- Totally get where you’re coming from—historic homes can be a pain for any kind of electrical upgrade.
- I’ve run into the same issue with old knob-and-tube wiring. Smart bulbs saved me a ton of hassle, especially when I didn’t want to mess with the original switches.
- For outdoor setups, I’d just double-check the bulbs are rated for exterior use or at least protected from the elements. Some of the “indoor” smart bulbs really don’t like moisture.
- One thing I ran into: if you’ve got a lot of fixtures outside, sometimes switches are just easier to manage all at once, but if you’re only lighting up a few spots, bulbs are super flexible.
- Swapping bulbs between lamps for different seasons is underrated. I do that too—makes holiday setups way easier.
- Only real downside I’ve hit is if someone flips the physical switch off, the smart bulb’s dead until you flip it back. Not a dealbreaker, but worth mentioning.
I hear you on the “someone flips the physical switch and now your fancy smart bulb is just a dumb piece of glass” thing. That’s tripped me up more times than I care to admit. My tenants think it’s hilarious when I’m standing in the yard, phone in hand, wondering why nothing’s responding... only to realize someone killed the power at the wall. You’d think after wiring up a dozen places, I’d remember to put a little tape over the switch or something.
“if you’ve got a lot of fixtures outside, sometimes switches are just easier to manage all at once, but if you’re only lighting up a few spots, bulbs are super flexible.”
I lean toward this approach too. On one property, I tried going all-in with smart bulbs for the patio and walkway—looked great until it rained sideways and half of them glitched out. Outdoor-rated is non-negotiable now. But honestly, for big yards or anything with more than three or four fixtures, I’ve found smart switches way less headache-inducing. One tap and everything’s on or off—no hunting for individual bulbs in the app, no “bulb not responding” drama.
But there’s definitely something nice about being able to swap colors for holidays without digging into wiring. Halloween? Purple and orange. Christmas? Red and green. The neighbors think I’m running a light show business.
One thing that saved me some grief: there are these little magnetic switch covers you can get to “lock” the physical switch in the on position. Not exactly high-tech, but it keeps guests (and my forgetful self) from accidentally cutting power to all the smart stuff.
Anyone else ever try those “smart relay” modules that hide behind your existing switches? I keep meaning to test them out but haven’t gotten around to it yet... Curious if they solve any of these issues or just add another layer of confusion.
I get the appeal of smart switches for bigger setups, but honestly, I’ve had more luck with a hybrid approach—switches for the main runs, then a couple of smart plugs or bulbs for accent stuff. That way, if one thing glitches, it doesn’t take down the whole yard. Those relay modules you mentioned? Tried one in my garage. It worked, but setup was fiddly and I kept worrying about what happens if it fails behind the wall... not sure it’s less hassle than just using a switch or plug you can actually reach.
I get what you’re saying about the relay modules—those things always make me a little nervous too, especially if they’re tucked away somewhere you can’t easily get at them. I’ve also found that if something’s going to fail, it’ll be the thing behind drywall or up in the attic, never the plug you can just yank out.
Curious how you handle power cycling when one of your smart switches or plugs glitches out. Do you have to go flip breakers, or do you stick with stuff that has a manual override? I’ve stuck with switches that still work like a normal switch even if the smart part flakes out, just for peace of mind. The hybrid setup sounds solid though—do you notice any lag between the different brands or types when you trigger scenes? That’s been my only real annoyance so far... sometimes the accent lights are a beat behind everything else.
I’m with you on the manual override—if I can’t physically flip a switch when tech goes sideways, I get twitchy. I’ve had to crawl into a crawlspace once to reset a smart relay and let’s just say it’s not my idea of a fun afternoon. I lean toward smart switches that still work the old-fashioned way, especially outdoors where weather and wifi can both be flaky. As for lag, yeah, mixing brands is a crapshoot. Sometimes my pathway lights are fashionably late to the party... but at least they show up eventually.
