Lights

« Best Buy Tips overview

Smart lights are more than switching on and off from your phone. You can dim them, change the color and brightness, and let your automations control them, for example based on motion, daylight or the time of day. You can also use the light color as a notification, to indicate a state. Below are the types of smart lights I use: GU10 spots, bulbs, a bulb socket and LED strips.

GU10

A GU10 is a spotlight lamp with a two-pin twist-and-lock fitting, often used in ceiling spots and small lamps. They are compact, so a smart GU10 fits in places where a bigger bulb doesn’t. With the full color version you can also use the lamp as a notifier, see my Smart and stylish notification light project.

Zigbee GU10 full color light with RGB, 5W, and an E14 fitting.

AliExpress | Amazon US | Amazon NL

CK-BL702-AL-01

Bulb

You can replace a normal E27 bulb with a Zigbee variant. With the colored version, you can use the light color to indicate different states.

Zigbee light bulb dimmable colored

AliExpress | Amazon US

CK-BL702-AL-01

Bulb socket

An easy solution: screw it between the original socket and the lamp to make the lamp controllable.

WiFi / Zigbee smart light bulb socket

AliExpress | Amazon US

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LED strip

This LED strip is available in different versions:

• Indoor no waterproof (IP20) / Outdoor waterproof (IP65)
• 5 / 10 meter
• RGB White or RGB Warm White

Zigbee RGB 5m LED strip

AliExpress | Amazon US | Amazon NL

TS0503B

WiFi ESP32 WLED RGB 3-30m LED strip

This one supports over 100 dynamic effects. These are controllable via the WLED API or app.

AliExpress

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More buy tips

← Best Buy TipsOverview of all layers and hardware

ButtonsWall switches, dimmers and portable buttons. Light intensity sensorMeasure daylight to switch lights at the right moment. Smart socketSwitch any plugged-in device and measure its power. Plant soil sensorKnow when your plants need water. Vibration sensorDetect vibrations, shocks and knocks. Smoke detectorGet alerted at the first sign of smoke.

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