DIY Security Systems
Are you planning to make the shift from regular light bulbs to smart light bulbs? If so, you might have a few questions about making this transition, such as “Do smart light bulbs work in any lamps?” Smart bulbs are the same size as regular light bulbs, so they will fit in most existing lighting fixtures. However, to get the most out of their smart functions, you need to understand first how smart light bulbs work, what they can do, and what you can get out of them as safety at home products.
What Are Smart Light Bulbs?
What makes these things so smart? They are light bulbs that can be controlled wirelessly and remotely instead of a regular light bulb that you have to operate physically or manually through a switch that is wired directly to the light fixture. Smart bulbs can be controlled using a remote, smartphone, tablet, or even with a voice assistant.
If the smart light bulb comes with a dimming option, you can customize the brightness of these lights while others can even change colors entirely. Depending on the platform you use them with, you can also put them on a schedule when they turn on and off, so your energy consumption becomes more efficient.
Do Smart Light Bulbs Work in Any Lamp?
Can you use smart bulbs in lamps? Definitely. Having a smart bulb allows you to customize the lighting in your lamp so you can adjust it according to your preference. But if most of your fixtures are using regular bulbs, do smart light bulbs work in any lamp or light fixture?
How Do They Work?
As mentioned, smart bulbs are operated through the use of some type of remote control, whether that be a smartphone, a tablet, a voice assistant, or some other similar device. The smart light bulb sends and receives signals through wireless transmission to operate them with your device of choice. Do smart light bulbs work in any lamp and still have smart functions?
The simple answer to this is yes because what you directly control is the light bulb rather than the fixture to which it is attached. Some smart light bulbs have Bluetooth radio or Wi-fi radio to connect them directly to a device like your smartphone or your router. But not all brands have Bluetooth or Wi-fi connectivity, and some can only operate with an automation hub that uses Zigbee.
Zigbee is considered as an alternative to Bluetooth and Wi-fi. It is similar to a local wireless network, through which your smart home devices run their signals. The idea is that, for your different devices to work together, they need to communicate with one another. For example, you have Zigbee enabled smart light bulb, and a Zigbee enabled smart light switch to turn it on and off, and different manufacturers make them.
For the light to work with the switch, they need to speak a common language, Zigbee removes the language barrier between these two devices so they can work together seamlessly. Therefore, when you plug in your Zigbee automation hub to your router, you can now control remotely all smart devices connected to it without issue.
Although this might all sound complicated, setting up smart bulbs with an automation hub is usually pretty simple. You will most likely need to purchase the automation hub separately. Still, some smart home devices already work as a Zigbee hub like the Amazon Echo Plus and Echo Show, which allows you to simply control your smart bulbs with just a voice command to Alexa.
Things to Consider Before Getting a Smart Light Bulb
There are a few things that you should know and keep in mind before you go out and buy a bunch of smart light bulbs to replace the old ones in your home or office. If you want a simple setup and do not intend to integrate the lights with other aspects of your home or office, consider getting a smart bulb that is already Bluetooth or Wi-fi enabled. Typically, these smart bulbs come with their apps that allow you to control and customize the lights directly from your smartphone.
However, with this kind of setup, you will not be able to control your lights when you are away from home. For Bluetooth connection, you need to be within Bluetooth range. For Wi-fi connection, you need to be connected to the same Wi-fi network as your lights for you to be able to control them. Also, if you’re using a Wi-fi connection, the lights are not as reliable as they require a strong internet connection and can be affected by multiple devices sharing the bandwidth.
If you want to control your smart bulb away from home, you will need to connect your smart bulb to an automation hub. Smart bulbs that use Zigbee do not get affected by the same issues that you may encounter on a Wi-fi connection such as low bandwidth from having multiple devices connected. Also, you can customize your smart bulbs to interact with your other Zigbee enabled devices. For example, your smart bulbs can work together with home security systems that use Zigbee.
Another consideration is the cost of smart bulbs. Smart bulbs cost more than a regular light bulb. However, due to its smart functions, you end up being more energy-efficient, it ends up costing less in the long run. Smart light bulbs also tend to last longer than regular light bulbs, saving you more money in the long run. Find out more about Smart Bulbs.
Conclusion
If you are wondering, “Do smart light bulbs work in any lamp?”, then the simple answer is yes. Using smart bulbs gives you the freedom to control and customize your lights with little to no effort, but it also helps make your energy consumption more efficient. Done are the days when you have to get out of bed to turn off the lights before going to bed or turning your car around because you cannot remember whether you left the lights on or not. With a smart bulb, you can begin to build a smarter and more efficient home.