I totally get what you mean about the “phantom loads”—sometimes it feels like the more “smart” stuff I add, the more little power vampires I’m introducing. I’ve noticed some of my smart switches barely sip any power, but a few of the older smart bulbs seem to draw more than I expected even when off.
“if someone flips the physical switch off, you lose all remote access until it’s flipped back on.”
That’s been a headache for me in rental properties. Tenants just want things to work, not troubleshoot why the porch light won’t turn on from their phone. Has anyone tried those switches that have both local and app control? Wondering if they’re worth the extra cost or just another thing to maintain...
Title: Smart Lights vs Smart Switches for Yard Setup?
I hear you on the “smart” overload—sometimes it feels like the more tech I add, the more I’m just babysitting gadgets. But honestly, I’m not sold on the dual-control switches for rentals. They sound great in theory, but in practice, I’ve seen them confuse tenants even more. Folks still flip the physical switch out of habit, and then they’re frustrated when the app doesn’t work or vice versa. It’s another layer of complexity, and if something glitches, you’re the one getting the call.
In my experience, sticking with regular switches and using smart bulbs only where you really need automation keeps things simple. For outdoor setups, I usually lean toward hardwired dusk-to-dawn sensors or timers—super reliable, no WiFi drama, and zero learning curve for tenants. Less to maintain, too. I get that it’s not as “smart,” but sometimes old-school just works better, especially when you’re not there to troubleshoot.
One time I tried those fancy switches in a duplex, thinking it’d be a win. Ended up fielding texts about “why does the porch light not work from my phone?” every other week. Swapped back to basics and haven’t had a peep since.
Maybe it’s not the most cutting-edge solution, but for rentals, reliability usually beats bells and whistles. Just my two cents...
“In my experience, sticking with regular switches and using smart bulbs only where you really need automation keeps things simple.”
I totally get this. I once tried to “upgrade” my backyard with a full smart system—switches, bulbs, the works. Looked cool for a week, then the WiFi hiccuped and suddenly nothing worked. Ended up swapping in solar-powered motion lights and a basic timer. Less tech, more peace of mind. Sometimes the greenest (and least stressful) solution is just the simplest one.
I hear you on the WiFi headaches. I tried smart switches for my patio lights last year—thought it’d be slick to control everything from my phone. Worked fine until my router decided to reboot itself every other night and left me stumbling in the dark. Ended up putting the old manual switch back in and just using dusk-to-dawn bulbs. Not as flashy, but way less hassle. Sometimes “set it and forget it” really is the way to go...
I get where you’re coming from. I’ve got a 1920s place, and honestly, the WiFi doesn’t always play nice with the thick plaster walls. I tried smart bulbs in the porch fixtures, thinking it’d be an easy upgrade, but half the time they’d drop off the network or just ignore my commands. Drove me nuts.
Ended up going with those old-school mechanical timers for the outdoor lights. Not as “smart,” but they’re rock solid—no app updates, no WiFi drama, just lights on when I need them. I do miss being able to tweak things from my phone, but reliability wins out for me, especially when I’m coming home late and don’t want to fumble around in the dark.
I guess it comes down to how much you trust your network and how much patience you’ve got for troubleshooting. Sometimes the low-tech route just makes life easier, even if it’s not as cool.
