Do you want to turn your monotonous traditional lights into a fun and pleasant illumination experience? Smart lighting systems can be a game changer for your residence and commercial space!
Smart lighting allows light control with the tip of your fingers from inside and outside your house. Let’s explore its potential and learn how to use it in the best way possible:
What Is Smart Lighting?
Smart lighting is technology that automates the whole lighting system. You can automatically control the features of lighting in your house through artificial intelligence and digital technologies. As a matter of fact, smart lighting allows control over the brightness, intensity, color, and temperature of lighting with just your voice or mobile applications.
In addition, you can connect the lights to smart home systems like Amazon Alexa, Google Home, and Apple Home. It is even possible to control smart lighting remotely when you are not at home.
How Do Smart Lights Work?
The smart lights are screwed into regular light sockets to be powered by electricity by regular light bulbs. However, they have tiny processors and wireless receivers to conduct the smart functions.
They need to be connected to smart devices or apps through Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, or a smart hub. This way, you can control them from your smartphones, tablets, or smart speakers. If you add multiple smart home products to the same system, you had better create a smart hub. Then, it will be easier to navigate the smart lighting system.
Furthermore, you can set up scene control to regulate the smart lights. Use the designated app and create a scene with specific lights, brightness, and color. Then you can activate the scene from your app or through voice commands.
Types of Smart Lighting
Let’s go through various types of smart lights you can utilize for your purpose.
1. Smart Bulb
Smart bulbs are the best option if you are looking for the easiest and cheapest smart light option. They will not require extra hassle because they will fit your home’s existing light fixtures. Use them separately or with other types of smart lights to set the perfect tone of illumination. Then, just connect them to an app or an AI speaker to control the lighting system.
Smart light bulbs are mainly used as lamps and accent lights as secondary lighting sources. You can choose from numerous variations of smart light bulbs. For example, there are dimmable bulbs, white light bulbs, multi-coloured light bulbs, candle bulbs, spotlight bulbs, etc.
2. Smart Strip Lights
These are the LED strip lights with a huge color option for mood lighting. You are free to customize the strips to any shape and set them on a solid surface with adhesive backing. Standard LED strip lights come in 5m/reel; however, you can cut them into smaller sections. Moreover, the RGB and addressable LED strips will take your smart lighting to the next level!
3. Smart Downlights
Most often, smart downlights are installed in a recess of the ceiling for proper illumination. You need to first wire them into the main electrical outlet and then use a smart hub to control them. Besides, dimmable white light and multi-color changeable downlights are available on the market.
4. Smart PIR Security Lights
Smart PIR security lights come with built-in motion sensors, CCTV cameras, and a 2-way audio system for outdoor use. To elaborate, when the motion sensor detects any kind of movement, it turns the light and camera on. This type of smart light installation does not need a smart hub. You will see other variations of smart PIR lights, including sirens, spotlights, or floodlights, wired or wireless options, etc.
5. Smart Outdoor Lighting
If you want to light up your garden or lawn, smart outdoor lighting can be your ultimate choice. It will illuminate the space and add ambience to it. You can use multi-coloured smart garden spike lights to add aesthetics to your outdoor area. Smart outdoor lighting will integrate motion sensors, wall panels, smartphones, and voice commands to provide the best lighting experience. Furthermore, you can connect the outdoor lighting to the security gate and driveway of the house.
Also, outdoor lights can be connected to home intruder alarms. Then it will light up the outdoor space when the alarm activates. In this way, you can prevent any criminal activities from approaching your residence.
Why Do You Need To Use Smart Lights?: Benefits
Smart lights make life easier by saving energy, letting you control lights from your phone, and setting the right mood anytime. The following are some important benefits of using smart lights:
Easy Control
Smart lights will give your life extra comfort through easy control. You can remotely turn on lights or adjust brightness from your smartphone or by voice command. Also, control groups of lights for different functions just from your smartphone.
Simple Installation Process
You can easily install the smart lights in the regular sockets. You do not need any extra instruments for that. Remove the old bulb and screw the smart bulb in its place. Then connect it to the app of your phone and enjoy the perks of smart lighting.
Safe And Secure Place
Use smart outdoor lights for the protection of your house. It’s built-in motion sensors and cameras will detect movements and send notifications to your smartphone.
Automated Smart Home
Make your home a place of ease and convenience with automated smart lights. If you sync it with sunrise and sunset, the lights will change their color accordingly. In addition, you can set timers for the lights to automatically turn on based on your daily activities.
Long-Term Savings
Smart LED light bulbs last for around 15-25 years. So, you will not have to spend any money on lights for a long time. In contrast, incandescent bulbs will cost you a lot more as they only last between 250-2000 hours.
