What is smart lighting and how does it work? Everything at a glance
Smart lighting has become an essential part of the modern world. Systems are becoming increasingly intelligent and are capable of managing, regulating, and adjusting themselves where necessary. Naturally, this technology is a fantastic solution for many. What could be better than being able to control everything wirelessly from the comfort of your chair via your phone, tablet, wireless switches, or other accessories. In addition, you can set schedules, use voice control, change light colors, dim, connect with other smart devices, and add scenes (automation tasks). This allows you to create the desired ambiance and keep complete control over your lighting.
Naturally, besides lighting, there are many other types of smart devices that you can connect to the same smart home app.Think of smart sensors, smart plugs, smart modules/receivers, air conditioning, cameras, thermostats, curtains and much more. You can manage all these devices from a single smart home app. These devices all work with your existing outlets and sockets.
Because smart lighting is booming nowadays, you see many manufacturers using this smart technology. Of course, this does not make things clearer for you as a consumer. LedLoket regularly gets the question: "How exactly does it work, I can't figure it out anymore". In this blog we explain everything to you!
Endless possibilities of smart lighting:
The possibilities with smart lighting or smart devices are endless. You can make everything 'communicate' with each other if you configure the functions in your smart home app correctly.
Voice-controlled lighting/appliances:
You can configure via your smart home app which voice command an appliance should respond to. This can be done via the app on your phone, as well as via an external device that you easily add to your smart home. These external devices act as a listening ear in your home, such as a Google Nest, Amazon Alexa, or a Homey Athom Pro. "Hey Google, dim the lighting in the dining room to 30%", and the lighting in the dining room will then dim to 30%.
Setting schedules:
You can set schedules per lamp, a group of lamps, or other smart devices. For example, if you want your floor lamp, table lamps, or garden lighting to turn on automatically at a specific time, you can configure this. As soon as it gets dark, the lighting will automatically switch on, but you can also have it turn off again at a specific time, so you no longer have to think about it yourself.
Setting light colors:
When you have a smart bulb that allows you to set multiple colors, you can easily change them. This can be done via the app on your phone, or via a voice command: "Hey Google, set the lighting to extra warm white." Here too, the possibilities are endless. Connect your Smart TV to the smart lighting and the lights will change color along with the movie you are playing. It is also possible to have them synchronize with the beat of the music you are playing at that moment.
Dimming lighting:
Of course, you can also dim the lighting via the smart home app or via a voice command. Or set up a scene where the light intensity dims or becomes brighter at different times of the day. For example, when you are working in your home office and want to keep working as it gradually gets dark outside.Then increased luminous intensity and/or a brighter light color play an important role. This can also all be set automatically in the app based on sunrise/sunset.
Connecting multiple smart lights or devices:
You can control a smart light or device individually. However, a home has different rooms where you use specific lighting or devices. Often you have multiple light sources in a kitchen, and naturally you don't want to dim all of them separately. You can create a group of lights per room. You can then control that entire group of lights all at once. Much easier!
Adding scenes (assigning tasks) to smart home lighting:
In addition to schedules, you can also create your own programs in the app. Think of it as assigning tasks to the lighting: When I do ………, the lighting must do …….. This. You can apply these programs/tasks endlessly.
For example: when the sun goes down, the garden lighting should turn on after 15 minutes, 7 days a week. At 01:00 AM in the evening, the garden lighting must turn off, 7 days a week. Or: when I am a certain number of meters away from my home, group X of lights should turn off or turn on.
In short: The possibilities and setting options are endless! Wonderful, isn't it, never having to think about switching the lighting on and off again. And this also saves you energy.
Only advantages with smart lighting
Above we have explained what functions are possible with today's smart lighting. Naturally, this only brings advantages. Below is a brief summary of these benefits.
Always have your lights turn on/off at the desired moments.
Always create the desired atmosphere.
Controlling lighting remotely (also via the mobile network).
