Philips Hue Lighting - owners thread

[David A]

ecsrobin said:

Lightwave is the expensive answer not sure if comparable with the hue app but it is HomeKit ready if you have an iOS device. All my hue lights are controlled via HomeKit rather than hue app.

Hmmm I also have lightwave (link plus). Never used homekit and just tried to add my lightwave to it - seemed to add but didn't pick up the one socke I have on there! I'll try wiring one of the lightwave dimmers I have and see if that works.

Guess then i just use home kit to control both the hue and lightwave stuff?

Can it control Xiaomi stuff too ! ?

[ecsrobin]

David A said:

Hmmm I also have lightwave (link plus). Never used homekit and just tried to add my lightwave to it - seemed to add but didn't pick up the one socke I have on there! I'll try wiring one of the lightwave dimmers I have and see if that works.

Guess then i just use home kit to control both the hue and lightwave stuff?

Can it control Xiaomi stuff too ! ?

Depends on the xiaomi device but some are HomeKit ready.

Home kits great as you can setup multiple automations of different devices so when I come home certain lights will be on and plugs turn on.

[BigBen]

33q said:

David A said:

Help - does such a thing exist.

I'm going to take the hue plunge come black friday. However the ceiling light which is a fancy led thing (dimmable) I want to control via the same interface i.e. Hue.

Is there a replacement for a normal on the wall dimmer switch? If not what are my options to control such a thing ?

Thanks

You need an equivalent Hue bulb. As far as I understand Hue only controls Hue. You can use a Hue Dimmer or the new Button or control on your phone etc

You could control the lights ON/OFF by adding a Zigbee 3.0 relay but no dim them with Hue.

[C2Red]

Hue will also control Gledopto, I have a few of these around running through the Hue app

[BigBen]

C2Red said:

Hue will also control Gledopto, I have a few of these around running through the Hue app

Yes I have a DIY Hue colour strip using Gledopto and it works seamlessly

[David A]

ecsrobin said:

David A said:

Hmmm I also have lightwave (link plus). Never used homekit and just tried to add my lightwave to it - seemed to add but didn't pick up the one socke I have on there! I'll try wiring one of the lightwave dimmers I have and see if that works.

Guess then i just use home kit to control both the hue and lightwave stuff?

Can it control Xiaomi stuff too ! ?

Depends on the xiaomi device but some are HomeKit ready.

Home kits great as you can setup multiple automations of different devices so when I come home certain lights will be on and plugs turn on.

Ok perfect thanks. Have added a yeelight to home. Ordered some gledopto gu10s.

Wondering do I need hue at all ?

[juggsy]

BaldOldMan said:

juggsy said:

Is anyone using the GU10s? I was going to replace all the kitchen ones with Hue white ambience, however the blurb states they are only 250lm whereas the normal led ones I’m currently using are around 500lm. I know this isn’t the only factor so looking for some collective wisdom, are they noticeably bright/dim? Any experience lighting an entire room with them?

I have 18 of them in my kitchen - at about 1m spacing - they are fine - plenty of light.

I also have a couple of light strips but they are usually set to an accent colour and so aren't adding much.

Cool thanks, I plan to have the same setup as I also have light strips (currently cheapo amazon specials which I also intent to replace with Hue strips)

[BaldOldMan]

C0ffin D0dger said:

If I were to press the button on these then I think I'd want the new type as all my fittings are of the fire rated type (i.e. have the metal tube over) so I doubt the older type GU10s would fit?

These look like a standard length and commentary seems to indicate that they are

£80 for 3 today - seems a very good price

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Philips-Colour-Ambiance-B...

Edited by BaldOldMan on Friday 22 November 10:28

[BigBen]

BaldOldMan said:

C0ffin D0dger said:

If I were to press the button on these then I think I'd want the new type as all my fittings are of the fire rated type (i.e. have the metal tube over) so I doubt the older type GU10s would fit?

