Philips Hue Lighting - owners thread

[Magic919]

I'm sticking with the old app as I dislike the new one.

[Mattt]

Can't see why the bulb wouldn't work in that lamp - it looks like a regular lamp.

I can't get them to work with touch lamps though.

[marctwo]

The best app I have found is iConnectHue. I really like that you can reprogram your hue dimmers and taps to work in different ways.

[Roger645]

GruntyDC5 said:

I have been replacing most of my household lighting with hue bulbs but have come across a problem.

I have this floor lamp http://www.ikea.com/gb/en/catalog/products/6021654...

The hue bulbs do not seem to work. I'm not really sure why.

Would it be the floor switch that causes the issue? If it is I could just cut it out because if i have a hue bulb in it there is no need for the switch anyway.

I wonder if the metal shade is blocking the connection to the bulb? I assume the bulb in the lamp works ok elsewhere?

[Digger]

Roger645 said:

I wonder if the metal shade is blocking the connection to the bulb? I assume the bulb in the lamp works ok elsewhere?

The bulb should at least light up white when there is power to the lamp.

Grunty assume that a standard bulb works ok?

[Roger645]

Digger said:

Roger645 said:

I wonder if the metal shade is blocking the connection to the bulb? I assume the bulb in the lamp works ok elsewhere?

The bulb should at least light up white when there is power to the lamp.

Yes, depends what he means by doesn't work? I read it as he cant control it, but if it's not even lighting up in native mode then something really is weird with the lamp.

[spants]

spants said:

Just bought some of these "Wireless electronic ballast FLS-PP lp with Power PWM interface for RGBW and RGB lights (12/24V LED/LED stripes), ZigBee certified product" (http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00NMSQ4QQ) to add to my Hue setup.
Apparently fully Hue compatible and can use longer (and cheaper) strips of RGB and RGBW leds.

Will let you know how I get on!

Just reporting back - they are working really well. Completely compatible with the Hue apps

[weeboot]

spants said:

Just reporting back - they are working really well. Completely compatible with the Hue apps

Excellent!

Can you clarify what the connector is? I presume they're fine with any standard 5050 RGB strip?

[GruntyDC5]

Digger said:

Roger645 said:

I wonder if the metal shade is blocking the connection to the bulb? I assume the bulb in the lamp works ok elsewhere?

The bulb should at least light up white when there is power to the lamp.

Grunty assume that a standard bulb works ok?

Yeah standard screw in led bulb works fine and hue bulb works elsewhere but does not power on at all in the lamp.

[Digger]

Play around with the unplugged fitting see if you can adjust it accept the Hue's contacts better?

[Oakey]

Sounds like you need to screw it in more, I had this problem when using an SES convertor

[GruntyDC5]

Oakey said:

Sounds like you need to screw it in more, I had this problem when using an SES convertor

I'll try this when I get home later. Already had it screwed in so tight it felt like it was ready to break. Maybe just need to go that bit more

[GruntyDC5]

It worked! Just at the point I thought it was going to break i got light.

Thanks

[Oakey]

If you twist at the neck you should avoid breaking the diffuser off

[Jimbo965]

Been using Samsung's Smartthings for a while together with a Hue hub. Controlling several lights (all Philips), mains power outlets and have a few sensors (motion & door switches). The Smarthings hub runs the routines and is pretty easy to set up.

Got it sequencing lights using the standard routines e.g. switch some on few minutes after sundown but eventually would like something more sophisticated to learn our normal daily usage and keep it going if away with some random element thrown in. Might try and develop my own but interested to know if anyone knows of system like this?

[tankplanker]

How much effort do you want to put in? Something like OpenHab (http://www.openhab.org/) is flexible enough to do just about anything, but its all manual setup and a significant step up from Smartthings. You'd be able to make some rules that record what lights you turn on, store it in a database, then play it back. You could extend that with random times, most popular entries, even pull in your schedule from something like google calendar.

I use OpenHab to provide some additional functionality to my home setup that isn't possible in Smartthings but there isn't a direct binding for Smartthings yet. To get round this I set the state of devices (e.g., one light bulb in a room or turn an amp on) and then have the other monitor for that. This works both ways, so OpenHab can use this to trigger Smartthings and Smartthings can trigger OpenHab.

[Jimbo965]

Thanks, hoping to use as little effort as possible! Didn't know about Openhab will take a look.

[Blown2CV]

can someone tell me why these aren't a gimmick? Do people genuinely adjust the colour to their mood or is it just a 2 minute show-off thing for when people come round (and roll their eyes behind your back)?

[weeboot]

They aren't a gimmick. There, better?

I like mine, they're in my house, illuminating my life in a number of differing hues..

[Blown2CV]

weeboot said:

They aren't a gimmick. There, better?

I like mine, they're in my house, illuminating my life in a number of differing hues..

so you really do change the colours regularly, and doing so does have an emotional impact?