this post was submitted on 24 Nov 2023
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Home Automation

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Home automation is the residential extension of building automation.

It is automation of the home, housework or household activity.

Home automation may include centralized control of lighting, HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning), appliances, security locks of gates and doors and other systems, to provide improved convenience, comfort, energy efficiency and security.

Warning: Working with electricity can result in injury, property damage, or even death if it is not done properly. Please keep this in mind while assisting others. If you are not sure about what you are doing, hire a licensed professional.

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Over the last several years, I've replaced most bulbs in my home with smart bulbs (the Costco Feit variety mostly, WiFi connected with no hubs). These are all primarily controlled through Google Home (via app or voice) or automation. I also use different color temperatures on a schedule. In the morning, I switch them to daylight. Warmer hues in the evening. At night, my kids lamps will go to an extremely dim warm candlelight color at night to serve as night lights. I also do this in my office sometimes while gaming at night.

Anyway, I want to maintain this functionality but also add a physical switch. It's just annoying not having that convenience and having to "ask" Google to turn the lights on/off every time.

My house was built in 1984 and as far as I can tell has no neutral wire, which apparently limits my options. I know there are options that don't require this, but where I get stuck is that everything I've looked up seems to indicate that smart switches are for dumb bulbs. Most of what I've found seems to indicate mixing smart switches with smart bulbs is a no-no.

Obviously, I want to avoid situations where a switch cuts power to a smart bulb, thus making all of my automation fail.

It sounds like my best option may be to install smart dimmer switches that don't require a neutral wire, and replace all my smart bulbs with dumb bulbs (what a waste). But doing this, I'll be losing all of the color temperature settings and just get stuck with a basic dimmer.

This seems like it would be such a common scenario, but for whatever reason every time I research this I just get stuck going down the same rabbit holes of confusion and end up nowhere. Can anybody clearly point me in the right direction?

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[–] Typical-Ad-6730@alien.top 1 points 11 months ago (4 children)

I use this switch with Sengled Smart Bulbs. The switch is there so my wife can turn lights off manually, but all of the smart bulb functionality is controlled via voice commands/routines. I can also turn the switch on and off via routine or voice commands.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B099KFQT6B/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

[–] divik@alien.top 1 points 11 months ago (1 children)

When the switch is turned off, it doesn't interfere with the smart lights? For example, say a routine turns the light on. Then, somebody turns it off via the switch. Will the next routine be able to turn the light on, or will it fail because the switch is off and the bulb is getting no power?

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