Using GE Smart Switch only as a button

[ycetindil (Yasin Cetindil)]

Hello, I have Hue bulbs controlled physically by GE smart switches. I realized that the HUE bulbs are not supposed to be turned of electrically. Because, when I try to turn on the room lights Alexa says they are not reachable.
My question is: is it possible to disable the switch to act not as an electrical interceptor (pass the electric all the time), but as a button to send commands to the HUE room group?
Thanks.

[diehllane (Brian Diehl)]

You can hook the switch up to power, but not connect a load to it. Then use something like SmartLighting or CoRE to setup a rule that says “If switch X is pressed, turn on this light”

This isn’t recommended if you have no other way to turn off your connected bulb though. In the case of an internet outage, you would have no way to shut off lights.

[RLDreams (Really Living the Dream)]

Yes , you just don’t connect a load to the switch. Make an automation that if switch is turned on/off than lights a,b,c,etc turn on/off.
You will notice a delay in actuation of the command. Not usually more than a second or two.

[JDRoberts]

This should help (this is a clickable link):

FAQ: Philips Hue and Other Smart Bulbs - What sort of light switches to use with them? (Long FAQ)

Thinking on a big move to Hue lights, the real question is - what switches to use with them? If they’re all automatable via ST and other devices, do I really want to put them all on controllable switches too? There’s the advantage that I can arrange to ensure those switches are on so that the the Hue bulbs would be too…but it also leaves open the ability for folks to just turn them off and leave them off. Hmm. Thoughts?

[Jason_Trudell]

Thanks for the link. It appears to me that smart bulbs are best used in lamps since they have a local switch.

[JDRoberts]

There are many options for using smart bulbs which are discussed in the FAQ. People choose them for different reasons, but most commonly either because they want a no wiring solution or because they want the color changing features. For people who want the color changing features, they may very well want them in ceiling fixtures, including recessed can lighting. So different things work for different people.

Originally, there was quite an issue with the problem of some people turning the power off to the bulbs at the wall switch. Not only did that mean the bulbs were not available to hear the next “on” command from the network, but the inrush current from frequently turning the power off and then on can significantly shorten the life of the bulbs.

Fortunately, there are now four or five different ways to handle that situation that will provide control of the bulbs without needing the phone and that don’t change the current to the bulbs so the radios are not damaged. So lots of choices, again, detailed in the FAQ. There are times when a smart switch and a dumb bulb will be the best solution, and other situations where a Smart bulb will be preferred. Choice is good.

[ycetindil (Yasin Cetindil)]

Thank you all for your replies. How can I hotwire the lights. I still want to use the GE smart switch as trigger.
You said not to connect a load to the switch. In that case is there a diagram or picture to see what is connected to what.
Thanks, I appreciate the help.

[ycetindil (Yasin Cetindil)]

I found it! I put the load cable to the second line hole.
Thank you all again for your helps.