Smart Lighting Suggestions?

pollambo on 05/07/2023 - 12:13

Hi OZB, I'm thinking of doing smart lighting in my home.

At the moment I'm considering between Philips Hue, Nanoleaf, and Ikea Tradfri lighting.

I already have a Raspberry Pi and was planning to buy a Sonoff Zigbee Dongle and some smart switches to set it up with Home Assistant and also integrate it with Apple HomeKit.

I work in IT so I would class myself as a power user/hobbyist and would be confident to tinker.

My questions are:

  1. Has anyone had experience with this? How robust is the setup? I've heard of issues with pairing/dropping out. I'm looking for a set and forget solution.
  2. How is the Philips vs Nanoleaf vs Ikea? Ikea seems to have 5 year warranty but Philips seems to have a good reputation for never dropping out for their price premium?
  3. What are your thoughts on waiting for Matter/Thread? Nanoleaf seems to be leading the way here but the it seems like there isn't much support yet, is it worth waiting?
  4. Any smart switch recommendations?

Interested to hear your journeys and other tips/advice.

Electrical & Electronics Smart Light

Comments

  • Lord Fart Bucket on 05/07/2023 - 12:22
    +2

    I used tradfri, works well. Didn't have many drop outs.

    • iamherenow on 05/07/2023 - 12:37

      Same. Have about 15 or so of the idea lights running from my PI home assistant with conbee. The only issue I encountered was one room where the light seemed to like to turn itself on in the middle of the night. I didn't bother trying to figure out the problem as it wasn't important to me.

      • Ryanek on 05/07/2023 - 14:44

        Answer is ghosts

      • fredskis on 06/07/2023 - 13:35

        The only issue I encountered was one room where the light seemed to like to turn itself on in the middle of the night

        Might be due to poor wiring on that socket/switch that's causing it turn off and on and default to "on" when the power is recovered.

        • iamherenow on 06/07/2023 - 16:12

          That was my thinking too - the light fitting connection did seem poor due to the way it allowed for adjustment of the beam angle.

  • Rebem on 05/07/2023 - 12:30
    +1

    I have HA (VM on Proxmox) with a Conbee II dongle and Hue lights. Can't comment on the others but the Philips are rock solid in our place. All updates to firmware done through Zigbee2MQTT (Docker container) and control is mainly via voice and Google Home Hubs. Only recently turned off the Hue hub and went full Conbee like all my other Zigbee devices - not even a blip and high WAF because I kept the voice activation. I have a few Tradfri non-lighting products and they're sound also.

  • shorewalker on 05/07/2023 - 12:33

    After buying one LIFX light, I decided to go purely Zigbee, using the Home Assistant software and the excellent TubesZB ethernet-attached device. But the home automation landscape is wildly fragmented right now: just as one example, some Zigbee devices don't like your wireless network operating on the 5 or 6 GHz bands.
    So now I have a Phillips Hue starter kit ready to install. It seems the most bulletproof solution right now; it works with a lot of things and doesn't fail much. This will be particularly important if you share your premises with other people who are used to the lights just working.

    • Drpepper666 on 05/07/2023 - 12:53
      -2

      If you're lights don't "just work" they aren't smart lights are all

    • odgregg on 05/07/2023 - 12:58

      Having recently move Home Assistant to a VM on Proxmox, I'm interested in moving to the TubesZB (although USB passthrough is working fine for now).

      Don't suppose anyone knows of an equivalent for Z-Wave? (although only have 3 devices on Z-Wave as opposed to about 50 on Zigbee)

    • fredskis on 06/07/2023 - 13:37

      some Zigbee devices don't like your wireless network operating on the 5 or 6 GHz bands.

      Have you got examples of this to know what to avoid?
      Closest I had seen was WiFi devices failing to connect to your network if you used the same SSID for the 2.4 GHz and 5GHz bands.

  • InfamousCalf on 05/07/2023 - 12:53
    +2

    I went with Shelly 2.5/1PM (Wi-Fi) with Clipsal Saturn Zens instead of replacing all the downlights. Requires an electrician for wiring.

    Lights could still be controlled if the switch was off. The push button style of the Saturn Zens also removed any confusion if a light was on or off.

    • Rebem on 05/07/2023 - 12:59

      Aren't the Shellys great? I have two behind switches and a couple controlling my garage doors. Great integration with HA too.

