Weird Tolkienish Figure
Well-known member
Garage journal: home of old fart boomers who just don't trust those new fangled led light bulbs, dagnabbit!
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WiFi light bulbs
- Thread starter rtz
- Start date
Garage journal: home of old fart boomers who just don't trust those new fangled led light bulbs, dagnabbit!
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So .. you attack those asking what you are using them for .... and the benefits?
I'm all for technology ... but some applications have limited use.
And even good technology goes away if too expensive or replaced by something else.
PatrickM
Active member
Does anyone use the Philips Hue bulbs in outside receptacles? I have a light on the back of my garage that I want to turn on or off from my phone. I don't want to have to go into the unattached garage to turn on the light at night.
CJ7VFR
Well-known member
Does anyone use the Philips Hue bulbs in outside receptacles? I have a light on the back of my garage that I want to turn on or off from my phone. I don't want to have to go into the unattached garage to turn on the light at night.
You can use the bulb, or you can install a smart light switch or smart receptacle where the bulb wiring is connected.
Either will work. If you already have Hue products and the hub, then the bulb should work as long as it is not exposed to direct contact with water (rain or snow). Temperature is usually not an issue.
The downside to Hue products is that you need the hub for it to work. This is an added expense if you don't already have the hub. The hub can cost up to $60.00 alone. Then you have to buy the Hue bulb you want, which can cost anywhere from $10.00 on up.
If you don't have the hub, and don't want to put out the money for it, then just get a wifi smart switch or receptacle. This requires only a wifi signal to operate, and both the switch and the receptacle can be operated manually if you want, or don't have your phone on you. Smart switches and receptacles cost anywhere from $19.00 on up depending on the brand and features.
Jim
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Falcon67
Well-known member
Does anyone use the Philips Hue bulbs in outside receptacles? I have a light on the back of my garage that I want to turn on or off from my phone. I don't want to have to go into the unattached garage to turn on the light at night.
Our front porch light is Hue, been in there probably 2~3 years now. I would not hesitate to use one in an outside receptacle. The only question will be distance from the home wifi signal.
Not sure why anyone would think an LED bulb is much different than a incandescent - in fact, I dropped and broke the glass off a "regular" LED bulb and it still worked just fine.
CJ7VFR
Well-known member
...Not sure why anyone would think an LED bulb is much different than a incandescent - in fact, I dropped and broke the glass off a "regular" LED bulb and it still worked just fine.
Incandescent bulbs don't have circuitry inside them like LED bulbs do. Some LED bulb housings are more prone to water intrusion than regular old incandescent bulbs.
So to be safe you want to protect LED bulbs from getting hit directly with water unless they are labeled for outdoor use in damp locations. Some are, some are not.
But, if you have a good outdoor fixture that has some sort of cover/globe/deflector over the area where the bulbs are installed, or the fixture is installed under an eve or in a covered area like a porch, then there is no reason, like you said, that you can't put an LED bulb in place of an incandescent. I have LED bulbs in my outdoor driveway "flood light" fixtrues, in my two porch light fixtures and the three light fixtures on my shed. And they all work fine and have been there for a few years now.
The strength of the wifi signal is more of a concern as you mentioned.
Jim
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