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

[Blue Oval84]

I'd personally be reluctant to completely delete them, unless by that you just mean blank them off?

I think I'd want a way to reinstate them with relative ease, for example in case I moved and didn't want to leave the Hue kit behind, or in the event that the hub throws a hissy fit for a while.

[hostyle]

Blue Oval84 said:

I'd personally be reluctant to completely delete them, unless by that you just mean blank them off?

We're going for all new switches, outlets and positions. I'm still looking into what I want to do.

Blue Oval84 said:

I think I'd want a way to reinstate them with relative ease, for example in case I moved and didn't want to leave the Hue kit behind, or in the event that the hub throws a hissy fit for a while.

This is exactly the reason I'm asking, lol.

I'm not to concerned about moving, we'll be here for quite a while. I'm more after the hissy fit solution. Blanking plates are an option and easy to revert to 'normal' if you're moving out. But when the bridge is down, what do you have for options to turn the light on and off?

[Blue Oval84]

hostyle said:

This is exactly the reason I'm asking, lol.

I'm not to concerned about moving, we'll be here for quite a while. I'm more after the hissy fit solution. Blanking plates are an option and easy to revert to 'normal' if you're moving out. But when the bridge is down, what do you have for options to turn the light on and off?

I've not had the problem yet, it's worked flawlessly since fitted so I'm hopeful it's just me being cautious, but I think my only remaining option would be to use the trip switch on the lighting circuit to get them to come on lol.

I might give it a few months before making any radical changes, just to see how much I trust it. Taking a blanking plate off is fine if it fails once every few years, not so much if it's every few weeks...

[hostyle]

That's my idea aswell. Luckily I still have some time do decide.

My current thinking is to install some switches, but let them power a bigger group of lights. Our downstairs is open plan, so my idea is to have a switch for the lights in the kitchen, seating/tv area, dining area and hallway. Then we can use the app or dimmer to control the individual lights and brightness.

[JimbobVFR]

hostyle said:

That's my idea aswell. Luckily I still have some time do decide.

My current thinking is to install some switches, but let them power a bigger group of lights. Our downstairs is open plan, so my idea is to have a switch for the lights in the kitchen, seating/tv area, dining area and hallway. Then we can use the app or dimmer to control the individual lights and brightness.

Our kitchen has 2 light switches, a master switch above the counter hidden away round a corner that powers all the lights, this is then split into 4 circuits with a double width switch with 4 gangs. I've blanked of the 4 gang switch and fitted the her dimmer over the top but I still have use of the main switch if necessary.
If we move and I don't want to leave the hue gear it'd be easy to reinstate.

[hostyle]

Thanks for the info. That's essentially the idea that I had. Only thing is that I'm across the pond, our "gangs" our a different size compared to the hue holder.
I'll have a talk with my builder to adjust his offering.

[dickymint]

three more white and colour GU10's two dimmers and 2 motion sensors ordered off the Bay for £224

Hopefully there will be some decent bargains in the new year for the rest.

[JimbobVFR]

hostyle said:

We're going for all new switches, outlets and positions. I'm still looking into what I want to do.

Do yourself a favour then, when specifying make sure the switches use the deepest backbox possible and is wired to include neutral not just live and switched. This opens up so many options that are normally difficult to do in the UK.

[Rollin]

Saw this earlier, don't know if it's of interest. 6 bulbs for £50

https://www.johnlewis.com/philips-hue-white-9-5w-a...

[Otispunkmeyer]

Blue Oval84 said:

Thanks for the advice guys, it arrived today and I've been playing with it just as soon as I could get enough plug adaptors!
Absolutely thrilled with it I've got the Hue Disco app now and have been figuring out what it can do-
Colour changing theme-

The chrome lamp is also on Hue, but as it's a white bulb I excluded it and the other white one (just out of shot) from any of the changing themes, just having them go up and down in brightness makes it a little too much like a Poltergeist is visiting...

E36 Guy - if you happen to be reading this, those LED wall lights are still looking great too

Dude, I like your fire place thing. Does it actually heat or is more for show? I love how minimal it is.

[Blue Oval84]

Otispunkmeyer said:

Dude, I like your fire place thing. Does it actually heat or is more for show? I love how minimal it is.

