Brought to you by Primus - a smart choice for your Internet and Home Phone services.
So, you want a lighting system that can be controlled from your phone or by your voice. A smart lighting system is very achievable, but there are some choices to consider. Here’s what you need to know.
Smart Bulbs
A smart bulb is a light bulb, typically LED. Many are white light, dimmable, and some can change colour. They connect to your smart home via Wi-Fi or Bluetooth, and some are compatible with hub devices such as Amazon Alexa or Google Home. Stores such as Best Buy or Canadian Tire sell them. You can get smart bulbs individually, as part of a pack of four or six, or even in different forms such as lighting strips.
The downside of using smart bulbs is they make your light switch redundant. Moreover, if your light switch is powered off, your smart bulb won’t work, so you have to leave your light switches powered on.
Smart Switches
A smart switch connects to your hub like any other smart device. Instead of screwing in a smart bulb, you have to replace your light switch with a smart switch. The advantage of using smart switches is you can still use them physically or, like any other smart device, command them with your voice or via an app. You can get smart switches basically any place that sells smart bulbs.
The downside to smart switches is they’re more expensive and more difficult to install. Instead of just screwing in a light bulb, you have to actually remove the old switch and install a new one.
Smart Outlets
A smart outlet powers on and off via an app or your voice. Some plug in over regular outlets. Others replace traditional outlets. Either way, by using a smart outlet, you can turn a regular dumb appliance into a smart one. Say you have a nice old lamp from Grandma and you don’t want to part with it, but you’re tired of searching along the cable for the power switch. Well, you can just flip the switch to on, plug it into your smart outlet, and then use the smart outlet to power your lamp.
Hubs
Most smart light bulbs, switches, and outlets connect to various hubs, such as Amazon Alexa or Google Home. These are a good way to command your new lighting system.
Matter
In 2023, a pretty important innovation happened in the smart lighting space. There’s a new standard in town called Matter. Any smart light that meets Matter’s standard is interoperable with any other device. What this means is that you can buy smart bulbs, switches, and outlets from a variety of different companies, and as long as they meet the Matter standard, you’ll be able to use said devices with each other. Unless you want to buy devices from only one maker or use different apps to control your various devices, make sure everything you buy meets the Matter standard.
