LIFX Wi-Fi Bulbs?

[bitchstewie]

Does anyone have any experience of these?

Could do with something to jazz up the lighting in a single room and don't want the hassle/expense of "bridge" systems.

This thing looks like you just plug it in and control it from your smartphone and that's that?

[vx220]

No experience, but could work for practical jokes

[jon-]

Philips Hue or Belkin WeMo are the most often used wifi bulbs.

Belkin has the added bonus of offering other home automation such as plug sockets, so you can standardise everything, and it has IFTTT integration

[bitchstewie]

jon- said:

Philips Hue or Belkin WeMo are the most often used wifi bulbs.

Belkin has the added bonus of offering other home automation such as plug sockets, so you can standardise everything, and it has IFTTT integration

Looks like they need a central bridge/controller though which seems a little overkill for one light (only going off what I think I know so feel free to correct me).

[Mattt]

Yes, but makes it easier for wider rollouts - Hue is voice controlled now via Siri.

[bitchstewie]

I was hoping these might have come down a little in the sales but it seems not.

Any more opinions on those or similar standalone bulbs please?

[crazy about cars]

Bought one for the lounge and its great especially with the latest firmware and phone app upgrades.

The bulb's WiFi went haywire after the firmware upgrade (still working although cannot control over WiFi( and I've got a replacement bulb no quibbles whilst still get to keep existing bulb.

In my opinion perfect for someone who doesn't want a full blown automation setup.

[bitchstewie]

crazy about cars said:

Bought one for the lounge and its great especially with the latest firmware and phone app upgrades.

The bulb's WiFi went haywire after the firmware upgrade (still working although cannot control over WiFi( and I've got a replacement bulb no quibbles whilst still get to keep existing bulb.

In my opinion perfect for someone who doesn't want a full blown automation setup.

Excellent, could I pick your brains on how it works in practise? For example do you leave the thing on 24/7 or just come home and switch it on as you would a normal lightbulb?

I'm assuming there is some boot-up time for the wi-fi but I'm also assuming that it lights up instantly on the colour it was on when it was switched off?

https://support.lifx.com/hc/en-us/articles/2003369...

Suggests it's fine.

[scottri]

I've got a couple as well and yes it remembers the colour and brightness setting. I have one in the lounge which is set to come on at sunset and goes off at 1 am. Most of the time I never have to control it manually. I just leave the lamp switched on all the time and control via schedule or app.

I got one at £60 but also managed to pick one up for just over £30 when Amazon dropped the price.


Edit - it works with IFTTT as well so mine flashes when i get an email (can be quite a delay in that though). Flashes when i get a text. Changes to a blue colour when the weather forecast changes to rain etc. It does location based stuff as well, so in theory goes off when you leave the house and comes on as you arrive home, but i have never got that to work very well with IFTTT and andriod.

Edit2 - you can do voice control via google now as well if that sort of thing floats your boat

Edited by scottri on Sunday 27th December 17:37

Edited by scottri on Sunday 27th December 17:40

[crazy about cars]

bhstewie said:

Excellent, could I pick your brains on how it works in practise? For example do you leave the thing on 24/7 or just come home and switch it on as you would a normal lightbulb?

I'm assuming there is some boot-up time for the wi-fi but I'm also assuming that it lights up instantly on the colour it was on when it was switched off?

https://support.lifx.com/hc/en-us/articles/2003369...

Suggests it's fine.

There's no boot up time at all, it comes on almost instantly, and I can control the bulb over WiFi after switching on without having to wait I believe the bulb remembers the last setting although mine is always on the same settings most of the time.
You can either use the bulb in a traditional way (on/off at switch) or if you fancy controlling the bulb remotely you can leave the switch on and use the app to turn it off.


The new software upgrade is brilliant. You can link multiple bulbs and create a group (i.e. kitchen, office etc.), schedules (on/off times) plus integration with Nest, Amazon Echo, Logitech Harmony to name a few.
I haven't tried all of the features yet just the "Disco Mode" aka Music Visualiser where the light flickers according to the music

[bitchstewie]

Both of you, thanks so much, makes me feel a little better at the slightly insane cost though I guess it's all relative.

@Scottri - not sure I would want this but seriously, you can make it flash when you get a text - as in white for the wife and blue for a mate?!

@Crazy - thanks, that's put my mind at ease a little as despite working in IT I've never really got into the whole "internet of things" thing at home so assumed that as with most wi-fi devices there would be some delay.

Is there any gotcha or things to be aware of before I order one please?

[scottri]

I think you probably could have different colours for different people, since its the settings on the mobile device and IFTTT which allows you to pick things like how many flashes, whether it flashes if the bulb is off, the colour etc. That said i can't be totally sure as i have not tested that out personally.

Not much else to be aware of really, apart from they are quite a bit bigger than a normal bulb so stick out of a small lamp.


Sorry just re-read your question, no, IFTTT doesn't know who the text is from.

[bitchstewie]

Collect tomorrow, thanks