I remember my first switch install—thought I’d fry the whole house. Ended up being way less scary than it looked, but those wire nuts still make me nervous sometimes. Do you find switches more reliable outdoors? My smart bulbs kept dropping connection whenever it rained.
I used to be all about smart bulbs in the yard, but after a couple of seasons (and a few storms), I switched over to smart switches. The bulbs were always losing connection or getting weird after heavy rain, even though they were “weatherproof.” Never really trusted them after that.
Installing the outdoor-rated switches was a bit nerve-wracking at first—those wire nuts are finicky, especially when your hands are cold and you’re trying not to drop anything into the mud. But once they were in, I noticed way fewer issues with connectivity. Maybe it’s because the switches are tucked away in weatherproof boxes, so less exposure?
One thing though: if you want color-changing lights outside, switches won’t give you that flexibility. But for basic on/off and timers, I’d pick switches every time. Have you tried putting your bulbs on a mesh network or adding a range extender? Sometimes that helps, but honestly, I just got tired of troubleshooting every time it rained...
Honestly, I had the same headache with smart bulbs outside. Even with extenders, it felt like I was just throwing money at the problem. Smart switches have been way more reliable for me too—cheaper in the long run, less stuff to replace when weather hits. Color-changing would be cool, but I’d rather not deal with the hassle every time a storm rolls through.
Yeah, I get where you’re coming from. I tried smart bulbs in my porch lights and it was just a pain—half the time they’d disconnect after a heavy rain. Smart switches seem way less finicky, and you don’t have to worry about replacing bulbs every time the weather gets weird. Color options are tempting, but honestly, reliability wins for me too.
I hear you on the reliability thing—nothing more annoying than having to reset a bulb in the rain. I’ve been leaning toward smart switches for outdoor stuff too, mostly because I can use whatever bulbs I want and not worry about compatibility. But have you run into any issues with wiring or needing a neutral wire for the switches? Some of my older circuits don’t have one, and I’m not sure if it’s worth the hassle to rewire just for automation.
