Smart home - lighting in Black Friday sales!

low-def.

Hi all,

Looking to get some smart bulbs to put in certain parts of the house. Looking on amazon this morning i can see there are Philips Hue kits and Hive bulbs reduced as part of the black friday deals. My question is, what do i really need to get up and running?

In terms of controlling the bulbs, at present i only have a couple of echo devices scattered around the house.

I will also be picking up a Hive heating kit (which I beleive comes with a hub?).

Do I need to change the phyical light switches for the lights I intend to make Smart?

Thanks in advance for input.

djt111

I think the smart light switches is the best option as you can still use the switch as normal. Use your phone or talk to the speaker.
Use any bulb too. Ok if you dont want fancy colours.

low-def.

So, if i picked up some smart lights but not a physical switch, if i used the existing light switch it wouldn't switch the smart light off?

Jamie

Smart bulbs like the Hue and Hive really need to be on at the main switch all the time to function as smart bulbs.

At its simplest you just ignore the existing light switches and use your choice of device to control them. Either the app on a phone or voice control with your Alexa device or other smart speakers

If you go for Hue, which I think you should, you can add wireless switches as an accessory if you so want. I've covered over most of the light switches in my house with a Hue Dimmer switch but this is purely optional.

If the light switches do get turned off the bulb is then no longer controllable, although Hue bulbs do have power on options so if the switch is used you can set what happens when they're turned back on.

djt111

The switch will turn off the light, but then you will loose all smart features, untill you flip the switch back on.

If the light is off, flipping the switch will do nothing.

low-def.

Thanks for the reply.

So, on your opinnion, Hue are a better bet than the hive ones?

I see amazon have this starter kit at £118

                                                https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B074H3HYRM/?coliid=I2W38EIK6T3YPS&colid=967VJMNQ4GVP&psc=1&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it                       
There is also this at £69.99

                                                https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01LF9G9HC/?coliid=I2T8Y7S5WHZCO&colid=967VJMNQ4GVP&psc=1&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it                       
Other than the Dimmer switch included - are they both the same set?

Inked

Even if you don’t want coloured bulbs, smart bulbs would be my preference.
White ambiance bulbs will give you the option of going from a cool white (blueish / daylight) to a warm white (yellowish like a traditional incandescent bulb).

I like to use a mixture of control methods, we have voice assistants in every living space (Alexa/Siri) plus Hue dimmer switches attached to plastic covers over the top of the old light switches. This prevents people accidentally turning off the bulbs, while giving guests the ability to turn lights on and off easily if required, while still giving me access to the original light switch.

I also use motion sensors in all the areas of the house which don’t require further control after initial setup (halls/stairs/landings/bathrooms). This provides the correct amount of light for any given time of day whenever there is motion and shuts the light off again after. (Great with small children getting up to go to the loo in the night).

We also have routines set up for certain times of day and whether we are home or not

Jamie

Yes I'd 100% say Hue are better than Hive.

The current offer on hue starter kits is a bargain IMO. Plenty buy starter kits on BF just for the bulbs.

There has been a recent update to hue bulbs which added Bluetooth so the ones on offer are probably the previous generation. If you're using them with a Hue bridge the Bluetooth is pointless anyway. So for normal bulbs it's irrelevant.

I can't tell if the more expensive kit includes the newer bulbs but as I say it doesn't matter IMO.

(Note GU10 bulbs were previously much poorer in colour range with certain colours washed out in comparison to other bulbs. The latest gen GU10 also updates the colour range to match other bulbs. For all other bulbs my comment above applies)

djt111

Argos have 2 bulbs hue white   echo for £32
They are Bluetooth as well

low-def.

Just seen that but only the echo's are in stock anywhere - no bulbs.