Yeah, I hear you on the chaos—old wiring is a beast. I’ve spent hours trying to fit smart switches into boxes that were clearly designed before anyone imagined WiFi. But honestly, when you finally flip that switch and the lights work just right, it’s worth every scraped knuckle. Sometimes the vibe is worth a little extra hassle.
- Gotta say, I’m not totally sold on wrestling with old boxes for smart switches, especially outside.
- Swapping bulbs for smart ones is way less invasive—no rewiring, no worrying about box depth or ground wires that don’t exist.
- If you’ve got a bunch of fixtures, yeah, switches make sense, but for a few spots? Smart bulbs are just... easier.
- Plus, if you ever want to change the vibe or color temp, it’s all in the app—no need to mess with hardware again.
- Only downside: someone flips the wall switch off and your automation’s toast. But honestly, I’ll take that over fishing wires through 60-year-old conduit.
Honestly, I think you’re spot on with the hassle factor. Wrestling with ancient boxes, especially outside, can open a whole can of worms—old wiring, questionable grounding, you name it. I’ve run into “no ground wire” surprises more than once.
That said, your point about automation is key:
Only downside: someone flips the wall switch off and your automation’s toast.
That’s the one thing that’s bitten me in the past. If you’ve got tenants or guests, they’ll always use the wall switch. But for a few fixtures, smart bulbs are definitely the path of least resistance. Just keep a stash of those little “do not turn off” stickers handy...
Wrestling with ancient boxes, especially outside, can open a whole can of worms—old wiring, questionable grounding, you name it.
Yeah, the “do not turn off” stickers are a lifesaver. I’ve had guests flip switches and wonder why nothing works. Honestly, for outdoor stuff, I’d rather avoid rewiring if I can help it. Sometimes simple is just better, even if it’s not perfect.
Honestly, for outdoor stuff, I’d rather avoid rewiring if I can help it. Sometimes simple is just better, even if it’s not perfect.
Totally get where you’re coming from. I’ve had my fair share of “what did I just open up?” moments with old outdoor boxes—sometimes you just want to walk away and pretend you never saw it. Those “do not turn off” stickers are clutch, though. I’ve had tenants flip switches and then call me in a panic when the patio lights don’t work.
I lean toward smart bulbs for outdoor setups too, mostly because I don’t want to mess with the wiring unless I absolutely have to. It’s not always the most elegant solution, but if it keeps things working and avoids a bigger headache, why not? Plus, if something goes wrong, swapping out a bulb is way less hassle than opening up a crusty old box.
That said, sometimes I wonder if I’m just kicking the can down the road by not updating the wiring... but then again, if it ain’t broke (or sparking), maybe it’s fine for now.
