What is smart lighting and how does it work? Everything at a glance
Smart lighting is indispensable in today's world. Systems are becoming increasingly intelligent and are able to control, manage, and, where necessary, correct more and more autonomously. Naturally, this technology is a fantastic solution for many. What could be better than controlling everything wirelessly from the comfort of your armchair via your smartphone, tablet, wireless switches, or other accessories? In addition, you can set schedules, use voice control, change light colors, dim, link with other smart devices, and add scenes (assign tasks). This allows you to create the desired ambiance and keep complete control of your lighting.
Of course, besides lighting, there are many other types of smart devices that you can link to the same smart home app.Think of smart sensors, smart plugs, smart modules/receivers, air conditioning, cameras, thermostats, curtains and much more. You manage all these devices from a single smart home app. These devices all work with your existing outlets and sockets.
Because smart lighting is currently 'booming', you see many manufacturers using this smart technology. Of course, this doesn't make things any clearer for you as a consumer. MeinLED regularly gets the question: "How does it actually 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 properly configure the functions in your smart home app.
Voice-controlled lighting/appliances:
You can set via your smart home app which voice command an appliance should respond to. This can be done via the app on your phone, but also 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 dining room lighting to 30%", and the dining room lights will then dim to 30%.
Setting schedules:
You can set schedules per bulb, a group of bulbs, or other smart devices. For example: if a floor lamp, table lamps, or your garden lighting needs to turn on automatically at a specific time, you can set this up. As soon as it gets dark, the lighting will automatically switch on, but you can also have it switch off again at a specific time.So you no longer have to think about this yourself.
Setting light colors:
When you have a smart bulb with which you can set multiple colors, you can easily change the colors. 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 lighting will match the colors of the movie you are playing. It is also possible to have the lighting sync 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 a scene in which the light intensity dims or becomes brighter at different times of the day. For example, when you are working in your home office.You want to keep working for a while when it is slowly getting dark. In that case, higher luminous intensity and/or a brighter light color play an important role. This can all be set automatically in the app based on sunrise/sunset.
Linking multiple smart lamps or devices:
You can control a smart lamp 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 lamps per room. You can then control that entire group of lamps all at once. Very convenient!
Adding scenes (assigning tasks) smart home lighting:
In addition to schedules, you can also create your own programs in the app.Think of it as giving tasks to your lighting: When I do ………, the lighting must do …….. You can apply these programs/tasks endlessly.
For example: when the sun goes down, the garden lighting must turn on after 15 minutes, 7 days a week. At 1:00 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 must turn off or turn on.
In short: The possibilities and setting options are endless! Isn't it great, 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 all the functions that are possible with today's smart lighting. This naturally brings only advantages.Below is a brief summary of these benefits.
Always turn the lighting on/off at the desired moments.
Always create the desired ambiance.
Control lighting remotely (also via the mobile network).
Manage all your smart devices clearly and easily.
Energy savings, never leave lights on unnecessarily or forget to turn off the lighting.
Enhanced security. For example: trigger smart smoke detectors when intruders are prowling your home.
No longer need 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.The WiFi smart lighting is an easy entry-level model, as it can be connected directly to your WiFi network. Each smart WiFi bulb contains a Tuya chip that operates on your WiFi signal. Therefore, it doesn't 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 type of smart lighting is also much more affordable than the Zigbee variant.
You can easily connect the WiFi bulbs to multiple apps, including: Tuya smart, Smartlife, Nedis smart, Homeylux, Hoftronic smart. These apps all work with the Tuya communication protocol.
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| View our WiFi lights! | View our WiFi smart accessories! |
| Pros: | Cons: |
| Affordable. | WiFi slows down when connecting many smart devices i.v.m. to the router. |
| Easy to connect to your WiFi network. | Requires a 2.4 GHz WiFi signal; newer routers feature a 5 GHz signal. |
| Connects directly to existing fittings and fixtures. | If the WiFi signal is lost due to a power outage, the lights lose their signal. |
| Easily add to Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa, Apple Siri. | In the event of an unstable WiFi network, the lamp will lose the 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.). | Bridging long distances; you will need to boost the WiFi signal for this. |
Pairing/installing Tuya smart lighting
We are happy to explain this in the video below, where you can see how easy it is to pair a Tuya/WiFi smart lamp with 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 then communicates with the Zigbee lighting. The lamps communicate individually with each other via a Mesh network, in which signals are forwarded between the lamps 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 control the lighting wirelessly.
Installation is very easy, you do not need to run any extra cabling. This can be done using existing fixtures, sockets, and cables. The only thing you need to purchase is a HUB/Bridge. The hub, because your phone does not have a Zigbee antenna after all.
Pairing/installing Zigbee smart lighting
We are happy to explain this to you 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 bulbs:
The smart Zigbee bulbs contain a smart chip. When you have a HUB and you screw the bulb into a socket, it will start flashing. This means that 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 lights! | View our Zigbee Hub! |
| Advantages of Zigbee: | Disadvantages of Zigbee: |
| Easy to expand with other accessories. | Slightly more expensive to purchase. |
| Lighting devices communicate individually with each other (MESH network). | HUB can become full, often up to max. 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 these bulbs already contain a built-in chip 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 lights can then be paired with smart accessories such as wireless sensors, wall switches, and remote controls.
2. Smart modules/receivers
Smart receivers/modules are very convenient. You can install these behind an existing switch, or you can use them independently without an existing switch. With this smart module, you can make existing "traditional" dimmable lights smart. The modules are very compact in size, and you can easily place them, for example, inline with a pendant light. Pair the module with your smart home app to enjoy all the benefits that smart lighting has to offer.
An example: You have non-dimmable garden lighting. What can you do? You install a smart module between the input and output of the power supply 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. This is often the first device you purchase when you want to make the transition to a smart home. Plug a smart socket directly into your existing outlet and connect it to the app. It's that simple!
4. Smart wall switches
You have installed smart lights, modules, or sockets, and they are not connected to an existing wall switch. However, you also want to be able to control your smart lighting without using your phone. In that case, you can use wireless smart wall switches.It 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. You can still operate this smart dimmer 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. Plus, you can enjoy all the conveniences that smart lighting has to offer.
6. Smart sensors
Smart sensors are very useful in certain 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 other 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 wire it through so that the lamp has continuous power.
- Cover the wall switch with a blank cover plate.
Which protocol you should use depends on the situation. Below are a few situations where it is best to choose either 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 re-pair 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.
- Connect directly and quickly to your WiFi network, no additional accessories required. –> WiFi.
- You want to make a few lights or appliances smart, not everything. –> WiFi.
- You would like to experiment with smart lighting –> WiFi.
Making regular 'dumb' lights smart, is that possible?
Yes, this is definitely possible, and it's also the most cost-effective solution to make your lighting smart. You simply buy regular dimmable LED lighting: whether it is a dimmable wall lamp, pendant light, floor lamp, or ceiling light, it doesn't matter.
The solution is to install a Zigbee module/dimmer actuator in between. This module can handle a maximum capacity of 200 watts, so you can connect a lot of lighting to it and control it all at once via the HUE app.
Example:
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| View our Zigbee modules! |
