I've just bought a Hue kit - what can it do?! :)

[dmsims]

dickymint said:

Could anybody recommend any adjustable ceiling fittings for Hue ambient white and coloured GU10's ?

It's doing my head in and need them quick for my Spark to fit. Need ten to be fitted on same ring. Thanks in advance.

Do you mean adjustable downlights?

[dickymint]

dmsims said:

Do you mean adjustable downlights?

Yep

[tenohfive]

LeadFarmer said:

I keep having problems with Alexa and my Philips Hue lights. They were working perfect earlier today, but now when I ask Alexa to turn the lights on she says "I have found more than one device with the name Living Room lights, please give them unique names then run Discovery again..."

When looking at the Alexa app on my phone, all my Philips Hue lights are listed correctly. Is there something I should be doing?

Mine does that sometimes, I suspect it's an Alexa issue as I don't use a Hue bridge. I tend to just repeat the command and she works it out.

[LeadFarmer]

tenohfive said:

Mine does that sometimes, I suspect it's an Alexa issue as I don't use a Hue bridge. I tend to just repeat the command and she works it out.

I'm using the Hue bridge, but I've noticed that the list of lights displayed on the Alexa app have often been duplicated, hence why Alexa says she is finding multiple devices with the same name.

Anyone have any suggestions please?

Edited by LeadFarmer on Friday 15th December 09:50

[tenohfive]

You could try telling Alexa to discover devices. That seems to act as a sort of soft reset when I've added something new.

[dmsims]

dickymint said:

dmsims said:

Do you mean adjustable downlights?

Yep

Recently tried Aurora and Meridien (following advice on here)

Preferred the Meridien as they were made of alloy, a bit better built, easier to fit due to a narrower body and cheaper!

https://www.toolstation.com/shop/Lighting/d220/Fir...

Just make sure the Hue GU10 fits - it's apparently a lot longer!

[wjwren]

Have you set up two groups called Lounge? May be best to just delete the bulbs and app and start again if you only have a couple of bulbs.

[wjwren]

To anyone interested in using them outside, mine are iced up and still working fine!

[ecsrobin]

The Alexa and hue issue I found to be because I had created groups within the hue app. I deleted them in hue, went onto Alexa.amazon.com and then deleted the duplicate groups from the Alexa app. Problem now solved.

[LeadFarmer]

ecsrobin said:

The Alexa and hue issue I found to be because I had created groups within the hue app. I deleted them in hue, went onto Alexa.amazon.com and then deleted the duplicate groups from the Alexa app. Problem now solved.

So is it advisable to only have groups in the Alexa app, and not in the Hue app?

[ecsrobin]

LeadFarmer said:

ecsrobin said:

The Alexa and hue issue I found to be because I had created groups within the hue app. I deleted them in hue, went onto Alexa.amazon.com and then deleted the duplicate groups from the Alexa app. Problem now solved.

So is it advisable to only have groups in the Alexa app, and not in the Hue app?

That’s the workaround I’ve been using for the past few months.

I tried just removing the duplicates but they were reappearing every day.

[LeadFarmer]

ecsrobin said:

LeadFarmer said:

ecsrobin said:

The Alexa and hue issue I found to be because I had created groups within the hue app. I deleted them in hue, went onto Alexa.amazon.com and then deleted the duplicate groups from the Alexa app. Problem now solved.

So is it advisable to only have groups in the Alexa app, and not in the Hue app?

That’s the workaround I’ve been using for the past few months.

I tried just removing the duplicates but they were reappearing every day.

Yes, my duplicates have been reappearing. So if they are removed from the Hue app does that mean you don't have the full control of the lights that the Hue app gives?

[ecsrobin]

You still have full control. I just created groups in the Alexa app.

I can still say Alexa lights on or select individual lights, Alexa house on or Alexa table light blue, Alexa hall light 50%.

I did create one group in the hue app “living room” which is 3 bulbs, that group transferred across as a bulb in Alexa app. However it means when I come home them lights turn on.

That is being made redundant though by me as now Apple HomeKit can distinguish between individuals coming and going I’ve set up the home and away lights in that.

[LeadFarmer]

Thanks, I think I've got it sorted. In my living room I have one main ceiling light with 2 x Hue bulbs in, and I have a reading lamp with 1 x Hue bulb.

I deleted groups in the Philips Hue app

In th Alexa app I deleted all my lights to start fresh.
Then discovered devices to find my lights again.
Renamed my 3 bulbs as Living Room 1, Living Room 2, Reading Lamp.
Then created a Group in Alexa app called 'Living Room Lights' and added the Living Room 1 and living Room 2 bulbs to this group.

So I am now back to being able to say "Alexa, turn on Living Room Lights" and the main ceiling light comes on, or I can say "Alexa, turn on Reading Lamp".

[LeadFarmer]

Now on to 'Scenes' in the Alexa app on my phone...

