Intelligence is good? What are the disadvantages of intelligent lighting equipment

Amber network, with the development of technology, using computer, wireless data transmission, spread spectrum power line carrier communication technology, computer information processing and intelligent energy-saving electrical control technology of distributed wireless telemetry, remote control, remote communication control system, to realize the intelligent control of lighting equipment, has become a part of life intelligence the.

Smart home lighting has enough appeal: when you come home from work, the lights automatically open for you, this is very convenient; when you go on vacation, safe mode lights can be simulated to open and close the scene. Automation of a lamp is not too difficult, as long as the replacement of Lifx White 800 and other built-in Wi-Fi smart bulbs, or access to Belkin WeMo switches and other smart plugs can be. But what if you want to automate the whole house?

This is now the challenge of CNET smart home living laboratory, CNET will be tested in the laboratory, explore and build the future networking home. This is a 5800 square foot house with a variety of lighting fixtures and switches that will form a networked lighting system that will serve the best and most intelligent way.

The good news is that we have a lot of options: Chameleon Hue PHILPS LED bulbs, Lutron and Insteon and other automatic switches and sockets. The bad news is that diversity means that we need to pick the best plan.

But this is the whole idea of CNET smart home. This is a real place, if you start using smart home technology, we will delve into the challenges in the same way. In any case, we will record the entire process, I hope to help you upgrade your smart home and purchase decisions.

To this end, let us look at what the choice of smart lighting, and find out their advantages and disadvantages.

Intelligent bulb

The first concern of the networked lighting is the bulb itself, which is replaced by a built-in intelligent wireless communication function. Some bulbs such as Lifx and LifxWhite 800 LED lights have built-in Wi-Fi or Bluetooth - which can be connected directly to a phone or tablet without a center or control device. In a small range, this plug and play is very simple and attractive, but the price of each bulb is often high, a wide range of use is very expensive.

Intelligent bulb

More common wireless lighting protocol is ZigBee. The use of ZigBee PHILPS Hue LED, OSRAM Lightify LED, Belkin WeMo LED and GELinkLED, CREE Connected LED, such as $15 bulb in. Your phone does not recognize ZigBee, so you need some kind of central device or as a converter device.

There are a number of packages containing central or bridge equipment. The price of the package may be different, TCP double combination of around $50, and three Philips Hue bulb $200. The price of each bulb varies from $15 to $50 or $60, and a higher end bulb can change color as needed.

The good news is that the lower end of the product selection more and more. In many cases, it is possible to mix and match different brands of light bulbs in a control device. The PHILPS HueBridge controller is the best example, with third party bulbs matching surprisingly well, including $15 for GE and Cree bulbs. You can use WeMo plug-in bridge to connect OSRAM Lightify LED lights, WeMo applications in the control of Belkin LED. Like SmartThings and Staples Connect and other systems, you can also use a dedicated center to connect these bulbs to a larger smart home settings.

Advantages: the bulb is relatively simple, it is easy to move to another device if necessary. With a wide range of choices, a wide range of uses or a few more lights won't cost too much. Spend a little more money to buy a variety of light bulbs: changing color, motion sensing, transmission of audio via Bluetooth, or as a networking camera.

Disadvantages: most of the smart light bulbs are equipped with standard E type A bulbs that are screwed into the base, so if you need a light bulb like a big stick, you will be out of luck. If the device is connected to the wall on the brightness of the control switch, the smart light bulb may be a flash, a buzz. Brightness and color temperature is not too much choice. Of course, if the switch is turned off, the bulb will not work.

Connected to the smart home networking settings, smart bulbs is the fastest and most easily, so you can use the place can be used. Many of the devices in the CNET's smart home require a small, spiral bulb. However, there are dimmer switches to compete with them. That means we need to look at other options - that's our right.

Intelligent switch

If you are willing to roll up your sleeves and fiddle with the wiring in your home, you can easily switch the switch to an intelligent switch. Automation is the switch itself, not the bulb, which can be set on / off time.

Intelligent switch

Like smart bulbs, most of the smart switches are not using Wi-Fi, or ZigBee. Belkin WeMo lighting switches and other Wi-Fi mode can be directly connected to your home network (mobile phone is also OK), while the use of ZigBee will require some kind of center or control device. There are also a lot of Lutron high-end options, the company uses its proprietary Lutron signal for intelligent lighting control.

Most smart switches are around $50, while smart bulbs