Clearly managing all your smart devices.
Energy saving, never again leaving lights on unnecessarily or forgetting to switch off the lighting.
Enhancing security. For example: triggering smart smoke detectors when intruders are prowling your home.
No longer needing to operate wall switches.
Various smart lighting technologies:
What is WiFi lighting (TUYA)?
Smart WiFi bulbs operate on the Tuya communication protocol. These are the most common smart bulbs. WiFi smart lighting is an easy entry-level option, as it can be connected directly to your WiFi network. Every smart WiFi bulb contains a Tuya chip that operates on your WiFi signal. Therefore, it does not matter which brand of WiFi bulb you purchase. They all work the same way.Naturally, there are differences in quality among the various bulbs themselves. This form of smart lighting is also a lot more affordable than the Zigbee variant.
You can easily connect the WiFi bulbs to multiple apps, including: Tuya Smart, Smart Life, Nedis Smart, Homeylux, and Hoftronic Smart. All of these apps operate using the Tuya communication protocol.
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| View our WiFi bulbs! | View our WiFi smart accessories! |
| Advantages: | Disadvantages: |
| Affordable. | WiFi slows down when connecting many smart devices i.v.m. to the router. |
| Easily connect to your WiFi network. | Requires a 2.4 GHz WiFi signal; newer routers feature a 5 GHz signal. |
| Connect directly to existing sockets and fixtures. | In case of a WiFi signal loss due to a power outage, the lamps will lose their signal. |
| Easily add to Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa, and Apple Siri. | With an unstable WiFi network, the lamp will lose its signal. |
| Automate, dim, set schedules, light colors, and scenes. | Security risks if your WiFi network is not properly secured. |
| Compatible with many smart devices (air conditioning, curtains, doorbell, etc.). | To cover long distances, you need to boost the WiFi signal. |
Connecting/installing Tuya smart lighting
We would be happy to explain this to you in the video below, where you can see how easy it is to connect a Tuya/WiFi smart bulb to the app.
What is Zigbee lighting?
Zigbee 3.0 is a communication protocol, much like WiFi or Bluetooth. The protocol works as follows: you connect a Zigbee product to a HUB/Bridge (e.g., Philips HUE, IKEA Tradfri, or Homey). The HUB connects you to the WiFi network, and the HUB then communicates with the Zigbee lighting. The bulbs communicate with each other individually through a Mesh network, in which signals are forwarded between the bulbs and devices. This is very useful when you have a large house, yard, or large garden.Long distances can be easily bridged because each lamp amplifies the signal to the next lamp or device. Zigbee also offers more possibilities with switches, sensors, and dimmers to wirelessly control your lighting.
Installation is very simple, as you do not need to run any extra cabling. This can be done using existing fixtures, fittings, and cables. The only thing you need to purchase is a HUB/Bridge. The hub, because after all, your phone does not have a Zigbee antenna.
Pairing/installing Zigbee smart lighting
We are happy to explain this in the video below, where you can see how easy it is to pair a Zigbee smart bulb with the app. Please note that you do need a Philips HUE bridge!
Zigbee lamps:
The smart Zigbee lamps contain a smart chip.When you have a HUB and screw the bulb into a fitting, it will start flashing. This means the bulb is in pairing mode. Open the app and easily connect the Zigbee bulb to your Hub.
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| View all our Zigbee bulbs! | View our Zigbee Hub! |
| Advantages of Zigbee: | Disadvantages of Zigbee: |
| Easily expandable with other accessories. | Slightly more expensive to purchase. |
| Lighting devices communicate individually with each other (MESH network). | HUB can sometimes reach capacity, usually max.up to 50 devices |
| Always maintains signal (even during a power outage). | – |
| Lighting responds flawlessly and faster. | – |
| Long distances, e.g., a large garden, are no problem for Zigbee. | – |
| WiFi remains fast, the lights are connected to the HUB | – |
Various smart lighting devices:
1. Smart bulbs
Smart bulbs are often stand-alone lights. This means that a chip is already built into the bulb that you can connect to your smart home app. You can screw them directly into an existing fitting, dim them, and change colors via the app. These individual smart bulbs are available in various fittings.The most common fittings are: E27 fitting, E14 fitting or GU10 fitting. These lamps can then be linked again with smart accessories such as wireless sensors, wall switches, remote controls.
