Hue extension bulb direct control without hue hub, appearing as thing?

jmcmil15 · January 5, 2016, 9:22pm

Hi folks, apologies if this is in the wrong section. I have read elsewhere in the forum about pairing hue bulbs directly to the ST hubs without the hue bridge? The bulb appears listed in my device list as a ‘thing’ no control over etc? seems to me in very basic terms the bulb is being picked up by the hub? Is there a way around this or would i be better returning to the shop?

Thanks in advance

JDRoberts · January 5, 2016, 9:37pm

SmartThings support says that hue bulbs can only be used if they are connected to the hue bridge. That’s because if you do connect it directly to the SmartThings hub, you will not be able to reset the bulb again without purchasing an additional device.

That said, there are people in the community who are using Hue bulbs connected directly, and there is a community created device type that you can use.

Enhanced Zigbee Hue Bulb - Direct Connect to ST Community Created Device Types

I've been playing with the other features of the Hue bulb, and I've updated the deviceType in a new branch on GitHub (enhanced features branch) adding a bunch of stuff that zigbee does natively in ZLL and providing greater flexibility. The additional custom commands can be called from custom SmartApps. I plan to create enhanced versions of other zigbee bulbs and a set of SmartApps to take advantage of the new features, so please let me know what you want to see. BIG NOTE: This devicetype is intended for and tested only with directly connected Hue brand color bulbs. Some or all of the features should work with other directly connected zigbee RGB(W) lights. Hue Lightstrips should work well; but colors may be inconsistent due to color gamut differences. Everything except color temperature f…

If you don’t yet know how to use custom code, here’s the FAQ for that:

FAQ: An Overview of Using Custom Code in SmartThings FAQ

So you're new to SmartThings, you asked a question, and someone suggested "custom code" as an answer. Or you were browsing the forums, and you found something that sounded like it would be perfect for what you wanted, but again, "uses custom code." What does that mean, how hard is it to do, and what's the difference between a "SmartApp" and a "Device Type Handler"? (Note: the official terminology has changed a couple of times. "device type handler," "device handler," "DTH," and "device type" all mean the same thing, and you will find all these terms used in the forums.) SECTION I: SMARTAPPS AND DEVICE HANDLERS: WHAT THEY ARE SmartAPPS: Tiny Programs to decide what a specific device should do when, or to collect the information from a specific device SmartApps, including the var…

Again, though, once you have directly connected a hue bulb to the smart things hub, you will not be able to use it with a Hue bridge unless you do a factory reset first, and that requires an additional device.

Most other brands use a “blink method” for factory reset where you just turn the bulb on and off in a specific pattern and it resets itself. Phillips chose not to do that out of concern that a child playing with the switch might inadvertently reset the bulb. But it makes it more complicated if you try to use their bulbs without a bridge.

jmcmil15 · January 9, 2016, 3:41pm

Another question i’m afraid. The bulb now appears as a ‘bulb’ with my other devices. problem is, it seems to be permanently in the on position and I can’t seem to control it at all? i presume its something fairly straightforward? Can anyone help?

ssss25 · January 20, 2016, 11:33pm

Hello, I can see a lot of discussions and the community created device type for Hue bulbs, the ones with colors… But there is a bulb called:

Hue extension bulb (http://www.apple.com/ca/shop/product/HJC42VC/A/philips-hue-white-extension-bulb-a19-e26)

I want to make it get controlled with ST hub directly, knowing the risk of not being able to easily factory reset it.

I tried to change device type to Zigbee Hue Bulb but it doesn’t work.

Were you able to control this buld and which device type did you use?

It looks like the custom device type is for the color one.

Thanks,

Sticks18 · January 21, 2016, 3:16am

See this post and thread. The issue is most likely that for some reason ST isn’t sending commands to the correct endpoint. If you edit the devicetype and hardcode the correct endpoint, it should work.

If you need help with using custom code, just search the forum for “FAQ custom code” for a great primer.

