Replacing single point ceiling rack lighting with smart LED downlights

jollster101 on 06/08/2022 - 23:30

We live in a 2 storey house and in the kitchen / diner (which is downstairs) we currently have 3 separate light points in the ceiling that is connected to a traditional lighting backbone wiring circuit. The lights that are in each spot currently are a standard 5 bulb led rack unit with each bulb pointing in separate directions.

We are considering changing what we have and putting in a number of recessed downlights. We have been looking at some of the smart light options that are available and these are appealing. Tech such as colour change, dimmer, controllable via wi-fi etc would be great.

Has anybody had experience in making this switch and can recommend options?

Cheers

Electrical & Electronics

Comments

  • jv on 07/08/2022 - 02:04

    MS Paint?

  • Transient on 07/08/2022 - 11:26

    Perhaps ask BubblyBear: recently had a forum on AMA - Just Retired from Beacon Lighting as a Senior Store Manager after 12 Years

  • OzComment on 10/08/2022 - 16:03
    +1

    You can turn any traditional lights smart by
    1. changing to smart light bulbs / downlights (which allows you to change color, dim and turn on /off), all individually.
    2. changing the light switch to a smart light switch (which allows you to dim and turn on /off but not changing color), for a group of lights depends how many switches you want.
    2. adding an inline smart device (which allows you to only switching on off and not dimming nor color changing), depends how you group the wires.

    So it's more important for you to choose the look and style of all the lighting products that suit you and your house, instead of worrying if they are smart or not as it can always be done, at least turning them on / off

    For example my kitchen has 2 smart downlights above the cooktop and benches, and one normal pendant light above the kitchen island but added with an inline smart switch. They are scheduled to turn on at sunset and turn off at 9pm each day automatically. These lights together are bright enough for daily use if it's just my wife cooking. After 9pm, together with a movement sensor, only one of the 2 smart downlights will be dimmed and turned on automatically when someone pass by, so it's just bright enough (which is good for your eyes at night) for you to pickup something from the fridge or throw some rubbish.

    Then I have 4 other normal downlights around the corner of the kitchen, they are controlled by manual light switch with a traditionally dimmer and not smart at all, just in case we're having a party and we need a brighter kitchen, then we turn them on manually.

    The whole experience is that you don't need to touch the light switch during normal use, and at the same time save some energy (i.e. money) because you don't need to turn on all the lights at the same time, but just those you need at a particular moment. Everyone's habit and situation is different but that's the idea.

  • jollster101 on 11/08/2022 - 16:29

    That's great info OzC and provides some good food for thought.

    Appreciate the time and in-depth detail.

    Cheers

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