2. Smart modules/receivers
Smart receivers/modules are very useful. You can install these behind an existing switch, but you can also use them separately without an existing switch. With this smart module you can make existing 'dumb' dimmable lamps smart. The modules are very small in size and you can easily place them between a pendant light, for example. Connect the module to your smart home app and you can take advantage of all the benefits that smart lighting has to offer.
An example: You have non-dimmable garden lighting. What can you do then? You place a smart module between the power supply and output to your garden.Connect the module to the app and then set schedules so that the garden lighting turns on automatically. Enjoy your smart garden!
3. Smart plug
Smart plugs are already very well-known and very easy to use. Often, this is the first device you purchase when you want to make the switch to a smart home. Plug a smart socket directly into your existing outlet and connect it to the app. It's that simple, child's play!
4. Smart wall switches
You have installed smart lights, modules, or sockets, and they are not connected to an existing wall switch. But you also want to be able to control the smart lighting without a phone. Then you can use wireless smart wall switches. This works as follows: Insert the battery into the smart wall switch, connect it to the app, and assign the smart lights to the wall switch.
5.Smart wall dimmers
A smart wall dimmer is also very convenient. You can replace a standard dimmer 1-to-1 with a smart wall dimmer. This smart dimmer can still be operated manually just like you are used to with a regular dimmer. However, you can also add this smart dimmer to your smart home app to control it via your phone as well. And you can enjoy all the conveniences that smart lighting has to offer.
6. Smart sensors
Smart sensors are very handy for specific situations. For example, in a restroom, where the light is often forgotten to be turned off. You don't want to run extra cabling for a traditional
motion sensor.Then a smart motion sensor is the solution for you!
Install a smart sensor in 5 steps:
- Place a smart bulb in your existing fixture in the restroom (or another room).
- Easily attach the smart sensor to the ceiling.
- Connect the smart bulb and smart sensor to the app.
- Remove the existing wall switch and bridge the wires so that the lamp has continuous power.
- Cover the wall switch with a blind plate.
Which protocol you want to use depends on the situation. Below are a few situations in which it is best to choose the WiFi (Tuya) or Zigbee protocol.
Zigbee:
- You want to control your entire home smartly with various devices –> Zigbee.
- You have a large house, garden, or yard and want to use smart devices here –> Zigbee.
- You want to maintain a fast WiFi network anyway –> Zigbee.
- You want a flawless system; all lights must dim or change color simultaneously. Not one light 0.5 seconds later than the other. –> Zigbee.
- You do not want to reconnect the lights after a power outage –> Zigbee.
WiFi (Tuya):
- You are looking for affordable smart lighting and accessories –> WiFi.
- Your home is somewhat smaller and the WiFi signal is strong enough for the entire house –> WiFi.
- Direct and quick to connect to your WiFi network, no additional requirements needed. –> WiFi.
- You want to make a few lights or devices smart, not everything. –> WiFi.
- You would like to experiment with smart lighting –> WiFi.
Is it possible to make regular 'dumb' lights smart?
Yes, this is definitely possible, and it is also the most cost-effective solution to make your lighting smart. You simply purchase regular dimmable LED lighting: whether it is a dimmable wall light, pendant light, floor lamp, or ceiling light, it doesn't matter.
The solution is to place a Zigbee module/actuator in between. This module can handle a maximum capacity of 200 watts, so you can connect a large amount of lighting to it and control it all at once via the HUE app.
Example:
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| View our Zigbee modules! |