Compatibility with Existing Systems
Numerous smart light options are available, so you can easily integrate smart lights into your existing system. First, check their compatibility with your current setup. Then, choose the products accordingly.
Energy Efficient Option
If you want to reduce energy waste, smart lighting is your best option. These lights use LED technology that consumes less electricity. You can save up to 75% of energy compared to traditional incandescent lights. In addition, smart lights with sensors will automatically turn off when no one is in the room.
Components of Smart Lighting
Below, we will go over some common components used in smart lighting systems:
Smart Bulbs & Fixtures
The first component you need is a smart bulb to create a smart lighting system in your house. In addition, light fixtures with smart functions are required if you want a permanent solution. Furthermore, smart LED strips can be used to customize the interior design.
Sensors
When sensors are integrated with smart lights, they offer better functions. For example, motion sensors detect changes in movement and automatically activate lights.
After that, ambient light sensors can detect the intensity of light in an environment and adjust the brightness. On the other hand, occupancy sensors detect if a room is in use or not. Then it switches off the lights when a room is unoccupied.
Smart Switches & Dimmers
Smart switches and dimmers will be used to control both smart and regular lights. When it is connected to an app, it can be regulated from the phone. Also, you can physically turn it on to control the main overhead lights.
You will find smart switches with different finishes, including white and stainless steel switches. Moreover, there are various sizes available, such as 1-gang, 1-way switch, 4 gang-2-way switch, etc.
Smart Plugs & Adapters
Smart plugs and adapters are necessary to control lamps or strips that need to be plugged into outlets.
Controlling Equipment
Some of the controlling equipment you may need is hubs, remote controllers, or bridges. The smart remote controller is a wireless device that controls the smart products in your house.
Sometimes, additional accessories like hubs or bridges are needed for the full functionality of smart lights. For example, hubs will connect multiple smart lights to your Wi-Fi. Additionally, bridges will integrate different smart home devices into one system.
Integration Systems
An integration system from the smart home platform is essential to activate the smart lights. Choose from Alexa, Google Assistant, Siri, or Apple HomeKit based on the compatibility of your smart home products.
Wireless Communication Protocols
Wireless communication protocols like Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, Z-Wave, and ZigBee are required in a smart lighting system. ZigBee and Z-Wave are both wireless protocols, but ZigBee is an open-source protocol, and Z-Wave is proprietary. Moreover, the Z-Wave network supports up to 232 devices at once, whereas Zigbee supports up to 65,000 devices. You can also use the existing Wi-Fi router or the Bluetooth of your smartphone to connect fewer smart lights.
Factors To Consider Before Establishing Smart Home Lighting
Go through the section below to understand the factors you need to consider before buying smart lights.
Brightness Control
Think of the brightness control system of the lights you are about to buy. Make sure they are dimmable. As a matter of fact, most smart light bulbs available on the market come with this function. You can also explore options that automatically adjust the brightness along with daylight hours.
Color Control
Choose from multiple color options according to your needs. In addition, there are cool white lights and warm white lights. Furthermore, you can get bulbs for your entertainment system that will change color based on the screen. Choose this type of smart light to get an immersive viewing experience.
Time Control
There is also a time control system for smart lights. You can pre-set it to turn on and off at specific times. It will be beneficial to keep away the burglars when you are not at home.
Remote Control
Smart light bulbs can be remotely controlled through smart devices. To do so, you need to connect the lighting system to any smart device over the internet. Then, you can turn the lights on or off with your fingertips whenever you want.
Voice Control
You can choose smart lighting options that are controlled via voice commands. Make sure the bulbs are compatible with your smart speakers, like Alexa or Google Home.
Group Light Control
If you want a group light control system, choose the bulbs that can be connected to a smart hub. Then you can make group light controls for each room or each function. In this way, you will be able to turn on and off one group of lights altogether.
IFTTT Support
The full form of IFTTT is ‘if this, then that’. In your smart home, you can combine multiple smart products together based on pre-set triggers. For instance, connect your smart lights to motion sensors to turn on lights automatically when someone is in the room. To do this, check the compatibility of the lights before buying.
Cost
The cost will depend on the brand, feature, and type of smart lights. In general, you will find smart lights in the range of $0.1- $20. Also, add the cost of a smart hub to your budget while establishing a smart lighting system at your home.
Step-by-Step Guide to Install Smart Lights
Here is the step-by-step guide to installing smart lights:
Preparatory Steps
- First, the traditional switches and sockets need to be replaced with smart ones. You can add extra sensors later if necessary.
