Part 2: How to Automate Your Lighting?

The conclusion of my first experiences with these bulbs is as follows:

Take bulbs compatible with your home automation controller

Use preferably actuators compatible with your home automation controller. Xiaomi is a good reference, so the information from the actuators goes directly back to your controller who decides what to do. You are no longer limited! Another interesting article on Xiaomi actuators.

I will add motion detectors to passage areas such as corridors.

I will add remotely controlled switches in the living rooms.

SMART SWITCHES

These bulbs are not necessarily suitable for all situations. We do not want to replace the lamp that does not have compatible bulbs? Take a simple example, I have in my hallway a ramp with several halogen lamps. Would it be wise to change the lamp and buy several connected bulbs? Not necessarily, but then what to do?

There are smart switches, and yes like the bulb your switch can be educated.

Here are some of them:

FIBARO Switch: Be able to add a small Z-Wave module behind your socket or switch to take control of it while keeping your switch functional. You will also have a monitoring of consumption. This solution is not the most economical (about 50 € / piece) but is of very good quality. (I have the roller shutter 2 for my shutters and I'm very happy)

Aqara Wall Switch ZigBee Version: More economical solution, I'm waiting for mine to talk about it but it looks like the basic connected switch. Attention there are two versions one with the connected neutral and one without. The one with the neutral makes it possible to raise the consumption.

SONOFF Smart Touch Switch: Even less expensive, very customizable for connoisseurs, it integrates an ESP8266. I would say it is for advanced users and do not choose it for the touch part, it is very capricious, you really have to insist.

There are others, but I have not tried, do not hesitate to share yours in a comment.

Once your choice is made, read this article on home automation store to get into the technical details of installing the switch.

CONCLUSION

That makes them combinations of products for lighting only, for the moment my combination is: Jeedom, Xiaomi Actuators, PIR Xiaomi, Broadlink compatible bulbs. It can evolve because I start, but I like it as the first solution.

Let's recap if you follow this blog you now have an automation list, a home automation controller (Jeedom), connected light bulbs and switches selected thanks to the room type and your home automation list. All without spending a fortune. If not, what are you waiting for? Tell me where you are in a comment, it interests me.