    • Opaquer on 06/07/2023 - 21:35

      I did this too, but with Shelly 1s instead. I love how it's a) fully local, so even if the internet is down it still works and doesn't have any cloud component and b) has a physical way to control the lights since we don't always use our phones to control the lights. Also, we have friends/family who aren't as tech savvy as us coming and staying with us every now and then, and we don't have to tell them to not touch the switches and only use phone apps etc - we can just pretend they're normal switches for all purposes, and no one has any confusions :)

      If you don't mind getting an electrician, 10/10 can recommend the Shelly range

  • ytthr on 05/07/2023 - 12:55
    +1

    I use Tradfri lighting with homeKit, no issues.
    Can't comment on the rest.

  • Ozmrtw on 05/07/2023 - 12:59
    +1

    I'm using Hue extensively inside and outside our house (per Hue Essentials: 30 lights, 31 sensors, 28 groups, 139 scenes, 114 rules, etc. - you get the point). This entire setup is going through one bridge and is working flawlessly since day one with plenty of bandwidth to extend further.

    I'm also running 3 individual Nanoleaf light set-ups and have given up on the app/schedule. Buggy and unreliable.

    I would say Nanoleaf has the wow-factor (at least the Tiles) but the entire ecosystem is a pain to properly and consistently use.

    Hue just works - specially the sensors outside the house are never missing a beat and provide great lightning all around the house with access to several great apps.

    From my experiences I would not invest into Nanoleaf but definitely stick to Hue.

  • sane on 05/07/2023 - 13:07
    -1

    Personally I'd say that zigbee missed it's chance, and the Wifi connected bulbs/switches work fine - provided you are using later/better wifi routers (eg not what you got with your NBN).

    Colour changing bulbs sound nice, but you are only likely to use this functionality rarely, and only in very particular positions. However colour temp changing bulbs is good, and the ability dim and set bulbs is key - you can tune the lights to their locations, getting the whole scene right, and save money at the same time (50% illumination = 50% power draw).

    Nanoleaf seems pointless, and bloody expensive.

    Apple really doesn't matter. Too late, too proprietary. Google and Alexa are more of the players. However I personally wouldn't really call them smart. In that direction I'd think seriously about presence detection (eg FP2) and cameras/AI.

    And speaking of Matter, that's the up and coming standard and you might want to focus on that. Still early days, but it's worth considering.

    Switches with energy meters built-in are about the same price as those without, and very useful.

    Don't forget the front door. The video doorbells are overpriced, but worth thinking about - particularly regards parcel delivery.

  • Thinkswithelbow on 05/07/2023 - 13:14
    +1

    I use hue. I'm lazy and have little time to tinker. It's expensive but it just works. I've tried some IKEA and no name ZigBee and the hues are much much better. But you pay for it.

  • Chandler on 05/07/2023 - 13:16
    +1

    In my unimplemented research I found that Hue is the bees knees. Tradfri is good, but Hue is better quality. Comes with the price tag, however.

    In any case I think Zigbee / Thread are the best ways forward for smart bulbs - helps remove proprietary apps from the process. I myself am still debating whether I go smart bulbs or smart switches.

    With smart dimmers being a thing I think Zigbee smart in-wall (ala Shelly) switches would be my preferred way forward over smart bulbs, since the only feature you really lose by not using smart bulbs is RGB, which I'm happy with losing.

    Having said that, smart bulbs would be significantly easier and cheaper to install (no electrician required) and would be comparable in material cost (to Hue at least). Not sure if I would expect a smart switch to outlast a smart LED bulb, so longevity is potentially not a point of difference - and if it was, would need to take into account cost of installation of replacement smart switches (need an electrician again) as well as the QOL / xAF (wife/spouse/home Approval Factor) cost, as you can't use lights until the electrician replaces the switch.

    If you told me to go out and fitout my place with smart lighting right now, I'd probably go with Hue.

    To touch on your specific points:

    1. I've only got some WiFi smart bulbs at present and want to move to Zigbee. From my reading one cause of the dropping out is not having enough Zigbee devices to make the mesh network robust
    2. Nanoleaf is ridiculously expensive, and IMO will be the first to drop support. I myself have been contemplating Tradfri vs Hue, and have seen quite a few posts against Tradfri but the only thing I've seen against Hue is cost. So if you can pickup Hue cheap (clearance, Prime Day, etc) then I'd go with it. I'm also curious whats going to happen with Hue when they start doing Matter: are they going to update their existing range or release a new range? If the latter, then you may be able to pickup Zigbee Hue on the cheap in the near future
    3. Not worth waiting in my opinion - Thread is basically Zigbee, so I don't see the benefit apart from ongoing support and firmware updates, which shouldn't be necessary to be honest
    4. Shelly's are well regarded in this space. I myself don't like the design of many on-wall smart switches, so prefer the in-wall style that Shelly sells

    Most of the above comes from my readings on the HA forums (especially the Australia - Electrically Certified Hardware post), the HA and various other subreddits (if you can access them), as well as content from a few creators, namely The Hook Up and Self-Hosted Podcast

  • djc on 05/07/2023 - 13:52

    I use Hue, I'm time-poor and just want something that works.

