Alexa Compatible lights etc

Adam H · Dec 28, 2018

Missus got me a little Alexa Dot for a Christmas present, I use amazon prime alot so works well with linking into my music etc.

Would like to get some remote lights but brought some and then found they needed separate hubs . Is that the best way to go ? Should i buy a bunch of philips hue lights and hub and then make sure I always buy the same brands or are there better ones available ?

Thinking of getting some other gadgets to link to it as well like doorbells / camaras etc but I don't want to buy bloody hubs for everything so ive got 30 different apps on my phone.

Whats the best, easiest and cost effective to get a remote home setup working with Alexa ? I think I've only got the Echo dot 2nd Gen if that makes a difference.

Skinner · Dec 28, 2018

I have some inline alexa switches which you can pull out your existing light switch, wire it up, and they sit inside your wall, so you can convert anything.

I have also found buying bulbs easier where its the bulb which is alexa based not the switch, these are great when you get the W+RGB, any colour, any brightness, transitions the lot.

Let me find some links

Skinner · Dec 28, 2018

These are the modules, you can wire them into anything...

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B078TCRC8K/?tag=acorn06-21

The LOHAS lights are RGB+W.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B01MRQU465/?tag=acorn06-21

And these plugs
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07D7BH6N8/?tag=acorn06-21

None of these needed a hub, I have a first gen Echo, and 2nd gen dots, no hubs at all.

You can control these via the amazon app on your phone/tablet, and you can convert amazon tablets into Echo Shows now with show mode, so a decent tablet case with a stand and show mode and your good.

Adam H · Dec 28, 2018

Didnt realise you could do inline ones as replacement light switches, I was mainly replacing the lamps in the house at the moment as we use lamps more than the main room lights. Also like the idea of changing all the lights to LED as the ones I've tried today actually produce better light and im guessing they cost alot less in Electricity.........and last ALOT longer than a normal bulb.

Agreed id much prefer to connect bulbs and devices directly, instead of using a hub. I thought id be able to do that with this :

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B07FL46ZTJ/?tag=acorn06-21

But Setting it up it just wouldnt connect to my router so after an hour I gave up and its being sent back tomorrow lol.

Adam H · Dec 28, 2018

Skinner said:
These are the modules, you can wire them into anything...

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B078TCRC8K/?tag=acorn06-21

The LOHAS lights are RGB+W.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B01MRQU465/?tag=acorn06-21

And these plugs
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07D7BH6N8/?tag=acorn06-21

None of these needed a hub, I have a first gen Echo, and 2nd gen dots, no hubs at all.

You can control these via the amazon app on your phone/tablet, and you can convert amazon tablets into Echo Shows now with show mode, so a decent tablet case with a stand and show mode and your good.

Nice much cheaper than most ive been looking at as well, Philips Hue seems to be what most go for bub seems pricey to do alot of bulbs.

Skinner · Dec 28, 2018

With your bulb have you got it in setup mode ? (flashing on and off) and have you turned 5ghz off ? If you have 5ghz running they get confused even if they use different names, easier to run it in 2.4ghz mode. Once its setup turn 5ghz back on and its fine.

Also are you setting up using the lights app not the router or alexa app ?

Most use eFamilyCloud, eWeLink, TuyaSmart apps but there are other apps, only use the app for manual control and setup, which is rare.

Adam H · Dec 28, 2018

Skinner said:
With your bulb have you got it in setup mode ? (flashing on and off) and have you turned 5ghz off ? If you have 5ghz running they get confused even if they use different names, easier to run it in 2.4ghz mode.

Also are you setting up using the lights app not the router or alexa app ?

Ah I do have 5GHz running ( although different name ) as I use it for some devices in the house to reduce conflicts ( like games consoles work much better with 5GHz ). I was connecting the bulb using the bulbs app to set it up, clicked the light on and off 10 times to get it to reset, then it flashes to say its ready. It done the first part of the setup where my phone talks to the bulb on its own wifi, then when trying to apply the Wifi routers settings to the bulb it just kept saying it couldnt connect. If I could actually get it connected to the wifi im sure it would connect to Alexa just fine.