Sticks18:

Can you provide a screenshot of what the Device screen looks like in the IDE? I see a line item Data for one of my zigbee devices that says Endpoint: 03 for example. Do you see something similar? I keep seeing comments about this and I wonder if ST backend doesn't know how to pick just one endpoint when the code dynamically calls it via device.endpointId. Also, is the white bulb color temperature tunable? It lists the color control cluster, which is strange unless it can do shades of white color temp like the Osram. If you want something to just work, you can replace the ${endpointId} with 0x0B in the appropriate device type code (any of the older style zigbee device handlers where endpointId was specifically addressed). For light strip, that would be the Osram Flex (should work). Fo…

ssss25 · January 21, 2016, 9:23pm

Thanks Scott,

So, I created a new device type copied from the “OSRAM LIGHTIFY LED Tunable White 60W” and I changed all ${endpointId} with 0x0B… saved new device and assigned to bulb. Will try it when I Get home. Hopefully that is what you meant.

Thanks,

ssss25 · January 21, 2016, 9:57pm

It worked Just have to try to edit the device code to remove the things that my bulb doesn’t support

If anyone created a code for the phillips extension bulb, let me know.

Thanks,

Lloyd_Hardy · March 4, 2016, 1:55am

Is there a way I can connect a white huge bulb directly to smart things it reads it as a thing

Lloyd_Hardy · March 4, 2016, 2:08am

Can you walk me through setting up my Philips hue light bulb I’m new to smart things and don’t quite understand the custom code and how to implement it

Lloyd_Hardy · March 4, 2016, 2:10am

Can you help me connect my Phillip Hughes light bulb 2 smart things I don’t quite understand the custom code can you give me step by step

JDRoberts · March 4, 2016, 3:05am

See if this helps:

FAQ: An Overview of Using Custom Code in SmartThings FAQ

So you're new to SmartThings, you asked a question, and someone suggested "custom code" as an answer. Or you were browsing the forums, and you found something that sounded like it would be perfect for what you wanted, but again, "uses custom code." What does that mean, how hard is it to do, and what's the difference between a "SmartApp" and a "Device Type Handler"? (Note: the official terminology has changed a couple of times. "device type handler," "device handler," "DTH," and "device type" all mean the same thing, and you will find all these terms used in the forums.) SECTION I: SMARTAPPS AND DEVICE HANDLERS: WHAT THEY ARE SmartAPPS: Tiny Programs to decide what a specific device should do when, or to collect the information from a specific device SmartApps, including the var…

@sticks18 or one of the other community members can point you to which device handler to use.

I’m sorry I can’t help you with the specific code as I depend on text-to-speech software and I can’t work with code any more.

Lloyd_Hardy · March 4, 2016, 3:56am

sounds to me like your legally blind, at least that’s my problem and that’s why I use text to speech but thank you for your time I’ll continue to look

JDRoberts · March 4, 2016, 4:31am

I’m quadriparetic, use a wheelchair with limited hand function. So I rely on voice because I can’t type. I also do have some vision problems related to my condition.

You may have to get someone else to help with installing a custom device handler. The SmartThings screens are not voice friendly to begin with, and when you add code issues on top of that it can be very challenging. But everybody has different capabilities in this regard.

Lloyd_Hardy · March 4, 2016, 10:35pm

Believe me I know nothing about it, so you have already inform me with more then I knew before so you are a big help. And where would I put this code and how do you have any idea any information you can give me is a great help every little bit counts it will teach me what to look for and help me with my terminology.

JDRoberts · March 4, 2016, 10:48pm

If you read the FAQ, it explains how to use any custom code. (The topic title is a clickable link)

FAQ: An Overview of Using Custom Code in SmartThings FAQ

So you're new to SmartThings, you asked a question, and someone suggested "custom code" as an answer. Or you were browsing the forums, and you found something that sounded like it would be perfect for what you wanted, but again, "uses custom code." What does that mean, how hard is it to do, and what's the difference between a "SmartApp" and a "Device Type Handler"? (Note: the official terminology has changed a couple of times. "device type handler," "device handler," "DTH," and "device type" all mean the same thing, and you will find all these terms used in the forums.) SECTION I: SMARTAPPS AND DEVICE HANDLERS: WHAT THEY ARE SmartAPPS: Tiny Programs to decide what a specific device should do when, or to collect the information from a specific device SmartApps, including the var…

Dan_Swihart · April 25, 2016, 5:15pm

Hey quick question in regards to connecting the hue Iris (I’m assuming it’s the same functionality as the bulbs) If I connect it directly to ST, and since I own LIFX bulbs as well do you know of any smart apps or similar method (maybe via IFTTT) that I can control various scenes? Or am I better off getting the hub and not connecting it directly?

Thanks so much many. IMHO Smartthings should hire you to work for them!

Dan