Title: Smart lights vs smart switches for yard setup?
I totally get the appeal of mixing both, but when I tried setting up my yard, I started with just smart bulbs. Here’s how it went: 1) Screwed in the bulbs, 2) Set up the app, 3) Realized my outdoor switch kept getting flipped by accident... which killed the Wi-Fi connection to the bulbs. Super annoying. Ended up swapping that switch for a smart one that works even if the Wi-Fi drops. Now I can still use the old-school switch when my hands are full carrying groceries or whatever. The whole color temp thing is cool, but honestly, I just want the lights to turn on reliably when I need them.
I ran into a similar thing with my last rental property—tenants kept flipping the outside switch and then texting me when the smart bulbs "weren’t working." I get why you went with the smart switch. But now I’m curious, have you noticed any difference in energy usage or maintenance between the two setups? I wonder if the switches end up being more cost-effective long term, especially for bigger yards or multi-unit properties.
I wonder if the switches end up being more cost-effective long term, especially for bigger yards or multi-unit properties.
That’s a really interesting point. In my experience, smart switches do seem to cut down on confusion and accidental outages. Maintenance-wise, I’ve found fewer calls about “broken” lights. But as for energy usage, it’s tricky—if tenants leave them on all night, the savings kind of disappear. For larger spaces, though, not having to replace specialty bulbs constantly is a big plus.
Not sure I totally agree about switches being the clear winner for bigger yards or multi-units. Here’s what I’ve noticed on jobs:
- Smart bulbs can actually be easier to swap out if you’re dealing with a bunch of different fixture types. No need to mess with wiring or panels, just screw in a new bulb.
- With switches, you’re locked into controlling the whole circuit. If you want to light up just one section of a big yard, you’re out of luck unless you run extra wiring or split circuits, which gets pricey fast.
- Bulbs have gotten a lot more reliable lately. I’ve seen some last years outdoors, even in rough weather.
- On the flip side, switches are great if you’ve got a lot of people who might mess with the controls. Less chance of someone unscrewing a bulb or resetting things by accident.
Honestly, it comes down to how much control you want and how your wiring’s set up. I’ve had clients regret not thinking about zones before picking one or the other... retrofitting later is a pain.
Had a similar situation last year—big backyard, mix of old and new fixtures. I thought switches would be easier, but splitting up the zones was a headache. Ended up using smart bulbs for the patio and path lights, just because it was way less hassle than rewiring. Only issue I ran into was someone accidentally turning off a lamp at the fixture, which messed up the schedule. Still, for flexibility, bulbs saved me a ton of time.
