It’s not an accident it was the bulb that lit up among the first inventions that used electricity. It is important to have light because it helps keep darkness at bay even after the sun is set. We typically use LED lights to increase efficiency, but nowadays, intelligent lighting has become more popular than ever. By using automated lighting systems, you are able to perform things with your lights that were not possible in the past.

The benefits of smart Lighting

So , what do you can do using a remote-controlled lighting system? It turns out that there are several options:

1. Switch the lights on and off from a remote. It was once a time when wealthy people would have light switches close to their beds, so they could not rise to turn off the lights on the wall before going to go to bed. Nowadays, you simply utilize your tablet or smartphone and they’ll be at your side whenever you travel. It is as easy as using an app to turn on or off lights.

In certain cases it is possible to even activate your voice for the lights in your bedroom. There are lights that automatically switch off or on through your phone’s GPS to pinpoint where you are.

You’re not restricted to lighting only in your home also. The app can be used to turn all the light bulbs in kids’ bedrooms once it’s time them to fall asleep.

2. Scheduling. With home lighting automation it’s easy to create a schedule for your lights. It is possible to set every light (or the group of light) to switch on and off at specified time intervals. It is possible to make them switch off or on at random times , so thieves who break into your home don’t believe that there’s no one in the house. That’s the problem with scheduling the light to turn on at a certain time, but not many people don’t realize that it’s an automatic function.

3. Motion detectors. In certain instances lighting can be activated when a detector detects movement. This can be extremely useful to protect your home from burglars since it lets anyone know that someone is who is skulking about your home late in the evening. It can also make things simpler when guests head to the bathroom in the hallway. It could even notify you when your kids sneak out at night or when they’re in their sleeping. The sensor will not only activate the lights for your child, but it could also be turned on in your home to alert you when people are wandering about in the home.

4. Lights are used as a way to notify. The lights also serve as signals for other occasions. For instance, if hosting a gathering at home, with high-pitched music, it’s likely that you’ll not be able to hear the doorbell or hear someone knocking on your door. However, with the help of intelligent lighting, it will visual alert you to the presence of someone at your door.

In reality the lights could serve as a notification system for everything. You can even opt to buy a lighting device which is connected to your social networks! It’s possible to have lights flash (or to change colour) in the event of messages via text, email, or an exact message via Instagram.
5. Energy savings. It is possible to save money on energy use, particularly when you utilize LED lighting with dimmers. Sometimes, you don’t require all the brightness that comes from the light bulb, and a dimmers will reduce the energy consumption to lower the amount of electricity you pay for.

Furthermore you can switch off the lights you aren’t currently employing. There’s no need for lighting a room when there’s no one in there (aside of security concerns) Therefore, the lights can simply be turned off.

6. Ambience. Lighting sets moods and work to a variety of lighting. It is possible to program an appropriate lighting scheme to create a romantic atmosphere or for late-night lighting. It is also possible to make sure that the lights are properly set while watching television, so that they aren’t too bright in your living room and you still have the ability to be able to see the remote as well as your food items.

In certain situations the lights may come off gradually in the early morning. The kitchens can be more illuminated so that the users can take in their dose of coffee, while other areas of the house will only be lit in a minimal manner. The light glare to a minimum when up before sunrise.

Modern lighting systems don’t only have dimmers. They could also be able of changing colors as well. It can truly create an entirely new mood for the rooms in your home.

Lighting Options

Once you’ve figured out how beneficial a home lighting control system is It’s time to choose one. You’ll have to think about the price and whether the protocol will allow users to link to other smart devices, such as the security systems you have. Considerations regarding setup are crucial and you need to take an examination of its capabilities and the ease to make use of.

Did you know? You may need a switched relay in your smart lighting system…

Here are a few of the most well-known lighting systems that really make your day more pleasant:

1. Philips Hue. It is a wireless home illumination control that’s earned some appreciation from experts and reviewers. Its Hue Connected version is quite expensive, however it’s the Hue Lux Starter Kit lets you test the waters for less than half the cost as the Connected.

It’s very sophisticated and lets you perform multiple automations, especially through IFTTT integration. You can accomplish everything you want with the “if this, then this” recipe, for instance, using a light blink or flashing blue whenever you get notified via Facebook. It’s really that versatile.

