I hear you on the wiring headaches—older houses can be a real mixed bag. I’ve run into more than a few “creative” electrical solutions from previous owners, and sometimes it’s just not worth the hassle to mess with switches. Smart bulbs are definitely the path of least resistance in those cases.
That said, I’ve had a couple of issues with smart bulbs outside, especially in fixtures that aren’t fully weatherproof. Cold snaps seem to mess with the connectivity, or maybe it’s just my luck. For permanent setups, I still lean toward smart switches—less to worry about if a bulb burns out, and you don’t have to keep track of which ones are “smart” and which aren’t. But for rentals or places where people want to change things up a lot, bulbs make sense.
And yeah, frozen ground is the worst. I tried to dig a post hole in February once and ended up with what looked like a broken garden fork and a bruised ego...
Frozen ground is a special kind of misery, isn’t it? I’ve snapped more than one tool trying to trench for low-voltage wire in January—at some point you just have to admit defeat and wait for the thaw. On the smart lighting front, I totally get where you’re coming from with the “creative” wiring. I’ve opened up switch boxes in 1920s bungalows and found everything from cloth-wrapped wires to mystery junctions that go nowhere. Sometimes it’s just not worth the risk or the time to retrofit a smart switch.
I do lean toward switches for long-term setups, though, mostly because tenants will inevitably swap out bulbs and forget which ones are supposed to be “smart.” But for quick upgrades or when the wiring is a total unknown, bulbs are a lifesaver. Outdoor fixtures are tricky—humidity and cold seem to mess with connectivity, and I’ve had Zigbee bulbs drop off the network until spring. It’s always a bit of a gamble, but sometimes you just have to pick your battles and accept that not every solution is perfect.
That bit about “creative” wiring is way too familiar.
Same here—my place was built in 1915 and every time I open a box, it’s like a weird electrical time capsule. Sometimes I just have to close it back up and pretend I never saw it.I’ve opened up switch boxes in 1920s bungalows and found everything from cloth-wrapped wires to mystery junctions that go nowhere.
I get the argument for switches, especially with tenants or guests who don’t want to mess with apps or voice controls. But honestly, I’ve had more headaches with smart switches in these old walls than with bulbs. Half the time the neutral wire is missing, or the box is too shallow, or there’s something else funky going on. Ever tried to wedge a modern smart switch into a metal box that’s barely big enough for the old toggle? Not fun.
Outdoor stuff is a toss-up too. My Zigbee bulbs drop off when it’s cold, but the WiFi ones just eat bandwidth and don’t always reconnect. Is there even a reliable option for outdoor setups in old homes, or are we all just making do?
Honestly, I feel this in my soul. My 1928 place is basically a museum of “what not to do” wiring. I’ve had smart switches that just flat-out refused to fit, or needed a neutral that’s apparently lost to history. For outdoors, I’ve had better luck with those outdoor-rated smart plugs—just plug ’em in and let ’em do their thing. Not perfect, but at least I’m not rewiring the whole house just to get the porch light on a schedule. Still waiting for the day someone invents a smart switch that’s actually made for old houses...
Yeah, the neutral wire thing is such a pain with older homes. I ran into the same issue in my 1940s place—half the boxes are just mystery meat wiring. Here’s what worked for me:
- Outdoor smart plugs: Agreed, these are a lifesaver. No need to mess with ancient wiring or try to cram oversized switches into tiny boxes.
- Bulb-based solutions: I tried smart bulbs for the porch and garage. Not ideal if you want to keep using the wall switch, but at least you don’t have to touch the wiring.
- Switch covers: There are a few battery-powered “switch” covers that stick over your old toggle and control a smart bulb. Not perfect, but it’s an option if you can’t rewire.
Honestly, I wish more manufacturers would think about old houses. The “no neutral required” switches exist but seem finicky or overpriced. For now, outdoor plugs + smart bulbs are my go-to... not elegant, but at least I’m not tearing out plaster walls just to automate a light.
