?” Inching is also called jogging. The definition of jogging or inching by NEMA is “the quickly repeated closure of a circuit to start a motor from rest for the purpose of accomplishing small movements of the driven machine.” In short, this kind of switch allows you to turn it on for a short time. That’s also why sometimes it is also called a momentary switch.

In the past, eWeLink Support devices include physical inching switches, which have higher requirements for background knowledge on the users. You must be very familiar with DIY and comfortable with wiring. However, this is such a useful type of switch that we realize we should make it easy to use for everyone.

Therefore, we released the inching feature for our regular plugs and switches. This feature changes your normal switch into a virtual momentary switch. It allows you to turn on your connected device for a preset duration ranging from 0.5 seconds to 3600 seconds (1 hour).

Where To Use It

1.Auto-off Scenarios

Even though schedules and timers are very useful to control devices at preset timing, they can not meet the demand for turning off devices automatically each time the device is turned on, regardless of how it is activated. Considering that you cannot set a scene with the same device being the condition and action, the inching feature is the best option for you.

Exhaust Fan

You can enable the inching feature on a switch connected to an exhaust fan so that it turns off in 3 minutes each time it is turned on.

Access Control

Turn your access control smart in a few minutes. Just set an inching duration to release the door magnet for a few seconds and turn the circuit off to close the gate.

Aquarium Pump

Schedule to turn on your aquarium pump to supplement oxygen and set an inching duration of 30 minutes when oxygen is enough.

2.Momentary Switch Scenarios

Garage door

Adding app control to your garage door has never been easier. Just connect your traditional garage door controller with an eWeLink Support switch and set an inching duration of 0.5 seconds to send a pulse to the garage door controller to open and close the garage door.

Supported Devices

Supported App version: eWeLink V4.0 or above

The inching feature is now available for most 1-gang and multi-gang switches and plugs. For the best outcome, you are recommended to always keep your eWeLink app and device firmware up-to-date.

SONOFF BasicR3

SONOFF BASICR3 is a 1-gang universal WiFi smart switch that turns anything smart and adds the inching feature to any home appliances.

SONOFF MINIR2

The compact size and neat design make SONOFF MINIR2 a perfect match for an external switch upgrade, not to mention that it supports 3 connection modes for your diversified needs.

SONOFF 4CHR3/PROR3

For a complicated Aquarium system that has multiple channels for different functions, the 4-gang SONOFF 4CHR3/PROR3 serves as a central control panel and allows for inching features enabled separately on different channels.

How to Set It Up

Click here to learn how to set up the inching feature and its duration.

I would like to use a Sonoff PIR3 to activate a light using a ZBMINI-L. I can get it to switch on but I would like the light to switch off again after a time. I cannot find any inching-function on these devices. Is there a way to accomplish what I need? Maybe using other devices?

Hi there, I think an auto scene could help.

Hi Stephen, I have a similar issue with not being able to inch a ZBMINI.
Ideally I’d like to have one auto scene
If - ZBMINI on
Then - delay ….
Then - ZBMINI off
(Actually ideally I’d just like to have an inching ZbMini lol)
Only way I can get it to inch is having a manual scene to turn it off then creating an auto scene with a delay to then trigger the manual scene off, which gets is pretty messy when you have a few ZBMINIS.
Any easier, cleaner way?
Thanks Jake.

Hello folks. I am a brand new eWelink owner and enjoying some success. However the “Inching” feature will not allow my relays to stay activated for longer then momentary. The app says my changes are saved and I was successful but the relays are still momentary. Any help you can offer would be greatly appreciated.

Good morning every one
Can we inverse the inching ?
That means the sonoff basic R2 is always on and when I activate it he turns off for 5 sec and turn on again.
For exemple to restart the modem.
Thanks

Hi there, could you provide the device ID? Some devices already support the inching mode - reverse function. I can check if this device supports it.

Hi @StephenJ

Any answere?