I even brought the lamp down 2ft away from the router like the instructions said during setup but that made no difference.

RobM · Dec 28, 2018

In our house we have a little white box fixed to the wall. I found that if you push a small protrusion on it the lights come on. Pushing it again and they go off.

The really cool thing is, if you haven't got your phone to tell you the state of the lights, when the lights are on you can see and when they're not it's dark. I may patent it.

Skinner · Dec 28, 2018

When using the bulbs app, the app connects to your Wifi, then you log the bulb into your wifi, they don't have their own per se. Echo has its own Wifi Hub but thats it.

So at the moment, you can connect to the bulb from the phone app ?

Thats the bulb effectively set up.

I'm guessing the problem is you can't get Alexa to connect ? You have to say Alexa Discover New Devices, it will scan the network to find anything new.

RobM · Dec 28, 2018

Mine also works remotely with a slap round one of my children's head and an instruction 'put the lights on'. The slap is optional but I like to keep them guessing.

Skinner · Dec 28, 2018

Malta is moving on from the flint, wicks and wax

RobM said:
In our house we have a little white box fixed to the wall. I found that if you push a small protrusion on it the lights come on. Pushing it again and they go off. The really cool thing is, if you haven't got your phone to tell you the state of the lights, when the lights are on you can see and when they're not it's dark. I may patent it.

RobM · Dec 28, 2018

We're getting running water next year. Seriously though Alexa would be wasted here - people would just throw it at each other or eat it (or blow it up if it asks too many questions).

Skinner · Dec 28, 2018

Damn, Malta will be one step ahead of Ireland, @Systreg still has a well to draw his water from

The best use I've found for alexa bulbs has been the timers, christmas lights on and off and lights, while not at home, more security minded than lazy... honest

RobM said:
We're getting running water next year. Seriously though Alexa would be wasted here - people would just throw it at each other or eat it (or blow it up if it asks too many questions).

Adam H · Dec 28, 2018

Skinner said:
The best use I've found for alexa bulbs has been the timers, christmas lights on and off and lights, while not at home, more security minded than lazy... honest

I like the idea of reduced electric usage and the continuous need to buy new bulbs, some of our lamps seem to blow every month where as the LED ones we have already have been going years and not once needed to be replaced ( plus some bulbs kick out so much heat it starts to melt the lamp shade LOL )

dee · Dec 28, 2018

Have you seen the new Alexa for senior Citizens.... it's brilliant

Skinner · Dec 30, 2018

@Adam H did you install the Bulbs Skill in the Alexa App ? I didn't think to ask, you have to install the matching skill for the app.

Adam H · Dec 30, 2018

Yeah I did bud, but it wasnt at that stage because the bulb wouldnt connect to the wifi, it would need to be connected to the wifi before alexa's app would recognise it. I've sent them back now and brought a load of the LOHAS ones

hopefully will be here tomorrow

Adam H · Dec 31, 2018

@Skinner, those Lohas are great. Setup wifi pretty much instantly and the Tuya app linked to Alexa with no prob's . Going to buy some more for some other rooms

Skinner · Dec 31, 2018

@Adam H awesome, if you use the App, there is a brightness option, you can see the standard white which is the soft orange/yellow type, then turn the brightness up and its daylight. I'll have to take a picture of the alternatives. I bought a few different ones but the lohas has been far the best of the pick.

Adam H · Jan 1, 2019

@Skinner Yeah got the brightness etc summed up. Only thing that is a little annoying is some bulbs not having the same colour range. So the E27's have more "whites" than the E14's , which is fine until you have both lights in the same room and try and change the group/room to white. For some reason it Alexa doesnt recognise the E14's white and so it doesnt change with the rest of the room. It does for every other colour but just not the white, which i assume is because the E27 has different whites.

Only a small flaw though, just means if you change then away from the default white, you have to change that 1 lamp back on its own instead of using a group/room command.