- Secondly, make sure your home’s Wi-Fi network provides a stable internet connection. You need to check the signal strength in all the rooms. Place the router in a central position to cover all areas.
- Now choose the light control system according to your convenience. In general, four types of control systems are used to install smart lighting systems. For example, app control, physical switch control, voice control, and scene control.
- You need to reserve a neutral line for switches to avoid flickering issues with single-wire switches.
- You will have to select a smart home platform to control the lights from Alexa, Google Home, and Apple HomeKit.
Installing Smart Light Fixtures
Step 1: Turn off the power at the circuit breaker.
Step 2: Do not forget to wear safety gloves and goggles.
Step 3: Remove the old fixture.
Step 4: Connect the wires of the new fixture to the existing wires. Secure the connections using wire nuts.
Step 5: After that, mount the fixture to the ceiling or wall using screws.
Step 6: Pair it with your smart home platform through the app’s instructions.
Installing Smart Light Bulbs
Step 1: Select smart light bulbs that are compatible with your fixture and choose a smart home platform.
Step 2: After that, turn off the light switch and start installing the bulb into the socket with screws.
Step 3: When you are done installing the bulb, turn the power back on.
Step 4: Open the application software you are going to use to control the lighting system.
Step 5: Create an account there and add the new bulb.
Step 6: Name the light and assign it to the room.
Step 7: Adjust its brightness or color through the app.
In this way, you can install smart lighting systems through apps.
Installing Smart Light Strips
Step 1: Take the measurements of the area where you will install the light strips.
Step 2: Mark the length of the strip and cut it accordingly.
Step 3: Now, clean the surface where the strips will be attached.
Step 4: You should now peel off the adhesive side from the back of the strip.
Step 5: Then press it firmly on the surface.
Step 6: After that, plug the strip into a power source.
Step 7: Open the corresponding app to pair the strip with your system.
Step 8: Finally, adjust its colors or patterns through the app.
How to Customize Your Smart Lighting System?
Want your home to match your mood or routine? Here’s how you can easily customize your smart lighting system to do just that.
Set Up Daily Schedules
You are free to optimize your home’s smart lighting system based on your daily routine. To do that, open the app and go through the scheduling section. Now set specific times to turn them on and off. In addition, you can customize the brightness and color of the lights for each time slot.
Use Voice Commands
Using voice commands will give you maximum control over the smart lights. If you are using Alexa, just say, “Alexa, turn off the lights” or “Set the lights to 50% brightness.”
Adjust Features Based On Your Activities
You can adjust the brightness, color, and temperature of the lights based on your needs. For example, in the morning, set the lights to brighten when you need to do chores. In the afternoon, set it to darken and create a relaxing atmosphere. In this way, scenes can be created for different moods and activities.
Integrate Sensors For Automation
Adding motion sensors, door sensors, or geofencing to the smart lights is an excellent way of automating the lighting of your home. They will detect movements and automatically switch on or off the lights. Furthermore, ambient light sensors will measure the amount of light in an area and then adjust lighting levels.
How Do Voice Assistants Work With Smart Lighting?
Voice assistants offer more comfort than apps or switch controls. You can use Alexa, Siri, or Google Assistant to control smart lights with voice commands. After getting the command, the voice assistant will analyze your voice and convert it into text. After that, it will send a signal to the light through the wireless protocol. Then the smart light will receive the command and perform the action.
It is easier to control the lights through voice assistants when you name them separately. Additionally, they are connected to the same communication protocol.
Security & Privacy in Smart Lighting: Risk Of Hack
The matter of security and privacy is critical in smart lighting systems. Hackers can take over the Internet Protocol and gain unauthorized access to the devices. They can also install malware or ransomware on the system.
To prevent this type of unfortunate incident, go through the privacy policies of your home’s automation system before sharing data with third parties. After that, take proper security measures. For example, setting strong passwords, enabling firewalls, and updating the system regularly will keep you protected from cyberattacks.
Smart Lighting Ideas for Different Spaces
Looking for inspiration? Discover smart lighting ideas to brighten and personalize every space in your home.
- Bedroom: Equip your bedroom with motion-activated under-bed lights, wake-up lights, and night mode lights. The motion-activated under-bed lights have a 120-degree sensing capability within 3 meters. It can detect the human body’s passive infrared (PIR) light and activate lights accordingly. Moreover, wake-up lights will simulate sunrise in your room in the morning, and night mode will give a dim tone of light at night.
- Living Room: Create ambient lighting with LED strips behind the TV, shelves, or on the ceiling. Also, you can utilize smart lights with a sync box to match lighting with on-screen visuals.
