Even though the concept of a light bulb has been around since the 19th century, technology has evolved beyond our comprehension. Now people have the privilege of making things a lot easier by choosing the option of using the latest products.
Long gone are the days where you have to walk around in the dark until you get to a light switch. Now, just with a single command to your nearby device, your smart bulbs can light up your room within seconds.
Even though the basic function of smart light bulbs is the same as it has been since the beginning, there is a major difference between traditional light bulbs and smart light bulbs. That is that they can be controlled from a distance via mobile phone, Bluetooth, or remote controls which highly multiplies the convenience.
In this guide, we are going to discuss everything that you would want to know about a smart light bulb.
Read on to find out!
What is a Smart Bulb?
A smart bulb is just like a normal bulb except that this fixture can be controlled through wireless means. You do not have to operate these manually unlike the traditional bulbs.
You can control these through your mobile device, Alexa, or Bluetooth. Another added advantage is that you can customize these according to your preference. Smart bulbs can change colors and amp up the ambiance a notch. All of this just through a single command!
You can switch the colors according to whatever your mood is. The Bluetooth also enables you to adjust the brightness of the light. In addition to this, you can schedule them to turn on and switch off automatically at a specific time during the day.
How do I set up a Smart Bulb?
Even though it is a really easy and DIY process to install your light bulb, there are a few things you might have to consider before actually getting to the installment process. Let us take you through the process step by step.
1- Decide on the bulb and the model.
There are a lot of companies that manufacture smart light bulbs but each of them is different from the other. Therefore, to each its own, you must get the one that fits your requirement the best. These normally start from $6 and go up to $35. You can check out a few models at Amazon here.
Another very important thing is to check whether the bulb requires a hub or not. In simple terms, the hub is a wireless router that connects your smart bulb to an internet source. However, nowadays most bulbs come with an inbuilt Wifi and are compatible with Alexa and Bluetooth. That is why a hub is not required but to be on the safer side, always confirm about it. In case your bulb requires a hub, you can get this best-selling one from Amazon.
2- Installation of the smart bulb.
Once you have selected your smart bulb, you will have to install it in the fixture which is quite simple. All you have to do is just remove the current bulb from the fixture and screw the new one.
However, make sure to check whether the fixture is compatible with the smart light bulb beforehand. This is so because many smart bulbs do not screw in the old traditional bulb fixtures.
3- Connectivity with the network.
Most smart bulb brands have apps compatible with iOS and Android. The first step after the bulb is screwed in the fixture is to download the app. You can easily find the link to the app in the instruction manual. Once the app is downloaded, connect your bulb with the network.
After this, turn on the smart bulb. The bulb will blink thrice and click on the “next” prompt in the app. Go through the app and look for an option that would connect the smart bulb with the wifi. Here you go, that’s all!
If you have a smart bulb that requires a hub, you will have to turn on the bulb along with the hub at the same time. All the bulbs will be paired with the hub, and your hub will be paired with your internet-compatible devices. So you could control the hub through your mobile device and the hub would then command the light bulbs.
Keep in mind that these are the basic guidelines regarding the installation of the smart bub. We recommend you read the instruction manual to have a better grasp of the instructions.
How long do Smart Bulbs last?
Since now bulbs are mostly made through the LED technology, they have become more efficient and cost-effective. The light-emitting diode (LED) enables the bulbs to work for a longer period of time as compared to the old incandescent bulbs. It is said that the LED bulbs are 90% more efficient. Not only this, but you may also see a difference in your electricity bill as they consume way less energy.
To be precise, a smart bulb may last up to 10 – 20 years or 15000 – 25000 hours, whichever way you want to put it. However, you may lose the brightness over time because they last very long but have a short lifespan as compared to the non-LED bulbs.
Is it worth it to buy Smart Light Bulbs?
In my opinion, Yes!
To begin with, they last ALOT longer. A smart bulb can last up to 25000 hours whereas if we look at a normal bulb, it is 1200 hours. The difference is huge. So in a more simple manner, one smart LED bulb is equal to 21 incandescent bulbs.
Now coming towards the energy take, we have already mentioned that smart bulbs are cost-effective. If we do an energy comparison, a LED smart bulb does the same job as the normal bulb while consuming 10 watts whereas a normal bulb would take up to 60 watts. This clearly shows why and how smart bulbs can reduce your energy bills as well as carbon footprints.
Despite being economical and efficient in the longer run, it is costly when it comes to setting up the system. Nevertheless, if you ask me, it is not a big deal because you end up making up for it eventually through a reduction in bills, etc. If you look into it in more detail, you will realize that Smart bulbs can save you up to $1000 a year.
How can we forget about the features a smart bulb has? It is the features that make it worth the purchase. Some of the features are:
- You can adjust the brightness.
- These add to the ambiance of the house.
- Some smart bulbs can play music as well.
- They can automatically turn on and off at a specific time.
- They also change colors to match the mood of the music.
- You can change the colors and set the mood of your room.
- You can dim the light and use it as a night lamp for a peaceful sleep.
- Smart bulbs can be controlled through voice, hence you will not have to walk all the way to the switchboard.
Do Smart Bulbs come in different colors?
