February 10
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Smart lights have transformed how I operate my home outdoor lighting - even when I'm out of town.
The world is moving at breakneck speed, and it's essential to keep up with new technologies that make life simpler. One of my most recent home installations has been switching to smart outdoor lights. Not only do these lights help me control my outdoor lighting through my phone, but they also allow me to get creative.
Hi! I'm Stacy, and in this guide, I will tell you all about automating your outdoor lights. First off, I will introduce you to some of the best products you can buy. Furthermore, I will give you a step-by-step guide on using them to completely automate your outdoor lighting.
So without further delay, let's begin!
With a plethora of options to choose from, it can get overwhelming for homeowners to know where to begin the process of automating their outdoor lights. To begin with, let me tell you about some of the most essential products to consider for your home.
Are you curious about how automated lights work? If you don't want to swap out all your outdoor light fixtures immediately, consider switching to smart outdoor bulbs first.
I researched online and found a couple of excellent smart outdoor bulbs on Amazon. However, you may visit your local lighting store or home improvement center to find out about them firsthand. There are a multitude of brands and products to choose from, so make sure that you take your time to research properly before purchasing one.
There are several benefits to smart outdoor bulbs that range from adding aesthetic value to your property to increasing home security. Here are some of the common benefits and features you can enjoy.
Another excellent option you can consider is switching to smart outdoor switches for your home. These switches are ideal for patios, driveways, and garages. Moreover, smart outdoor switches can easily connect to your home internet using Wi-Fi or your automation hub.
An added advantage of smart switches over smart bulbs is that you can control them from anywhere - whether they are switched on or off. However, smart bulbs need to be kept in the 'On' position at all times to ensure seamless operation.
I swapped out all my outdoor switches with smart switches and have been able to control them even when I am out of town. Here are some of the top benefits of opting for smart switches.
Once I explored the previous options and was satisfied, I decided to switch my outdoor light fixtures to smart fixtures. These fixtures have several added benefits and features that I will list below. Moreover, smart outdoor light fixtures enable you to have total control over your lights and enjoy an entirely automated outdoor lighting experience.
Here are some of the top benefits of switching to smart outdoor light fixtures:
These are some of the essential tools and products that will bring you one step closer to completely automating your outdoor lights. Of course, you don't need to purchase all of them right away. You can choose to install one of these products to test the smart outdoor lights before diving into complete automation.
The first thing you need to do is pick the outdoor location where you wish to install the lights. Now, depending on the product you choose, you have a variety of location options.
If you choose to install smart bulbs, consider replacing your pre-existing bulbs with them. This way, you can use the existing wiring or fixtures without worrying about a long drawn installation process, which might require professional help.
However, if you plan on installing smart flood lights, switches or light fixtures, you may need to consider the location more carefully. In the case of flood lights or light fixtures, consider the ideal location where you can get the optimal benefit of the lights and their advanced, smart features.
For example, if you want to illuminate your driveway or patio, consider installing smart outdoor lights at least 8 to 10-feet above the ground, especially if they have motion sensors. Furthermore, if you opt for solar-powered ones, you may need to strategically place them where they receive adequate sunlight throughout the day.
After spending adequate time on research, you will find yourself in a sea of dozens of products to choose from. From smart flood lights to bulbs, switches to fixtures, lighting outlets to solar-powered patio lights, there are a multitude of options in the market.
However, you should pick the ideal product according to your requirements. In my case, since I wanted to increase the nighttime visibility of my garden and patio and have more control over the lights, I opted for smart patio string lights and flood lights.
Similarly, there is a need to consider the purpose of the purchase, so you choose the best product for your home. If you are looking to save energy costs while automating your outdoor lights, consider solar-powered smart flood lights or bulbs. But, if you want to set up schedules and timers, you may prefer smart switches instead.
I also think it is imperative to consider your budget before making a purchase. Fortunately, you will find several budget options in the market that offer the most basic smart features, enabling you to automate the outdoor lights easily.
Of course, if you want to enjoy more advanced features with a little investment, you can look into more expensive options.
Now, depending on the product you choose, the installation process may vary from extremely straightforward to requiring professional help. In the case of light fixtures or flood lights, you may want to consider getting professional help. Moreover, if you need to install smart lights that have to be hard-wired, I highly recommend calling a professional electrician for the job for safety reasons.
However, in the case of smart bulbs or solar-powered lights, the installation process is relatively simple. I would advise you to go through the manufacturer's instructions first, as each product comes with its own set of installation procedures.
In my case, I was able to install my outdoor lights relatively easily with the help of a ladder and some basic hardware and tools. However, if you are unsure about the installation process, you can check out my other guides where I have described the process in detail, or look at YouTube videos and guides online.
Here comes the best part - integrating your outdoor lights with other smart devices. Since I had Amazon's Alexa at home, I was able to set up the integration process conveniently. Moreover, I downloaded an app that enabled me to control the smart outdoor lights through my phone.
Now, all I had to do was pair my smart outdoor lights with Alexa and the phone app. I did this by turning on the light switch and waiting for the Wi-Fi to connect. You can also give voice instructions to Alexa or Google's voice assistant and tell them to pair with the new device automatically.
This process should take a couple of minutes, and soon, you will be connected to the outdoor lights via your phone app and home automation hub. Now, you can control the settings and program the lights according to your preferences.
The next step is to program your outdoor lights to automate them entirely. Do this using your phone app to set up the schedules and timer. I scheduled my outdoor patio and driveway lights to turn on dusk and turn off at dawn automatically. This feature is extremely reliable and helps me save energy costs.
Moreover, since the technology uses in-built sensors to detect ambient lighting, I didn't have to worry about the lights staying on beyond sunrise, causing unnecessary wastage. Of course, you can also opt for solar-powered lights to help you save on energy costs entirely.
There are several other ways you can automate your outdoor lights, like using the color-changing modes. This feature enables you to change the hue of the outdoor lights to complement certain themes you might have in mind for outdoor gatherings and parties.
Furthermore, you can conveniently program the lights to change their color modes automatically after specified times.
Finally, you can automate the outdoor lights by setting up a voice assistant or Alexa with them. By doing this, you can control the lights using just your voice. Moreover, you can tell your voice assistant to program auto turn on or turn off features without ever using the light switches or the phone app.
This gives you ultimate freedom from switches and control over your home outdoor lighting.
Most smart outdoor lights come with an in-built motion sensor technology. You can integrate this feature with a phone app to alert you or send messages when the motion sensors are activated. I found this feature especially beneficial when I was home alone at night and wanted increased privacy and security.
Furthermore, you can disable the motion sensors or app alert feature during specified hours of the day. Are you wondering why you may need to do this? Well, imagine getting a barrage of messages and alerts on your phone every time a family member walks through the driveway or garage after school or work.
Automating your outdoor lights can give you optimal levels of freedom, privacy, security, and control. Plus, it is fun to set up and very user-friendly, and reliable for everyday use.
Once I learned to automate my outdoor lights, I can't see myself ever turning back to using traditional lights. The process has made my life much simpler, as I don't need to worry about elevated energy costs anymore.
Also, I would find it very troublesome to walk up to the garage and patio every night to turn off the lights, especially since I would remember it long after I was in bed! If you face similar issues, I highly recommend automating the outdoor lights so you can sleep peacefully at night without worrying about this issue.
In case you have any questions or doubts, please feel free to drop a comment below, and I will get back to you at the earliest. I hope you enjoyed going through my guide. Please let me know what smart products you have installed and how they have helped make your life simpler.
I'll keep you posted. Until next time!
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