Smart lighting has transformed the way we light up our homes. In this post we’ll give you an overview of this exciting technology, detail its features, and the benefits it offers.
What is Smart Lighting?
Smart lighting allows you to control your lights remotely, customise its features and automate its functions. This technology not only provides convenience but can help you save money and enhance your security at home.
Smart Lighting Features
Light has a profound impact on our mood and wellness. Smart lighting allows you to create an environment that matches your mood or the time of the day. It can help you wake up gently in the morning, work comfortably during the day, relax in the evening, and sleep peacefully at night.
Aside from creating various moods, you can sync certain smart lights with your TV, games, or music to create an immersive experience. They can also be used for security purposes, mimicking your presence at home to deter unwanted visitors. Here are the key features:
Remote Control
Control your lights wirelessly using your smartphone or tablet. You can even control some smart lights when you’re away from home.
Voice Control
Connect your lights to your smart speaker for hands-free voice control. Look out for the Amazon Alexa, Apple HomeKit and Google Assistant logos for compatibility.
16 Million Colours
Multicolour smart bulbs let you choose from 16 million colours including warm to cool white light to create the ideal ambiance.
Dimmable
Smart lights are dimmable, so you can adjust their brightness to create the right mood.
Schedule & Timer
Create schedules for your lights so they turn on and off depending on your daily routine.
TV/PC/Music Sync
Synchronise your smart lights with your favourite films, games and music for a more immersive experience.
How Does Smart Lighting Work?
The smart lighting ecosystem is a combination of various devices and technologies that work together to give you greater control over your home lighting. Here’s a quick overview of the key components:
The App
The app is the command centre for your smart lighting system. It allows you to customise your lighting experience, organise your lights into zones, set up voice control, and much more.
The Smart Lights
Smart lights are more than just smart bulbs. They can take the form of table lamps, floor lamps, lightstrips, and more.
The Hub
A hub is a small electronic device that connects all the smart lights in your home your smartphone. Smart lights that use Bluetooth or Wi-Fi do not require a hub.
The Sensors
Sensors can activate your smart lights when they detect someone moving, when it gets dark and even when a door or window is opened.
The Controllers
Apart from the app, you can use switches and even you voice to control your smart lights. Integration with smart home assistants allows you to control your lights with simple voice commands.
The Philips Hue Iris White and Color Ambiance Table Lamp is a smart and stylish light that allows you to easily set the mood in any room. With a range of 16 million colors and warm/cool white, it offers a variety of lighting options.
The Govee Flow Plus Light Bars are a versatile option for creating ambient lighting that reacts to your music, movies, and games.
The Philips Hue White Ambiance Filament A60 – B22 Smart Bulb combines vintage style with modern features. This LED bulb features a classic shape and a coiled inner filament design.
The Avatar Controls B22 Smart Bulbs can be controlled wirelessly through the Smart Life app or with voice commands via Google Home or Alexa devices. It offers a wide range of features, including dimmable functionality and color-changing options.
Wireless Technologies in Smart Lighting
Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and Zigbee are currently the most common wireless standards that smart lights use to communicate with other smart devices. Here’s a quick summary of what each offers.
Bluetooth
Bluetooth is a good option if you plan on using just a few lights in a single room. Lights connect directly to your smart phone, with no need for a hub or router.
- Lights connect to your smart device
- No hub required
- The number of lights that you can control is limited
- Limited range ~10 m
Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi allows you to control a large number of lights around your house using your existing Wi-Fi network. Like Bluetooth, no hub is required.
- Lights connect to your smart device via your wireless router
- No hub required
- Uses your Wi-Fi network
- Wide range
Zigbee
Zigbee uses less power than Bluetooth and Wi-Fi. It lets you control a large number of lights in your home, but it requires a hub that connects to your router.
- Lights connect to your smart device via a hub
- Requires a hub and connection to your wireless router
- Wide range
Summary
There’s already a large variety of smart lighting products on offer. From filament bulbs to multicolour light strips, there’s something for everyone. Popular brands like Philips, Tapo, and WiZ have a plethora of options to choose from.
With advancements in technology, the future looks promising. Features like WiZ’s SpaceSense, which enable lights to respond to your movements, are making smart lighting more intuitive and user-friendly. The world of smart lighting is ever-evolving, so stay tuned for more exciting ways to light up your home.
