With all of the technological advances we’ve seen over the last several years, one of the coolest in my opinion continues to be the ability to control my lights with my voice. Granted, there has been some type of technology like this for a while considering my grandma had the clapper in the mid 90s, but smart light technology has come a long way since then. With so many options out there, you may be wondering where to even begin.
Who is your assistant?
When setting up any sort of smart home device, you need to consider what voice assistant(s) you already have. It is possible to have your devices work with multiple assistants, but it can add a lot of complexity in a hurry.
When it comes to voice assistants, there are 3 main options:
- Alexa is the voice assistant created by amazon. If you have any echo smart speakers or displays, or any other Amazon devices, they use Alexa. Alexa devices are typically the cheapest and are compatible with the most devices.
- Google assistant is available on Google or Nest smart speakers and displays. It is also built in to most Android smartphones. Google assistant is compatible with a wide variety of devices.
- Siri is the voice assistant created by Apple. It is built in to iPhones, iPads, Apple TVs, Macs, and HomePod smart speakers. Apple’s Siri focuses heavily on user privacy, but far fewer devices support it. When shopping for a device, look for it to say works with Apple HomeKit.
Types of lighting options
Once you’ve established what assistant you want to use, you need to figure out what type of smart lights to implement in your home. There are many different options out there, each with their own pros and cons so you may want to mix and match depending on the room.
Smart bulbs
A smart bulb is exactly what it sounds like. They are literally just lightbulbs that connect to your wifi network.
Pros
- Easy to install
- Low cost
- Works in any home
- Extreme customization (turn single bulbs on and off instead of the entire room or fixture)
Cons
- Are only smart if the light switch remains turned on
- Houseguests won’t know how to control them
Smart switches
Smart switches replace your existing light switch that is built in to your home
Pros
- Offers more flexibility so you can manually control the lights AND use your voice assistant
Cons
- Requires some electrical know-how to install
- Requires a neutral wire, which means they can NOT be installed in most homes built before 1980
Smart plugs
Plugs in to your wall outlet and can be turned on and off with your voice assistant
Pros
- Allows you to upgrade existing lamps and other plug-in devices
Cons
- Are only smart if the lamp remains switched on
- Houseguests won’t know how to control them
Smart fixtures
Smart light fixtures either plug in to the wall or are wired to the ceiling and have built in smart functionality.
Pros
- More of a permanent setup
- May offer fun customization such as colors or brightness adjustments
Cons
- If wired to the ceiling, it will still require the switch to remain on
Before you buy your smart lights
If you’ve picked your assistant, and have decided on your method, you are ready to make a purchase with more confidence. Consider these additional tips before you commit:
- Make sure that your voice assistant is compatible. Some options (often cheaper) only work via bluetooth using their own smartphone app
- Some products, such as Philips Hue use a hub to connect to their devices. This can help if you’re installing a lot of lights so that only the hub is connected to your wifi network instead of dozens of bulbs bogging down the network. Other products, such has TP Link bulbs connect directly to your wifi. This is cheaper, but especially if you have a lower-end wireless router, there may be a limit to the number of devices you can have connected.
- Consider what other features are important to you. Some products offer things such as timers, adjustable coloring, and more so shop around to see what each product has to offer
Contact me if you want help picking out the best devices for your home. I can also help you set up your system after your purchase.