Even at its most basic the way, it’s extremely beneficial and the settings are quite complex. It can be used to set an alarm for all living in your home, meaning you can awaken all of your guests at 6 am by flashing lights. You can play music at your party and the lights will blink in sync with the music.
The starter kit comes with 3 light bulbs along with a base wireless which can hold as many as 50 bulbs in the home.

2. TCP Connected. It’s not cheap, but it’s but not as costly as Hue Connected. The initial purchase includes three 11.0-watt LEED bulbs that provide similar illumination to an incandescent bulb of 60 watts. It uses 20% lesser energy than an incandescent lamp and it’s designed for 25 years of illumination. This is over 5.7 years, even when you’re using it 24 hours a day.

A single kit allows you to control up to 250 lights at one time. It’s a breeze to install as well the TCP website has very useful videos that will help you install as well as set up and manage the bulbs. There is an app available to make the controls available on your phone. Overall you can set everything up in only a couple of minutes.

The disadvantages (aside from the cost even though that’s not the case with Hue) are the absence of a web-based PC app and therefore, you aren’t able to make use of a laptop or computer outside of the home that’s not connected to the home automation device. It’s not compatible with IFTTT also, which means you won’t think of as many options when choosing the triggers that activate the light. Additionally, they are dimmers but they cannot alter colors.

3. Belkin WeMo. The home automation device is somewhat similar to Philips Hue, except it’s less expensive. The similarities are the requirement to replace lighting bulbs using WeMo ones, the limitation of 50 bulbs for The WeMo Link, the use of the WeMo app on smartphones along with compatibility IFTTT.

It is possible to dim the lights however, as of now there’s no option to change the color. These 60-watt bulbs are able to last for an extremely long period of time. According to Belkin the bulbs are expected to have them for 23 years!

4. GE C Starter Pack. It’s the C of GE is one of the systems that appears to be specifically made for newbies to home automation. It’s very cost-effective, and you receive 4 light bulbs in the starter kit. There are two C-Life bulbs for your living area, and two C-Sleep bulbs to use in the bedroom. The C-Life version is obviously more bright, but it doesn’t come with the dimming feature. The dimmer is only for the C-Sleep lamp which is dim to at the beginning. All of them have a life span of around 250,000 hours.

There’s no need for an additional hub to connect them, as you can use your phone to control the brightness through an app as well as Bluetooth. There are a variety of settings to set up when you get up, when you arrive home, while watching a film, and when it’s time to go to bed. There are sliders that control the brightness and are extremely flexible. Dimming , turning off or turning on the lights will give instant outcomes.

There are some notable downsides However, there are a few notable drawbacks. One is that there’s not Android support at the moment. Its use with Bluetooth reduces the control’s range which means you’re unable to alter the lighting when you’re away from at home. In addition it’s not possible to create a schedule to control the lighting.

5. TicTeck. It might have a funny name, but its low cost is not a joke. It’s the light bulb with the lowest price of all. It’s only $10, yet it’s able to change colors, and doesn’t require an interface to control the lighting. Its dimensions are comparable to conventional incandescent bulbs. So should you decide to switch from an incandescent fixture, you don’t require a huge overhaul of your lighting system.

To manage the connection, you only require is the app that is free as well as an Android or iOS device. You must ensure that Bluetooth is turned on, then open the app, then tap “Add Device”, and it will connect without any issues. Your device is able to handle up to 32 lights at once. That’s not a bad thing, but you’ll need to be near in order to manage the light as a result of the Bluetooth limitations on range.

There’s no integration with IFTTT however you can make a lot of things using the lights in the way they are. The Colorful feature allows the bulbs to change hues from one to the next, and allows you to control the speed of the changes in color. The app also comes with an app that is similar to Bejeweled and your choice of color during the game can change the color of bulbs. The Music feature lets the lights change color according to the beat of music, and Night Light feature will dim the bulb. Night Light feature dims the bulb, and lets you select the color of the lighting.

Additionally, there’s the option of a timer, which lets you make use of various lighting schedules. It is possible to set the lights to be part of a group that follow the same schedule and then alter or repeat as often you’d like.

Conclusion

If you’re just beginning to learn about home automation, the best choice is to start in the area of smart lighting. Smart bulbs that are basic can be affordable provided they don’t require complicated configurations. If you’re trying to integrate these bulbs with the rest the smart gadgets you’ll have to purchase IFTTT integration. IFTTT connectivity feature.

Utilizing the help of your phone, you are able to change the light off and on, and allow them to turn on, dim and blink or even change hues. Your lights will now make your day more enjoyable!