I’m new to home automation and based in the UK. I’m planning to purchase smart switches and smart bulbs, and I have a few questions that I hope you can help me with.
Do smart switches typically have the functionality to dim smart bulbs? I want to make sure that if I invest in smart bulbs, I can control their brightness effectively with a smart switch.
If I only install a smart bulb in my living room, can a smart switch control both the living room (with the smart bulb) and my bedroom (with a normal bulb)? I’m trying to understand the extent of control a smart switch can offer in such a setup.
I’ve read through some discussions here, but I’m still a bit confused. I’m hoping to benefit from your experiences and insights, especially those relevant to the UK market.
Additionally, if you know of any beginner - friendly websites or brand blogs that can help me learn more about home automation, please feel free to share. I’m eager to educate myself further on this topic.
A rabbit hole in any country,
Currently I just have some lights that I try to always leave on and control with voice or my phone because they’re Wi-Fi lights on regular switches.
Personally id like to try a combo setup like this
Smart Switch:
Use a non-dimming smart switch that supports always-on mode or bypasses the bulb’s power control.
Recommended Smart Switches:
Lutron Aurora: Specifically designed to work with smart bulbs like Philips Hue.
Sonoff T1 Smart Switch: Works with smart bulbs when configured correctly for non-dimming use.
Smart Bulbs:
Use Zigbee or Wi-Fi smart bulbs for better integration.
Recommended Smart Bulbs:
Philips Hue: Works with Zigbee switches like Lightwave or Aurora.
IKEA Tradfri: Affordable and integrates well with Home Assistant.
LIFX: Wi-Fi-enabled, no hub required.
Also wall panels like Shelly Wall Display, Sonoff NS Panel Pro would be a cool way to control lights and other things.
Thank you so much for your detailed and helpful response! It’s really cleared up a lot of my confusion.
I appreciate the specific product recommendations. The Lutron Aurora sounds great for working with Philips Hue bulbs, and I’ll definitely look into the SONOFF T1 Smart Switch as well. The information on the smart bulbs is also very useful. I like the idea of using Zigbee smart bulbs for better integration, and the recommended brands give me a good starting point for my research.
I’m also interested in the wall panels you mentioned for controlling lights. Do you have any particular models or brands that you would recommend for those?
