Seeking Advice on Wi-Fi Controlled LED Systems

GordonR on 18/09/2015 - 13:18

My daughter has set her mind on an app-controlled colour-changing LED light for her bedroom.

I have done some searching but am now more confused than before I started, and really I need some advice from a thrifty geek - and where better to find one than OzB!

My confusion stems from the range of prices and different setups, and what is best for a "one bulb" setup in my daughter's room.

Here are the contenders:

(1) Phillips Hue

The "name brand" of wifi-connected LED systems, but this costs $290 for a "starter pack" of a wifi bridge and 3 bulbs

(2) LifX

An Australian-originated Kickstarter project that requires no bridge, but each bulb costs about USD100.

(3) Limitless LED

Recommended by an OzBargainer, this system also requires a bridge but the starter kit is only USD60 and includes a couple of bulbs, a bridge AND a remote

And finally

(4) A direct remote-control bulb from Bunnings… only $30, but only 3 watts !

So what I am wondering is

  • why do some of them need a bridge and others don't? [I would rather not have yet another device to plug in somewhere]

  • what does app-control provide over direct remote? [I can sort of guess the answer to this, but I'm really looking for actual use-case rather than theoretical scenario]

  • the Limitless LED comes with an exposed API for writing your own apps, so might this be a fun way to get her coding?

This is strictly for play, rather than a full home-automation set up.

Thanks for any remarks

Electrical & Electronics

Comments

  • jaybmate on 18/09/2015 - 13:55

    How old is your daughter?

    • GordonR on 18/09/2015 - 15:02

      9 years old - we've just started up a "Coder Dojo" at her primary school, coding in Scratch, and she's picking it up well.

      I think coding something physical like a light show would really enthuse her.

  • mightyfes on 18/09/2015 - 17:20

    You could ebay some of those from China. You can find them for around $AU 20-30 per bulb. I recently purchased one, I'll let you know what it's like when it gets here a month later!

    • jupy on 23/11/2015 - 15:00

      How was it? I'm keen to get me some bulbs

      • mightyfes on 23/11/2015 - 15:43
        +1

        Haha interesting you asked, I had paid $21 for the Bluetooth bulb by putting an offer instead of using "buy now" (it also had a speaker that I never used) and it just went bust yesterday! So it lasted me a month and a couple of weeks. I really liked it, very sad it had such an early demise. There is a year warranty but I'll have to ship it back to China so I'm just going to let it go. I already left positive feedback during a time I was very stoked with it, also might not be their fault anyway.

        PS: You know all that past performance is not an indicator of future performance stuff so your mileage may vary. I'd definitely buy from Australia next time, maybe even a branded one because I really like the product and also that way I can at least return it easily.

  • trex on 18/09/2015 - 19:50

    Have you considered 5050 LED strip light? Something like this. I am using the IR remote version and it looks fantastic!

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