Meet The Pill by Shelly: Smart Sensing in the Smallest Form

Why The Pill by Shelly is a game-changer for smart sensing projects

The Pill by Shelly is a compact USB-C powered Wi-Fi and Bluetooth device that makes smart monitoring simple. It connects temperature, humidity, and low-voltage sensors and helps deliver reliable data without complex wiring or infrastructure changes.

For many partners, the biggest challenge in smart sensing projects is installation effort. Traditional setups often mean new cabling, longer site time, and higher costs. The Pill removes much of that friction by running on 5V USB-C power and connecting directly into Shelly systems or external platforms via MQTT, WebSocket, or HTTP.

Simple idea, practical impact

A common use case—like monitoring a server room, cool room, and storeroom—usually requires multiple systems. With The Pill, a DS18B20 probe setup and USB power, temperature data appears in the Shelly app within minutes. No hub, no complex setup.

Its compact size (just 26 x 19.95 x 8.5 mm) means it can fit inside panels, cabinets, or OEM equipment. It’s designed for tight spaces and retrofit jobs where traditional hardware doesn’t fit easily.

More than just sensing

The Pill runs Shelly Gen3 firmware with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, and can act as a Bluetooth gateway for Shelly BLU devices. It also supports local automation, so actions can run even without internet.

For example, temperature thresholds can trigger a connected relay to switch on cooling or heating automatically.

Low power use (under 1W) makes it suitable for always-on monitoring.

Flexible sensing options

The Pill supports DS18B20 and DHT22 sensors out of the box.

With accessories like the Splitter 1 to 5 – 3.5 mm jack, one device can support up to five temperature probes. This makes it useful for multi-zone monitoring in a single area.

Key modes include: Temperature monitoring: up to 5 DS18B20 sensors Temperature & humidity: DHT22 sensor support Analog input: voltage monitoring (0–30V with add-on) Digital I/O: configurable inputs and outputs

Add-ons extend capability further:

• Analog 0–30 V Add-on for batteries and UPS systems
• SSR Add-on for switching small DC loads
• 5-terminal Add-on for flexible wiring and I/O expansion

Real-world use cases

In hospitality and food storage, one Pill can monitor multiple fridges and cool rooms using the splitter and sensors—helping reduce spoilage risk with alerts in real time.

In offices or education spaces, it can monitor server racks and AV cabinets using USB power and humidity sensing to protect equipment.

In greenhouses, multiple probes help track temperature variations across zones and can link to fans or irrigation systems via other Shelly devices.

In light industrial setups, the Analog Add-on allows monitoring of DC systems, battery banks, and UPS systems, while relay outputs can control small devices like fans or valves.

The Pill by Shelly is a simple entry point into smart sensing. It reduces installation effort, supports flexible sensor setups, and scales from basic monitoring to light automation—all within the Shelly ecosystem.