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Control Options
App
Voice control
Communication Protocols
Wifi, Zigbee, IR, Bluetooth
See also
Communication Protocols
Hub or No Hub
Most smart lightbulbs will connect to your mobile app via your wifi network. Some will connect via bluetooth which provides limitations to only allow opeartion when you are within range, ie. no remote access. A few brands of smart lightbulb require an additional hub like the Philips Hue Bridge to connect and control your bulbs with your mobile app.
For simplicity and economy I would recommend the smart lightbulbs that do not require a hub to operate.
Types
Fitting types, shapes, LED strips, Indoor, Outdoor
See also
Lightbulb Types and Fittings
Power Rating
Smart lightbulbs (and in general most LED bulbs) will quote the equivalent power as well as the actual power. This is because the LED bulbs are more efficient and so can deliver a more powerful amount of light (when compared to an old filament bulb) for the same amount of electrical power.
For example, a 9 Watt LED bulb would be labelled as being equivalent to a 60 Watt filament lamp.
When considering the electrical load on your switches and circuits you should pay careful attention to the actual power rating for your smart lightbulbs.
Temperature Rating
The temperature range of a lightbulb is given as a number where the higher the number the whiter or cooler the light is. The lower numbers are more of a warmer orangey glow.
Available temperature ranges are typically from 1,200K to 9,600K. A high number, of say 8,000K, would be a very bright, harsh white light much like a well lit office. A low temperature number of say 3,000K would be a duller, soft orange glow like a soft fillament light bulb.
Smart lightbulbs can have a fixed temperature, or a variable range that can be controlled by the mobile app.
If you are considering using some high temperature range lightbulbs in your home I would recommend that you test a group of bulbs in a room you intend to light to check that you, your family, and friends can live comfortably with very bright, high temperature lighting.
Sometimes this idea in your head is not quite so comfortable on your eyes when it becomes a reality.
Test them and find out.
Brightness
The brightness of the smart lightbulb is really about the power that is delivered to the bulb and is independent of the temperature.
Most smart lightbulbs allow for the brightness to be adjusted and dimmed. These bulbs will be labelled as ?dimmable? and are the only bulb types that will work with a dimming light switch.
RGB Colour or White
A fixed colour smart lightbulb will often be labelled as being 'white', while many others will be 'colour' or 'RGB.'
A colour smart lightbulb allows you to edit the colour of the bulb using the controls in the mobile app. There is often a colour wheel type control allowing you to select from thousands of shades of all the normal screen colours.
Features
Scheduling, remote control, geofencing control, mood lighting, IFTTT
Control Data
When you use a Smart Home system that allows you to capture the control data from your Smart Lightbulbs you can typically see the following items.
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App Enrollment - Wifi
Estimated Lifespan
The manufacturers of smart lightbulbs usually provide an estimated lifespan. It is popular to see these quoted in either years or hours. So, when you look at the numbers you can make comparisons based on the fact that there are 8,760 hours in one year.
A typical lifespan estimate for a smart lightbulb would be 20,000 hours, which at an average of 6 hours usage per day, would equate to a lifespan of 9+ years.
You can do the maths for other numbers!
Controlling Smart Lightbulbs
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Price Range
Lighting Scenes
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