What % of the time does ST actually work?

[greg]

I notice the light switch is off. So i turn it on. It seems that in that situation, ST doesn’t “take over” until I manually cycle it off and on again with the app. Could that be the case too? I’m fishing here because I don’t know.

Sounds like you are using smart bulbs instead of switches. There are several threads discussing which is better. Tastes Great vs Less Filling.

Personally I prefer switches, but I still use a few bulbs. The most annoying part about bulbs for me is when there is a power outage and then they all are turned on when the power is restored. There are a few apps that help with that, but my grid gets switched fast so it’s always too quick to register with the app, just the bulbs.

experiment with a switch and decide for yourself which works better for you.

[johnconstantelo]

Sometimes, my wife forgets and just turns off a light manually. Then when i walk into a room and nothing happens, I notice the light switch is off. So i turn it on. It seems that in that situation, ST doesn’t “take over” until I manually cycle it off and on again with the app. Could that be the case too? I’m fishing here because I don’t know.

As @greg stated, are you using smart bulbs with regular switches? If so, not only will you have experiences like you’re having, but you could also be introducing other device performance issues. Depending upon the bulb, it could also be considered routing capable (like the GE’s for example), and when you power those off, other devices stop responding as well (you’ll see them go offline in the IDE and the mobile app).

[zonomo (Monte Montemayor)]

are you using smart bulbs with regular switches?

Yes, I have not used any smart switches yet. but thinking of that now. Do you have a good recommendation? Thanks.

[zonomo (Monte Montemayor)]

Also, 100% of my lights are Hue. The only mix and match are the sensors (ST, Iris and Hue)

[a4refillpad (Wayne)]

If all your lights are hue you should cover or remove all of your wall switches to prevent them being switched off. Smart bulbs are designed to be always on and not switched off at the mains.

[JDRoberts]

Smart bulbs and switches, as others have mentioned, is an entirely different conversation and one that has been discussed many times in the forums.

It used to be that there was no good answer, but fortunately in the last six months or so there are now a number of different choices. So start with the FAQ:

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?

And then take a step back and consider the whole switches versus bulbs discussion:

Start Here: VFAQ: Connected Light Bulbs vs Connected Light Switch

I want to start connecting some recessed lights to smartthings...just curious what approach is better. Using a standard dimmer switch with connected lights or using a z wave switch and regular lights?

Just remember that the older arguments about not having a light switch to use with a smart bulb no longer apply, which is why you should read the switch FAQ first.

[zonomo (Monte Montemayor)]

you should cover or remove all of your wall switches to prevent them being switched off

Yes, I am trying to find a solution for that. Any suggestions?

[johnconstantelo]

Yes, I have not used any smart switches yet. but thinking of that now. Do you have a good recommendation? Thanks.

I’ve had very good experiences with the GE 12xxx series. Stay away from the 4xxxx series. Leviton also makes a very good switch/dimmer.

As others have mentioned, smart bulbs and dumb switches are not good combinations unless you somehow prevent the switch from being turned off.

[a4refillpad (Wayne)]

I think @JDRoberts post answers your question!

[JDRoberts]

you should cover or remove all of your wall switches to prevent them being switched off

Yes, I am trying to find a solution for that. Any suggestions?

Multiple options are discussed in the following thread (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?

[RLDreams (Really Living the Dream)]

Also, 100% of my lights are Hue. The only mix and match are the sensors (ST, Iris and Hue)

You can’t blame ST entirely for recent Hue issues if you installed the 4/5/17 Hue software update. They’ve admitted that there is an issue in the update. It bricked one of my V2 Bridges. Hue replaced the bridge, as soon as the new bridge updated ​to the latest software everything is screwed up again. I can control rooms, but individual lights are extremely hit or miss.

[MEarly]

If all your lights are hue you should cover or remove all of your wall switches to prevent them being switched off. Smart bulbs are designed to be always on and not switched off at the mains.

And, when we have a ST outage or internet outage, this means no control of smart bulbs at all, unless you have the bridge.

Funny thing I never imagined I’d say, “I’m sorry, but the lights are down.” I had to tell my guests that last night. I’m going to have to take a second pass at redundancies in a few areas to have more graceful failovers.

[RLDreams (Really Living the Dream)]

This is why I invested in a bunch of Hue dimmers & Tap switches. Came home to a dark house at 3 am because of an internet outage once too many times. You can still control Hue lights locally with the Hue app as long as your on the same LAN

[a4refillpad (Wayne)]

True, hence i only use smart bulbs for ambient and secondary lighting. All my primary and main lights are on smart switches for this reason. Also, most of my smart bulbs are connected to hue which are still accessible through a few hue switches via local connection.

[zonomo (Monte Montemayor)]

I am now convinced, due to this thread, to really understand how the switches work. I think thats the key to making this smooth. Thanks everyone.

[raidflex]

Unless you have a one off lamp or two in the room I see no reason not to use the switches. I bought the Leviton Z wave plus ones and they work well, and it works just as a regular Decora switch, so guests do not even need to use the automation. On top of that I can always turn it on no matter if ST is up or down.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01N4F487U/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o06_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

[AutomateEverything (Kyle)]

1% at the most

[Cody_Farmer]

same issue here my resolution…

converted every toggle in my home into a ge zwave switches for areas I desired automation and 2 dollar ace hardware paddle switches in places or areas where I don’t need automation. so basically in my house every switch is ge but you have options.

with this I was able to set up all my routines smart lighting and core pistons with mode restrictions being very important.

so when I or we get home my automations kick in and sets to home. at this point my wife can go back to the stone age and flip whatever lights she wants without an automation being stopped. do not trigger when in home mode.

then at some point we go to bed and the night mode takes over so I know that whatever switch my wife messed with gets triggered back to its original state ready to fire our goodmorning lights.

it was a work in progress but I’ve got it to where she can do what she wants and I can rest knowing my pistons are firing.

[zonomo (Monte Montemayor)]

wife can go back to the stone age and flip whatever lights she wants without an automation being stopped. do not trigger when in home mode.

HHHAAAA HHAAAAA

[JDRoberts]

As you noticed, this is a never ending conversation, with people who are passionate on both sides. There are multiple reasons why someone might want to use a smart bulb for a particular use case, in particular if they want either color temperature adjustment (from cool white to warm white), if they want to create zones in a room which has multiple lights controlled by one switch, or of course if they want red/green/blue/color options. Or if they just don’t want to fuss with the wiring. Smart bulbs can also dim lower than most smart switches.

Switches with dumb bulbs have a lot of pluses as well, in particular cost if you have multiple bulbs in a room and you don’t care about zone configurations. And they don’t turn themselves back on after a power outage.

At my house we use bulbs in some places and switches in others. Both are good when matched to the right need.

Again, there are already literally dozens of threads discussing this in the forums so just search and you’ll find plenty.