Smart bulbs don’t really come in different colors, they come in a standard white color. However, they do change colors. A single smart bulb can change its colors to whatever has been in the pre-set. Every bulb offers different colors. The Flux Smart LED Light Bulb can produce up to 16 million colors. With such a wide range of colors, it may get difficult to select a color. That is why the brand now offers a color wheel. You can select the exact color you want by tapping anywhere at the color wheel.
Here are a few ways you can enhance the ambiance by making these changes:
- Change the color to a golden yellow to warm up the room.
- Change the color to blue if you want to go for cooler tones.
- Hosting a party? Opt for bright colors and shuffle between them.
- During holidays, match the theme of the festival. When Christmas is around the corner, turn the smart bulbs red and green.
- If you think your wall is too empty, install two or three smart bulbs and add a little hue to the wall by changing colors every day. If you keep the intensity low, it may give an effect of a painting.
Let me prove the pros of smart lighting along with breaking some cons of it. Going over these would help you a lot in figuring out whether you should go for smart lighting or not.
The positives
- You save up at the electricity cost as these take up less energy and operate at a lower wattage.
- It becomes really easy and convenient to control the lighting without having to reach the switchboard.
- It gives the place a new look. With so many shade options, you can amp up space however you want to.
- You can control or change the lighting from afar as well. You could be sitting in your bathroom and could still change the lighting of your tv lounge.
- It is more bright than the traditional bulbs. This means that you would need fewer smart bulbs to light up space as compared t the old bulbs.
- You will not have to spend on extra lighting for festivals like Christmas. You can change the color of the smart bulbs and the house will be all set!
- With these, you get a much more advanced and up-to-date tech system at home, that too not in a price too expensive. This gives the house an overall grandeur!
The negatives
- They may not be compatible with all devices.
- Even though the technology is improving by the day, you may face a few glitches here and there.
- You would require a constant internet connection to be able to change the lighting. In case, the wifi is not working, the app will not work, and hence, you will not be able to give any commands.
- You might have to spend on a gadget that is compatible with smart lighting. The gadget could be a smartphone and maybe even Alexa or Google Assistant.
- Setting up a smart lighting system can be expensive. Keep in mind that you are not just spending on the bulbs, you are also paying for the things that need to be there in order for these bulbs to operate such as a hub, fixtures, etc.
How can I connect my smart bulbs with Alexa?
- Open the Alexa app on your device, iPhone or Android.
- Tap at the menu icon present at the top left corner.
- A list of options would appear, click on “Add device”.
- The app would then show you a list of products it can connect with. So, tap on “lights”.
- Then, look for the brand of your bulb light. Once found, select its specific model.
- A prompt might appear on your screen as well. Therefore, if prompted, go to the lights app and enable “Alexa skill”.
Are bulbs better with or without a hub?
So basically, let me take you through what a hub actually means and its function. To begin with, you need to understand that bulbs require some sort of wireless connection to send and receive signals in order to fulfill the commands. Some bulbs use wifi, others use Bluetooth, and similarly, some bulbs require a hub.
So, a hub acts as the middle man between the bulb and the router. In case your bulb is not wifi and Bluetooth compatible, you would need a hub to act as a translator to the commands. If you want to control the entire house, you would need those many hubs. For example, you would need a separate hub for the AC, bulbs, curtains, etc. This way each hub will have an independent connection with the internet. This tends to reduce internet connectivity since it has constant traffic from more devices than usual. You will also have to purchase the hubs additionally other than the bulbs, which might not fit well within your budget.
On the contrary, hubless bulbs have built-in wifi so they connect to the device themselves without needing any sort of bridge. These bulbs can be controlled via mobile phones. This is a much more convenient way! You do not have to spend extra bucks for a separate bridge and it is just hassle-free overall as well.
Conclusion
Since we have explored everything about smart bulbs, I hope it is now easier for you to decide whether buying a smart bulb is the best option for you or not. To start off, set your priorities and consider your preference. Is a smart bulb something you really need at the moment? Are you looking for something like this or do the traditional bulbs fulfill your requirements? You should ask yourself similar questions before finalizing your decision. Now that everything is covered, let me give you some tips that will help you select the best smart bulbs.
The first thing you need to consider is the placement of the bulbs. Where does it have to be installed? Is it your bedroom, the kitchen, the lounge? This is important because the lighting requirement for every room varies. If it is a bedroom, you would want a bulb that has warm and cool tones. So you would preferably look for a bulb that has adjustable brightness; bright for basic usage and dim light for maybe when you are sleeping. Also, brighter blubs tend to have a higher wattage as well. So you need to keep this in mind too.
The next thing is that if you plan on having a bulb mainly for its color-changing purpose, go for a brand that offers a color wheel. Since you would want the color factor to amp up the ambiance, you would not want to have limited color options. A color wheel has over a million color options. This way it would be a lot easier for you to change the colors according to your mood be it a bedroom, kitchen, etc.
The last and very important thing is to see whether you have a device that is compatible with smart bulbs. Therefore, consider the connectivity of your device with the smart bulbs before you purchase them. Also, check the prices as these should not cost too much unless you purchase the entire system.
Get your hands on the best smart bulb and set the mood for your house!
Hey! I’ve been a Home Improvement Expert for the past 40 years. Having smartened hundreds of homes through my TV shows “This Old House” and “Bob Vila”, I have gathered an expertise in the art of smart home gadgets, appliances, and everything else. Now, I want to share with the world what I have learnt!
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