    Having said that, I'm keen to get some external lighting for the garden, are any Zigbee lights compatible with Philips Hue?

    Otherwise I'm going to go with old-fashioned lights like https://www.bunnings.com.au/brilliant-westbury-led-low-volta…

  • sumyungguy on 05/07/2023 - 14:20

    I run HomeKit with LIFX, Hue and Tradfri bulbs and Hue motion sensors.

    LIFX: pleasingly dim at 1%, I use their app to run a 4-mode adaptive sequence on a hallway light
    Hue: their 1600 lumen bulb is great for outdoor use; I use adaptive mode in HomeKit for my kitchen downlights; sadly you can't use the motion sensor lux settings in HomeKit

    • jlay5 on 10/07/2023 - 17:50

      Hi @rock-bottom - have you checked homekit automations recently? I can see "motion light level" when you select "a sensor detects something" on my philips setup in homekit.

      • sumyungguy on 10/07/2023 - 18:19

        Thanks for flagging this! In the chat I had with Philips they confirmed there are issues. I have a light in my hallway that I’d like to come on according to both lux level (not time of day) and motion. This runs ok in the Hue app but the sensitivity isn’t fully adjustable. I did notice the light level in HomeKit but couldn’t figure out how to trigger the light using both conditions.

  • stealthpaw on 05/07/2023 - 17:37

    Hue has been brilliant for me. Connects up to my Zigbee2MQTT server and talks to Home Assistant no worries, super responsive and reliable.

  • mreddie on 05/07/2023 - 17:38

    LIFX are great

  • AustriaBargain on 05/07/2023 - 18:40

    Philips Hue has the most compatible system. But they don't make the best bulbs, they won't dim all the way down to barely visible and they can't go up to blindingly bright. LIFX will, but their "system" kinda sucks, though at least they support HomeKit now. I like to dim really low, am prone to headaches maybe, so I'd buy all LIFX if I were kitting out a house. But if you have a SO who isn't so tech savvy then I'd probably recommend the Hue system to make their lives easier, so I'm not stuck as the "gatekeeper" for the smartbulbs.

  • schplade on 05/07/2023 - 18:48

    I evaluated the hue downlights and thought they were the best but ultimately too expensive compared others.
    Ended up going with Ikuu throughout the house at half the price per downlight. Biggest differences are the Hue lights dim to a significantly lower level and the RBG modes are brighter.

    I’ve had the lights wired to be always on and Zigbee bound directly to Clipsal iconic smart switches through z2m and HA.
    This allows me to use the physical switch even if HA is down. When HA is up, I can run automations, dim, control via Siri etc.

    • rsingh87 on 08/11/2023 - 14:39

      how are the iconic smart physical switches? i heard they feel mushy?

  • bargaino on 05/07/2023 - 20:40
    +1

    Another vote for Hue + Home Assistant.
    Connect all your Zigbee lights (Hue, Ikea, whatever) to the Hue Bridge.
    Connect Hue to Home assistant, Google, Alexa. (If you want Apple, you need Homebridge for non-Hue bulbs.)
    I like the Hue wall-switches, so have them connect direct to the Hue bridge.

    Other sensors and devices connect to HA via the Sonoff. Using Hue Bridge as a middle-man for the lights adds some extra features, reliability and faster response.

    Final word: don't go crazy on the coloured lights. The novelty soon wears off. Variable colour temperature (warm/cool) can be nice, but a lot of people prefer warm all the time.

    • djc on 06/07/2023 - 07:41

      So Ikea lights can connect to the Philips Hue Bridge and can be controlled like the Philips Hue lights?

      • bargaino on 06/07/2023 - 10:18

        Yes. ZigBee protocol.

        Note IKEA colour bulbs are not as good.

  • myfeetarehappy on 06/07/2023 - 00:43

    I have Home Assistant on a Raspberry PI 3B+ with a Sonoff Zigbee Dongle.

    I have several white (adjustable temp) Tradfri bulbs and a couple of Tradfri powerpoints. They are really good and my preferred Zigbee option currently.

    I had a bit of trouble with the Tradfri shortcut buttons but they are working well now. I also use Xiaomi and Hue buttons via the Sonoff Zigbee Dongle with no issues.

    I have a bunch of older wifi LIFX bulbs as well which are ok but would go with Zigbee options now.

    • rsingh87 on 22/11/2023 - 16:03

      are you using zigbee2mqtt? how is the reliability? do buttons work 100% of the time?

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