Cheers!

It really does heat, it runs on bio-ethanol and on top whack it can make the living room extremely warm. I normally turn it down a bit so the fuel lasts longer and I don't slowly bake on the sofa.

Thing I liked about it was how easy to fit it was, and no flue required etc. which is essential when you basically live in a concrete box. I'll take a little video of it running at full pelt tonight so you can see it better

[red_slr]

Have you found a GU10 holder that will take the longer Hue GU10?

I have about 20 devices now on my ST network. Mostly hue bulbs and a light strip, motion sensors, door sensors (multi sensor), outdoor sensors, fibaro dimmer, fibaro sensor etc.

I left the switches in as it does f*** up every few weeks. Its rare for the app not to work but motion sensor commanding the hue sometimes fails. I also have back up lighting in the form of nest smoke detectors on the landings.

My next project is outside lighting.

[red_slr]

I also have an Aeotec fob which is great I have it set to "all on" and "all off" for now plus have 2 spare commands.

I keep the fob next to my bed and if something goes bump in the night I can turn pretty much every key light on in the house in 2-3 seconds. (or off)

[Blue Oval84]

Otispunkmeyer said:

Dude, I like your fire place thing. Does it actually heat or is more for show? I love how minimal it is.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fR0etzBf63c

There you go, when the video opens it's on a low setting, I crank it up with the little poker thingy so you can see the difference. Even on low it generates some heat, on maximum it's really quite warming. It does have a glass front as well that clips into the little chrome holders, but I'd taken it off for cleaning, and to be honest I don't think it'll be going back on...

Purchased from www.imaginfires.co.uk/

[red_slr]

We have a small table top one and it will take the chill off our kitchen in about 20 mins and will be warm ish after about half an hour.

[robfox]

Last year I bought a couple of Echo Dots, but apart from the basic stuff like weather news, timers, and shopping lists they haven't really been used.

I bought a Hue gu10 colour starter kit in the Black Friday sale. These bulbs have been placed around the house in these free standing uplights, and the dots have been used more in the last week than in the previous year. I've just ordered a TP Link smart plug ready to control the Christmas tree lights.



I've also fitted some white gu10s in the ceiling light in the kitchen, and I'm looking for a way to control the kitchen counter lights. There are two zones of counter lights - one is powered by a fused spur from the ring main, and the second zone is powered from the lights in the first zone by a propriety extension cable that's been chased into the wall. God knows why they did it that way, but it means that I can't easily replace the existing counter lights with Hue light strips. I think I need to install a smart light switch to control the whole string of counter lights. Any recommendations?

[Downward]

I’d like some of these as I have just got an ambilight tv.

How much are the starter kits when on offer on amazon ? 3 coloured bulbs and the bridge ?

Or is it cheaper to go with a bridge and led strip lights ?

[B17NNS]

Downward said:

I’d like some of these as I have just got an ambilight tv.

How much are the starter kits when on offer on amazon ? 3 coloured bulbs and the bridge ?

Or is it cheaper to go with a bridge and led strip lights ?

Picked this up on BF for £89.99

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B01K1WP7Z4/ref...

Hue strip light is silly money.

For additional bulbs I'll just use either Ikea TRÅDFRI or Innr which are compatible with the Hue bridge and quite a bit cheaper.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Innr-colour-dimmable-Comp...

http://www.ikea.com/gb/en/products/lighting/smart-...

[Downward]

B17NNS said:

Downward said:

I’d like some of these as I have just got an ambilight tv.

How much are the starter kits when on offer on amazon ? 3 coloured bulbs and the bridge ?

Or is it cheaper to go with a bridge and led strip lights ?

Picked this up on BF for £89.99

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B01K1WP7Z4/ref...

Hue strip light is silly money.

For additional bulbs I'll just use either Ikea TRÅDFRI or Innr which are compatible with the Hue bridge and quite a bit cheaper.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Innr-colour-dimmable-Comp...

http://www.ikea.com/gb/en/products/lighting/smart-...

Thanks I’ll keep hope they come back to this price over xmas

[wjwren]

Just to clarify - can you use the Ikea or inner bulbs directly with the Hue bridge and no need for the Ikea or Inner bridge?

Thanks