Curious if anyone’s managed to get smart bulbs working in older fixtures without frying anything?
That’s exactly what I’m wondering too. I tried putting a smart bulb in this old sconce from the ‘60s—looked cool, but the thing buzzed like a beehive and flickered every time I dimmed it. Is it just a wiring issue, or are some fixtures just destined to stay “dumb”? Anyone ever actually retrofit an old fixture with new guts, or is that more trouble than it’s worth? I keep thinking there’s gotta be a workaround, but maybe I’m just stubborn.
I’ve run into that same buzzing and flickering with older fixtures, especially if they’re on a dimmer. A lot of those old dimmers just aren’t compatible with smart bulbs—they’re made for incandescent, not LEDs. Swapping the dimmer for a regular switch usually fixes the flicker, but yeah, sometimes the wiring’s just too old or weird. I’ve seen folks gut the fixture and rewire it with modern sockets, but honestly, unless you really love the look, it can be more hassle than it’s worth. If you’re on a budget, maybe try a smart switch instead of smart bulbs? That way you keep the old fixture but get some “smart” control.
If you’re on a budget, maybe try a smart switch instead of smart bulbs? That way you keep the old fixture but get some “smart” control.
I get where you’re coming from, but I’ve actually had the opposite experience with smart switches. In my place, the wiring’s so old that installing a smart switch was a nightmare—no neutral wire in half the boxes, and the switches themselves are crammed in tight. Ended up having to patch drywall just to fit the new switch in one spot.
Honestly, smart bulbs were way easier for me, even if they’re a bit pricier up front. Plus, I like being able to change the color and brightness per bulb, not just the whole room. Maybe it depends on how much you want to mess with your wiring? Or how much you care about the “vintage” look of the fixtures.
Curious if anyone’s found a good workaround for old wiring without gutting everything. Is there some adapter or trick I’m missing?
FINALLY UPGRADED MY LIVING ROOM LIGHTS—ANYONE ELSE TRIED SMART BULBS?
Yeah, I totally get where you’re coming from. I ran into the same mess with old wiring when I tried to swap in a smart switch in my 60s ranch. No neutral wire, and the boxes are so shallow it’s like playing Tetris just to fit everything back in. I ended up giving up on switches in a couple rooms because I didn’t want to start tearing out walls or running new lines.
Smart bulbs have been way less hassle for me too. Like you said, being able to tweak each bulb’s color and brightness is just fun, and honestly, it’s nice not having to mess with the wiring (or risk electrocuting myself). The only thing that bugs me is if someone flips the physical switch off, the smart bulb loses power and then it’s just... dumb. I stuck a little reminder sticker on one of my switches so guests don’t turn it off by accident.
As for workarounds, there are a few “no-neutral” smart switches out there (Lutron Caseta comes to mind), but they’re not always compatible with every fixture or bulb type. Some folks use smart remotes or even those stick-on “switches” that talk directly to the bulbs—kind of a hacky solution but it works if you don’t want to rewire.
I do miss the look of some of my old-school switches and plates though. There’s something about those chunky bakelite toggles that just feels right. But yeah, unless you’re ready to open up walls, smart bulbs are usually less headache in these older places.
If anyone’s found a magic fix for the neutral wire thing that doesn’t involve an electrician or drywall dust everywhere, I’d love to hear about it too... but for now, I’m sticking with the bulbs.
FINALLY UPGRADED MY LIVING ROOM LIGHTS—ANYONE ELSE TRIED SMART BULBS?
I get the appeal of smart bulbs, but honestly, I’ve seen a lot of folks run into headaches down the road. Had a client last year who went all-in on them, and every time the power flickered or their WiFi hiccuped, half the lights would reset or go offline. Plus, if you ever want to swap out fixtures or move, you’re reprogramming everything from scratch. I know rewiring’s a pain, but sometimes biting the bullet and updating the electrical pays off in the long run. Those old switches have their charm, but they weren’t built for all this tech.
