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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Help choosing smart recessed lights (alien.top)

submitted 11 months ago by eximiusdeus@alien.top to c/homeautomation@selfhosted.forum

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Hi,

I could really use all your expert opinions. I'm looking to install about 16 canless smart lights. My wife wants them to be able to change colors, so I think that leaves me with keeping the lights smart rather than just smart switches.

I have most kasa switches and plugs, and light bulbs with some govee lights. I currently do not have any recessed lighting, so this will be a new install.

Everything is on WiFi right now. I do have a strong router and haven't noticed any lag caused by the lights (I live in a normal size apt). But I'm not against going with thread/zwave/zigbee. I don't currently have a hub, but just bought a Home Assistant Green to get things set up.

Here's my canless plan:

Three in the bathroom. These will have a switch already associated with them.

Two sets of eight in living room/dining room. I'll have to run some electric up because currently no overhead lights at all.

I bought some govee canless lights but now having second thoughts with everything being on WiFi. Worried about the "popping" effect and slowing down WiFi.

I'm having trouble figuring out the reputable brands from the crap...and is rather not use hue because of the price. GE cync, lumary, and wiz seems like options

Thanks in advance!

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[–] RJM_50@alien.top 1 points 11 months ago

Maybe your wife has 2 families?

https://www.reddit.com/r/homeautomation/s/tqGtLyaVIU

[–] chriswood1001@alien.top 1 points 11 months ago (1 children)

I'm using the Lumary recessed lights with smart switches in always on/smart bulb mode. Home Assistant listens for button press events from those switches and sends the appropriate command to the bulbs. Use Local Tuya so there's no reliance on the cloud. Also look into adaptive lighting so you get the right light based on time of day. Awesome.

Some notes. White brightness is great, but color brightness is poor. Not horrible for ambient color effects, but poor for dedicated color lightning. Also, they sometimes drop WiFi and I need to cut the power (using the smart switch) and restore.

Lastly, if I had to do it all over again, I'd go with Philips Hue recessed Zigbee lights instead. 2x or more in price, but from what I hear they are near flawless. You can also pair them to a Zigbee light switch meaning they still function if the hub were to go down.

[–] eximiusdeus@alien.top 1 points 11 months ago

Thanks for your input!