So, guys what are you planning to do in ST land with Halloween approaching? I have tons of ideas. What’s yours? I will start as soon as I am back on feet (malfunctioning right now). Please keep it lighthearted with no criticism and negative vibes. 
May be @ben and @april can come up with some way for community to share?
Sorry to start with a question/comment, haven’t figured out what I’m doing myself yet. I was hoping to check into some colored LED RGB color changing strip lighting that was suitable for outdoors. I was thinking of permanently mounting it partially protected, with the ability to change the color for the seasons. Orange/White/Red for Halloween, Brown for Thanksgiving (kidding), Green for St. Pattys, and Red/Green/White for Christmas.
For Halloween, I’d have to think some hijinks with a motion detector, light bulb, and a cheap speaker setup (what exists? I’m not putting a Sonos outside) would be VERY flexible for scaring. Following this thread with interest…
Don’t have it all laid out, but I am thinking of " keeping it simple" moving a few PIR sensors and just having them trigger different lights or displays in the yard. I am already " that house" that all the neighbors either love or ( mostly) hate because of my holiday displays. A lot of my stuff already has proximity detectors in them anyways, but adding the PIRs and GE Outdoor modules should add a little more flare/scare factor
Last years. https://www.facebook.com/RLDreams/videos/893724830652807/?permPage=1
I just put a Philips hue outside in a Kuna light. I know when the kuna light is on… And going to set up a routine or smart lighting based on that to change it to different colors (or a custom app). Tonight I just want to check thru third party hue app, if I can get flowing colors on the hue plugged into a kuna. And we’ll, it is well protected from weather…
Last year I scared the crap of the mini kids with hues (third party hue app with scary sounds) playing on Bose… I was very new to ST and wasn’t that automated… This year I am all set… I had 40-50 kids dropping in and was petrified being a first time home owner/first year in a real neighborhood…:. OnSwitch was the app I used and I am no way connected to them but they come up with Halloween scenes with music.
That right there is why I want to know if the Osram Lightify Zigbee LED string light controller will work with other lights strings or only their own 24" strips. Sheltering the controller is easy . In addition to the lights along the ramp and railing in the video above I added RGBW strip lights to the railings between Halloween and Christmas last year.
Does the Osram connect to ST?
AFAIK , it is standard Zigbee . I have seen threads about the bulbs and the garden spots working, so see no reason why the strips shouldn’t work.
I just checked the app and under add new things/lights/Osram it lists the LED strips . So I would definitely take that as a yes they work with ST
Not sure but does this connect? Looks like for outdoor. Never used any of their product. Main question is how will you scare the little monsters?
Yes, if you open your app, click on connect new device/ light bulbs / Osram , you will see those lights listed
Are those bulbs rated for outdoor use? If so, my credit card company is about to owe you a beer.
Hope all is well and you’re back up to no good soon! =)
Not sure, man but it is well sheltered from weather and had used GE links there forever…
Phillips hue is or not rated for outside use as far as I know the only individual ones that are are the GE links, and then only certain models. There are garden strips that are rated for outdoors from a couple of brands.
The Osram Lightify garden spot is a strip of tiny decorative lights rated for outdoor use, and also on the official “works with smart things” compatibility list. 9 lights on a 14 foot strip for $61 as of this writing.
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There’s a GE plug rated for outdoor use that typically runs around $45. Also on the compatibility list. You put it in your existing outlet and then you can plug something else into it. Reports are that it works well. A lot of people use it for outdoor decorations.
@JDRoberts they are totally protected from rain, snow or bad weather conditions and have always used a regular Led or GE links. Are they still a risk? It is not at all exposed to direct weather. Before that when the previous owners were there they used regular incandescent bulbs on the same fixture. Of course the kuna is a new addition.
Front Patio covered;
Back Porch:
This one below is a 100% covered porch.
Lots of people use lightbulbs on sheltered porches that are not rated for outdoors, networked or not. It’s a personal decision. It won’t be covered by the warranty. It’s not likely to burn your house down if that’s what you’re asking.
That’s what exactly I was asking! Hope the house does not burn down. We struggled 18 yrs to get a sixties house in Jersey! 
Well it ended up being last minute thrown together but here is what I did. Used the Sonos notify (with VLC and a $10 bluetooth speaker) and the flasher (modified). Anyway everyone seemed to love it last night so i would say it was a success:
Can you share the MP3 or wav file you used?
I’m reviving this thread…
I’m gearing up now and heading to party city… what are y’all planning?
Somebody already started a 2016 thread. 
