Everything About Smart Bulbs

Most households already contain smart devices. These devices allow you to use voice control to turn lights on and off and control lights via an app in some instances. With smart lights, you will never have to worry about finding your way in the dark again. Some smart lights are dimmable and have changing colors. 

Learn more about smart lights and if you should buy a smart light next time a light bulb goes out.  

What Are Smart Bulbs?

Unlike traditional home lights, smart bulbs allow you to use voice control lighting. Choose and change colors from a million different shades, and a plethora more, all from any location. You can also manage the same with Bluetooth and mobile apps, manually increase or decrease the intensity as per liking. 

How Does One Set Up A Smart Bulb?

It is effortless to install a smart bulb; all you need to do is remove the current light bulbs and, in their place, screw in the new smart lights. However, just fixing them in will make them yet another traditional light alternative. To access its smart home capabilities, you need to establish some wireless connection with it. 

While you can connect the lights directly to your home Wi-Fi in most cases, the setup may vary depending on the brand for others. Some bulb types like Lifx do not require a hub or bridge to reach Wi-fi, and the accompanying app does the rest. 

Whereas a middle man between your Wi-Fi router and bulb, such as Philips bridge, is required for many brands. Connect the bridge to your Wi-Fi router and finish the process by downloading the Philips hue app. 

You can do the same using Bluetooth, and therefore make sure you read the instructions before syncing the bulb. 

How Do Smart Bulbs Work?

Well, one can switch on and off the smart bulb through traditional switches, but that certainly is not why you got a smart one. So how else can you operate it? 

Some smart bulbs you can only operate via an app. At the same time, others operate in conjugation with voice-enabled assistive smart speakers such as Google Home, Amazon Alexa, Echo, Apple’s Home pod, etc. 

The instructions on the brand package are sure to further instruct you on the dimmer switch and a lot more, so ensure reading them before use. However, a vital point to note here is that if the physical control of the light is off, the bulb will no longer be operational through app or voice command as it is powered down. 

What Is The Lifespan Of Smart Light Bulbs?

Since smart bulbs are LEDs ( Light Emitting Diode), they will undoubtedly outlive your traditional incandescent bulbs. What’s more, considering how LED lights are 90% more efficient than their traditional friends, you will see a dip in the electricity bills for the same number of bulbs and usage patterns. 

What Are The Multiple Uses Of A Smart Light Bulb?

With the installation of smart bulbs, one would not just want to use them to illuminate a place, and that’s for sure. Below are some major ways to make use of functions offered by a smart bulb. 

Enhance Home Security With Smart Bulbs

Did you know that one can schedule smart LEDs to turn on and off at a given time? And did you also know that this feature can help keep burglars and intruders away?

Whether you are heading out for a trip next weekend, staying at a friend’s place for the night, or planning a Christmas celebration with family back home, schedule your lights to turn on and off as per your routine and go all out carefree. The lights will give people the impression that someone is home, even if there is no one, enhancing the security of the space. 

Illuminate Dark Kitchen Shelves

It is not always unskilled cooking that turns the food terrible; sometimes, the kitchen lighting is to blame. Smart light strips make for a perfect solution to rid your kitchen of the dark and gloomy ambiance. 

Stick these light strips to the underside of your kitchen shelves, cabinets, etc., and watch the illumination magic happen. 

Personalize Every Occasion

Being able to change the intensity and brightness of the smart lights is a blessing in disguise. So whether it is for a loud house party or a late-night book reading habit of yours, you could change the hue lighting to meet the ambiance you desire without straining the eyes. 

What’s more, connect your smart color bulbs to the television and build for yourself the ultimate home cinema experience. Once in sync, the smart lights will automatically change colors to match what’s being displayed on the screen, making your movie night fun, intense, and dramatic. 

Of course, you can try the same with gaming as well. Philips hue lights make for reasonable consideration, among similar others in the market. When it comes to personalizing an experience using smart lights, the only limit is your creativity. 

Are There Any Disadvantages Of Smart Lighting?

Yes, indeed, like everything else, smart lighting has some flaws as well. With any system or installation, reliability and low maintenance are two prime aspects everyone looks for. But, unfortunately, wireless technologies are susceptible to interference and higher maintenance, even just a periodic battery change. 

Not to mention all those times when it cannot connect to the Wi-fi or doesn’t recognize your voice commands. But, these are not all; varying per person, and the way they have gotten the setup installed can again pose other issues.

Should You Invest In Smart Lighting?

While one does not require smart bulbs as an imperative home item, there are certainly some undeniable benefits they offer, resulting in their evident appeal to many homeowners. Evaluate your needs and areas that could utilize the many benefits of the smart LEDs, and get the one that goes well with your home, whether it is an Apple home kit, a Wyze bulb, or others. 

Conclusion

There is nothing like being too smart when it comes to making your home the most comfortable and welcoming place of all. Smart LEDs not only do they ensure convenience but also safety, a step forward to a smart home. Although this does not mean you need to go all out with fully equipping your home with a smart lighting system, you can purchase an item or two to see if they fit your routine.