- Kitchen: Select bright and white spotlights under the cabinets for task lighting. In addition, installing motion-activated pantry lights automatically turns on the lights when the pantry is opened.
- Bathroom: You can choose motion-sensor vanity lights for your bathroom lighting. It will light up automatically when someone enters. After that, smart light settings can be set for a warm white for nighttime bathroom visits. Apart from that, consider buying humidity-resistant bulbs for the damp environment of the washroom.
- Outdoor & Garden: Use smart security lights with alarms outdoors. Also, use automated pathway lighting to gradually light the area when you are entering your house. Moreover, make sure to get weather-resistant bulbs for your garden for long-lasting service.
- Garage & Basement: Motion-activated path lights will automatically illuminate the basement staircase. In addition, you can use bright LEDs and auto-shut-off lights in the garage and basement.
- Kids’ Room: Combine different colors of smart lights to set the environment of your kid’s room. Furthermore, you can integrate sleep-friendly automation and parental control in the app’s settings.
Troubleshooting of Smart Lighting
Having issues with your smart lights? Here are some simple troubleshooting tips to help you fix common problems quickly.
- Connectivity Issues: First, make sure that you have a stable Wi-Fi connection. Place your router closer to the lights if necessary. Then, restart the router and smart lights to refresh the connection. Now, check the app for any error messages. Follow the instructions provided there.
- Unresponsive Lights: Check if the smart lights are receiving power properly. Also, make sure bulbs are properly screwed in. If the lights are still unresponsive, toggle the switch off and on to power the lights.
- Flickering or Dimming Problems: When the lights flicker, check the compatibility of the dimmer switch and bulb. Then change it accordingly to match your smart lighting system.
- Color Problem: In case of a color problem, try updating, resetting, or recalibrating the bulb’s settings.
- Buzzing Lights: More often, incompatible dimmer switches cause this problem. So, check the dimmer switch and change it if necessary.
- Inconsistent Scheduling: When you are dealing with scheduling failures, check the app configuration issues and network connection. After that, make sure there is no conflicting schedule and the time setting is accurate.
- Compatibility Issues: First, examine the compatibility of the smart home platform with the light bulbs. Then update the apps and firmware. Also, install additional apps if they are mentioned in the instructions.
- App or Voice Control Failures: Check if the power supply is stable or not. Then link the voice assistant to the smart light accurately. After that, install the latest updates of apps or voice assistants.
- Sensor Malfunctions: You need to ensure that the sensor is placed in the right position. Then, clean dirt or dust from the sensor lens. Now fix the sensor’s sensitivity settings. Finally, make sure the light has a clear line of sight for motion detection.
- Delayed Response Time: Wi-Fi or Bluetooth connection needs to be stable. Replace the light closer to the router or hub when needed. Sometimes this problem can occur when too many devices are connected to one protocol. Separate the groups of lights for different hubs to solve this issue.
- Firmware or Software Glitches: Check for any notifications of updates after opening the smart lighting app. Then download and install the latest update to resolve the glitch.
Future Trends Of Smart Lighting
Smart lighting is getting smarter every day. Here’s a look at the latest trends that will shape how we light our homes in the future.
- Personalized Lighting: Customizing options will be more advanced in the future. The users will have more control over lights with numerous features.
- Energy Efficiency and Sustainability: The future world will focus on the sustainable use of energy sources. As a result, LED technology will be developed to optimize energy consumption.
- Integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML): With the combination of AI and ML, smart lights operate according to the user’s habits.
- Human-Centric Lighting (HCL): The impact of light on human well-being will get more attention in the future. The lights will be made to improve the mood, cognitive function, and sleep-wake cycles of human beings.
- Advanced Internet of Things (IoT): With developed IoT technology, smart lighting systems will be more interconnected. The users will be able to navigate the whole smart home ecosystem with more convenience.
- Data-driven Insights: The smart lights will gather real-time data and improve the light settings.
- Immersive Experiences: Augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) technologies will be combined with smart lights. It will offer immersive experiences in gaming, entertainment, and retail experiences.
FAQs
The Bottom Line
A smart lighting system is an excellent way of improving the standards of living space. It will give you comfort, better security, and a luxurious environment at home.
To make your smart home smarter, go for LEDYi strip lights. Our strip lights integrate with Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and mobile apps, uplifting your lighting experience to the next level. Apart from just dimming or changing light colors, our LED strip has a lot to offer. Get music sync lighting, rainbow effect, and more with our addressable LED strips. Moreover, we offer you 3 to 5 years of warranty on our fixtures. So, contact us ASAP to place your order!