When I click on 'Scenes' I get a log list of available scenes, but how do I activate them? Ive been verbally asking Alexa to do these scenes but nothing happens..





Im also seeing these same scenes in my online alexa.amazon account..

Edited by LeadFarmer on Saturday 16th December 14:44

[Fats25]

I saw this thread a little while ago, and forgot all about it. Mrs has been asking for weeks what I want for Xmas, and have had no idea, and then was buying my mum something on the John Lewis site earlier, and accidentally clicked on something and the Phillips Hue popped up. I have now decided I must have this - in fact I need it more than anything else in life - and in typical male style I have not even bothered to read the entire thread yet, but have questions! (I will go back and read thread in a moment).

The primary reason for getting this is that it is extremely dark outside the Villa, and the only light switches for the outside lights are inside the Villa. So either leave them on all day (you want to see the price of Electricity in Dubai!), or get home in the dark fumbling for keys with an Iphone torch on to find the two keyholes for two doors. Or alternatively I use the Hue for remedying.

The Villa's in Dubai are badly built with no thought on anything remotely useful. It means that we have over 35 lightbulbs in the lounge/diner alone. At least 20 outside, and over 100 throughout the villa. A rented villa. So I am not going to be looking to the entire place. Understanding that each bulb within the lightswitch circuit will need to be changed, this will limit where I can use the bulbs, So far I am thinking the following would be good:-

• The front doors (as above) - 4 bulbs across two circuits
• The lounge/diner 6 bulbs across 2 circuits (will play with colour ones here)
• The bedroom

Now here are my questions:-

1) What is the range like from the bridge? The Villa needs 4 wireless routers (extended) to serve 90% with wireless connections. There are still dead spots. The bedroom and the front door could not be further apart. I have read that Zigbee creates a mesh - but there is a big gap from front door to bedroom. I would not get a wireless signal in the bedroom from a router at the front door. I am assuming this will fail at this point? Is there the option to extend a bridge, with two devices? Or do I just need to play and replace another couple of bulbs at the halfway point to extend the range?

2) The Dimmer/Tap Switch. Do these do all or nothing? i.e. would I need more than one per room/zone? Or do I just use the same device with different "scenarios" - e.g. downstairs off/upstairs on, All on, upstairs off/downstairs on, all off etc. I am struggling how to picture this working.

I will now go back and read the thread and see if anyone has already answered my question. This has really distracted me at work today, and I need this ASAP!

[CharlieCrocodile]

I use mine with the ITTT app to switch on the outside light & hallway light when the sunsets. Works pretty well and usually turns on within 15 minutes of sunset.

[JimbobVFR]

Fats25 said:

Now here are my questions:-
!

1. The bulbs act as repeaters so in theory adding an extra light or 2 will get the signal to your bedroom. It certainly helped a problematic bulb in my bathroom that was blocked by the boiler and cupboard of copper pipes, a Hue bulb on the landing in between the bridge and bathroom sorted out the issues.

2. The official Hue app can either set the dimmer to control all bulbs or you can choose 1 or 2 rooms to be controlled, you can have up to 4 scenes programmed to cycle through on the on button. The other buttons will dim up and down and turn off and can't be changef

Other apps can do almost anything you can imagine, for example my kitchen has a dimmer that control the lights, however a long press of off will turn off the kitchen lights and also turn on a hall light on a 5 minute timer and turn on my bedside lamp. You can also reprogram any button to do any function and assign different actions to different types of presses (like a press and hold above)

[Fats25]

Unfortunately my bonfire was well and truly pissed on last night, when I got home all excited and ready to place an order for a new toy. As mentioned above I am in a rental, so not looking to replace entire lighting systems etc.

Basically the outside lights I wanted on - consist of two circuits:-

Circuit 1 = 1 x external light (E27) which is ok, and 2x internal lights with MR16 bulbs which are not available.
Circuit 2 = 14 x E27 bulbs, and I only want to be able to control 1 or 2 of them. Is not justifiable for the cost!

I could do things with in the lounge and bedroom, but if I am honest these are more for gimmicks than any real reason. Even I'm not lazy enough to not roll over to turn a dimmer light on and off from bed!

Looks like I will jump on this wagon later on when in a different house.

[RichTT]

Most of you seem pretty sold on stage kit already which is not surprising. I've had mine for about a year and a half now I think and slowly expanding it. I'd say 70% of the house is now Hue wired. 3 main downlighters and two lamps in living room, some of the angled lights in a few areas as well. Full open plan living dining and kitchen area all set up was the first stage with bridge and the click switch. Now front hall with the movement sensor and just refurbished the bedroom and have the led strip behind the headboard along with the little removable dimmer / remote.

The hallway one is pretty neat. I've set it up to come on full brightness during daylight hours but after 11pm and before 8am it's a dimmer light. Works really well. Thinking about using a movement sensor for the garage entrance.

Keep looking for more excuses to put more in.