- Totally agree on the “solve one, create two” thing—seems like every upgrade comes with a catch.
- I’ve noticed smart bulbs can be finicky with certain dimmers too, not just switches. Sometimes they buzz or don’t turn off all the way.
- Curious if anyone’s tried those battery-powered remotes as a workaround for the wall switch issue? Wondering if that’s less hassle than rewiring or just another gadget to keep track of...
Tried the battery-powered remotes in a few projects, and honestly, they’re a mixed bag. On one hand, they’re a lifesaver when you can’t (or don’t want to) rewire—especially in older homes where the wiring is a nightmare. But I’ve found they tend to float around and get lost, or end up stuck to the fridge with all the other random magnets. Not exactly elegant.
About the dimmer issue—yeah, that’s a big one. Most smart bulbs just don’t play nice with traditional dimmers. I usually recommend swapping out the dimmer for a regular switch and handling all the dimming through the app or voice control. It’s not perfect, but at least you avoid that annoying buzzing or flickering.
Honestly, every “smart” solution seems to come with its own set of quirks. Sometimes I wonder if we’re just trading one hassle for another... but when it works, it really does make life easier. Just wish the tech would settle down a bit and standardize already.
Title: Finally Upgraded My Living Room Lights—Anyone Else Tried Smart Bulbs?
I actually had the opposite experience with the battery remotes—maybe it’s just my household, but we keep one velcro’d to the wall where the old switch was. That way, nobody’s hunting for it under the couch cushions. About the dimmer thing, though, I get why folks swap them out, but I’ve started using smart switches instead of bulbs. It’s a bit more work up front, but then you can use any bulb and still get app/voice control without worrying about compatibility or buzzing. Just feels a little more reliable in the long run... though I’ll admit, nothing’s ever totally hassle-free with this stuff.
About the dimmer thing, though, I get why folks swap them out, but I’ve started using smart switches instead of bulbs. It’s a bit more work up front, but then you can use any bulb and still get app/voice control without worrying about compatibility or buzzing.
That’s actually the route I went in my last remodel—swapped out the old dimmers for Lutron Caseta switches. It took a bit of wiring (and a few YouTube tutorials), but once they were in, it was smooth sailing. I like that you’re not locked into a specific bulb ecosystem, especially since I’m picky about color temperature and CRI. The only hiccup I ran into was with three-way switches; getting those to play nice with the smart system took some trial and error.
Curious if you’ve noticed any lag with your setup? Mine’s mostly snappy, but every now and then there’s a second or two delay with voice commands. Not a dealbreaker, just something I didn’t expect after all the hype. Also, have you tried integrating with any scenes or automations? I’ve found that’s where the real “smart” part kicks in, but it can be a rabbit hole if you’re not careful...
The only hiccup I ran into was with three-way switches; getting those to play nice with the smart system took some trial and error.
Yeah, three-ways were a pain for me too. I ended up calling my dad for backup after wiring it wrong the first time. Haven’t noticed much lag, but I do get random disconnects if my WiFi acts up. Scenes are cool, but honestly, half the time I just use the switch like normal out of habit. Anyone else find automations more trouble than they’re worth sometimes?
