Using RGB bulbs in the real world, practical applications - how?

[brianr]

While parking an RGB bulb into a socket and controlling its colour with an app works ok, I’m trying to figure out a way to integrate them in everyday life.

In my scenario, I have replaced floodlights in the ceiling with smart colour-capable ones that are ultimately controlled by a standard light switch. Joe User can flip the switch and the bulbs turn on white (or whatever their last programmed colour was), works as expected. However I’d like to use the bulbs colour capability to denote the state or events that happened in my home: blue = water leak, red = smoke detector tripped, etc. Then I or anyone else without access to a phone could then know what happened and investigate.

Of course if the switch is off then nothing shows up at all. If I replace the switch with a smart one then I have to implement a multi-step process/script to make it happen:

1. turn on switch
2. wait for bulbs to link up with the hub (maybe)
3. turn on the bulb, adjust the colour

Leaving the switch on all the time means you can’t really use it like a conventional white bulb, so a phone/tablet is needed to adjust it.

Has anyone tried to implement a setup like this? Or worked around the conflict between conventional and programmatic usage? Is there a light switch/widget I can use that won’t confuse my mother?

[MarkTr]

@brianr

• turn on switch
• wait for bulbs to link up with the hub (maybe)
• turn on the bulb, adjust the colour

Don’t kill power to the bulb. Use the smart switch to trigger the light to turn on through Smart Lighting (or your app of choice), but leave the fixture wired to always have power.

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

Thanks for the response to the question about the setup. Getting back to the question about how to identify a switch/dimmer that does not control line voltage by looking at the spec for the switch. I have smart bulbs down stairs which just have a normal switch controlling them was thinking of replacing it with a dimmer but not sure how to figure out if the switches at the local big box will work. There is a new one on the shelf but I can not determine if it controls line voltage. The model number is GE 14294

[DavinD (Davin K Dameron)]

“Don’t kill power to the bulb. Use the smart switch to trigger the light to turn on through Smart Lighting (or your app of choice), but leave the fixture wired to always have power.”

That’s what I do for my back yard flood Lights. The switch no longer physically turns the light on and off, but the Smart lighting app does.

[ogiewon]

@brianr

Is there a light switch/widget I can use that won’t confuse my mother?

I use Lutron Pico remotes to provide a very conventional wall mountable interface, which is able to control smart bulbs, smart fans, etc… I am using the Pico remotes attached to a Lutron SmartBridge Pro along with my Hubitat Elevation hub. I am pretty certain that there is a ST community developed integration that also enables Pico remotes. It may be worth looking into as an option for a more conventional user interface.

[brianr]

Awesome, that makes sense. Thanks Mark, Davin, and oglewon