These look like a standard length and commentary seems to indicate that they are

£80 for 3 today - seems a very good price

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Philips-Colour-Ambiance-B...

Edited by BaldOldMan on Friday 22 November 10:28

£70 with an extra hub seems better

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0152WXDOA/ref=sspa_dk...

[BaldOldMan]

BigBen said:

£70 with an extra hub seems better

Superficially yes - but those definitely look like the older bulbs that are not standard GU10 size......

[33q]

BaldOldMan said:

BigBen said:

£70 with an extra hub seems better

Superficially yes - but those definitely look like the older bulbs that are not standard GU10 size......

They are the older type. I’ve just gone for the £80 for 3 option.

[C2Red]

Saw a recent Paul Hibbert YouTube video, that suggested older hue hubs were being made obsolete, think it was gen2, but not sure exactly; might be worth reading up before committing?

[JimbobVFR]

C2Red said:

Saw a recent Paul Hibbert YouTube video, that suggested older hue hubs were being made obsolete, think it was gen2, but not sure exactly; might be worth reading up before committing?

There's only been 2 different hubs. The latest is squarish with rounded corners, the older one was round. You've always needed the square hub for Homekit and entertainment syncing so I suspect a lot of people have upgraded already.

The black Friday deals on starter kits (often cheaper than buying the bulbs alone) normally mean there's a surplus of hubs available cheap 2nd hand around this time of the year, at most it's 20 or less to upgrade if you go this route

[David A]

33q said:

They are the older type. I’ve just gone for the £80 for 3 option.

I can confirm this is the case.

[DoctorX]

Two colour bulbs and a dot for £62 looks like a good deal:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Philips-Ambiance-Bluetoot...

[33q]

DoctorX said:

Two colour bulbs and a dot for £62 looks like a good deal:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Philips-Ambiance-Bluetoot...

The 2 White bulb option for £31.99 is pretty good too

[ThisInJapanese]

33q said:

The 2 White bulb option for £31.99 is pretty good too

£27.99 for two here: https://www2.meethue.com/en-gb/p/hue-white-2-pack-... and 3 for 2 if you need that many

[Matt Cup]

Quick question and probably a daft one but I’m not that savvy on “smart things” to be honest.

I have the following connected to my hue bridge.

Living room:
Lightbulb (white)
Hue iris
Lightstrip Plus

Bedroom:
Lightbulb
Hue Aura

Controlled via iPhone using the hue app.

My bridge is connected directly to a Virgin superhub 3. We have been having issues lately with the internet and sometimes the router loses connection with everything. Whenever this goes down I lose the ability to turn the lights on and off with the app.

Is there any alternative way to turn on and off the lights my when the hub goes down?

[33q]

ThisInJapanese said:

33q said:

The 2 White bulb option for £31.99 is pretty good too

£27.99 for two here: https://www2.meethue.com/en-gb/p/hue-white-2-pack-... and 3 for 2 if you need that many

...but you get v3 Echo Dot included with Amazon deal

[JimbobVFR]

Matt Cup said:

Quick question and probably a daft one but I’m not that savvy on “smart things” to be honest.

I have the following connected to my hue bridge.

Living room:
Lightbulb (white)
Hue iris
Lightstrip Plus

Bedroom:
Lightbulb
Hue Aura

Controlled via iPhone using the hue app.

My bridge is connected directly to a Virgin superhub 3. We have been having issues lately with the internet and sometimes the router loses connection with everything. Whenever this goes down I lose the ability to turn the lights on and off with the app.

Is there any alternative way to turn on and off the lights my when the hub goes down?

That's weird, mine continue to work as long as my phone and the bridge are connected to the same network. No internet needed just a network connection. Of it's just the internet connection you loose can you try making sure your phone is still connected to the WiFi and therefore the local network. That should be sufficient to make them work with the app.

The various accessories like the dimmer switch, tap switch, motion sensors all connect directly to the hue bridge and will continue to work even without a network connection so are a good backup for total loss of the network or router.