智能(Smart)灯是当今市场上最有用的智能家居设备之一。它们提供了多种选择，可用于在家内外实现照明自动化。
在本文中，我们将介绍如何通过使用实际的智能灯泡解决方案或使用其他智能家居设备来控制您现有的灯泡来做到这一点。
在家(Your Home)中自动化灯光的选项
您可以使用智能手机以不同方式控制家中的灯光。如果您不想更换每个灯泡，您只需更换位置重要的开关和插头即可。或者，如果您想要颜色或调光等更高级的功能，请查看智能灯泡选项。
以下是您必须选择的所有选项：
- 用智能开关代替(Replace)墙壁开关。
- 将智能插头(smart plugs)插入现有插座。
- 用智能灯泡替换(Replace)现有的灯泡。
这些都有优点和缺点，如果您不明智地计划，您选择的选项可能会显着改变总体成本。
智能系统兼容性
当您开始构建您的智能家居时，您需要决定您的系统要基于哪个智能家居生态系统。
虽然智能家居行业不再像以前那样狂野西部(Wild West)，但没有一种中央设备可以用来控制所有其他设备。但是有一些常见的设备——称为“智能家居集线器(smart home hubs)”——试图这样做。
- ZigBee：通过IEEE 802.15.4个人区域网络连接到您的智能设备。
- Z-Wave：一种通过低能量无线电波与智能设备对话的网状网络。
- 路创(Lutron)：通过 Clear Connect RF技术连接到路创智能灯。(Lutron)
- 飞利浦(Philips)：使用 ZigBee 802.15.4 网络技术连接飞利浦(Philips)智能灯泡。
您需要考虑两个方面的兼容性：集线器将与哪些灯泡、开关或插头通信，以及它将与哪些智能家居控制器配合使用，如Alexa、Apple HomeKit或Google Home。
(Replace Wall Switches)用智能开关(Smart Switches)代替墙壁开关
如果您想用智能手机自动化每个房间的所有灯，最好的方法是用智能开关代替标准壁灯开关。
这些有几个品种。如果您想在不同的房间安装几个这样的交换机，您应该选择一些与ZigBee或Z-Wave智能集线器兼容的交换机。带有路创(Lutron)开关的路创(Lutron)智能集线器是另一种选择。
GE Zigbee 智能调光器(GE Zigbee Smart Dimmer)
市场上的Zigbee(Zigbee)集线器兼容交换机并不多，但 GE 提供与Alexa兼容的交换机也就不足为奇了。GE 一直在创造许多智能家居设备，这些设备继续在大多数智能家居评论列表中名列前茅。
在您家中的多个房间安装GE Zigbee 智能(GE Zigbee Smart)调光器，然后将它们连接到任何Zigbee兼容集线器，如SmartThings、Wink或主要有线电视公司提供的大多数智能集线器。
调光功能仅适用于可调光灯泡，但您也可以使用开关打开或关闭灯。
(Purchase GE Zigbee Smart Dimmer)以 32 至 43 美元的价格购买 GE Zigbee 智能调光器，具体取决于款式。
GE Z-Wave 智能调光器(GE Z-Wave Smart Dimmer)
GE 还提供与Z-Wave(Z-Wave)智能集线器（如ADT集线器、霍尼韦尔(Honeywell)、Nexia、Vivint等）兼容的最佳智能交换机之一。它还可以通过扩展来自Z-Wave(Z-Wave)集线器的无线信号来充当扩展器。这意味着您可以在整个房屋中放置开关，超出Z-Wave集线器本身 150 英尺的距离限制。
GE Z-Wave 智能开关(GE Z-Wave Smart Switch)与Alexa和Google Home兼容。它适用于任何标准房间灯，通过与原始电灯开关使用的相同接线来控制它们。
以 40 美元购买 GE Z-Wave 智能开关(Purchase GE Z-Wave Smart Switch)。如果您更喜欢智能调光器，请花35 美元购买 GE Enbrighten Z-Wave 智能调光器。(GE Enbrighten Z-Wave Smart Dimmer)
Wi-Fi 智能开关(Wi-Fi Smart Switches)
如果您只想控制一两个房间，那么您可以考虑只使用连接Wi-Fi的智能开关。这些交换机不需要任何智能集线器。相反，它们直接连接到您的Wi-Fi网络，因此您可以将它们控制到连接了Wi-Fi 的(Wi-Fi)智能手机。
以下是市场上最流行的 5 款 Wi-Fi 智能开关。
用智能灯泡代替灯泡
如果您只想将家庭照明变成智能家居照明，并且对添加一系列不同的产品不感兴趣，那么专用的智能家居灯泡可能是更好的选择。
如果您只关心一两个房间，则尤其如此，因此您需要的智能灯泡数量是有限的。这种方法的另一个优点是您无需进行任何电气布线工作即可实现灯光自动化。您只需更换灯泡，就完成了。
飞利浦 Hue 智能灯泡入门套件(Philips Hue Smart Bulb Starter Kit)
飞利浦 Hue(Philips Hue)入门套件（彩色或白色灯）随附飞利浦 Hue(Philips Hue)集线器和一组四个灯泡。灯泡通过Zigbee通信协议与集线器通信。将集线器本身直接插入路由器，您就可以通过智能手机应用(a smartphone app)程序控制所有灯。
通过使用该应用程序，您可以设置各种配色方案、调暗灯光，甚至可以自动化灯光以匹配您在同一房间的电视上观看的电影或游戏。
随着您扩展飞利浦 Hue(Philips Hue)智能照明系统，您可以将灯泡安装到房子的任何房间。您可以将灯光分配到任何房间并通过集线器控制它们。您还可以通过Alexa或Google Home控制灯光。
以大约 200 美元的价格购买飞利浦 Hue 智能灯入门套件(Purchase the Philips Hue smart light starter kit)。
C by GE 智能灯入门套件(C by GE Smart Lights Starter Kit)
如果您真的不想花几百美元开始在家中使用智能灯，GE 提供了一个经济实惠的解决方案，其中包含 C by GE 智能灯入门套件(starter kit)。
该解决方案使用创新的插头，您可以使用它来控制灯或任何其他设备，它还可以用作控制灯泡的Wi-Fi桥接器。使用Alexa或Google Home来控制灯泡和插头。它甚至还集成了语音控制。
(Buy the C by GE smart lights kit)以 35 美元的价格 购买带有 2 个灯泡的 C by GE 智能灯套件或以 55 美元的价格购买 4 个灯泡。
使用智能(Smart Plugs)插头自动化(Automate)照明
实现房屋照明自动化的最简单方法之一就是将每个房间的灯插入智能插头。然后使用您的手机从一个应用程序控制所有这些灯。
以下是您可以用来执行此操作的最流行的智能插头。
- TP-Link Kasa（23 美元）：可与Wi-Fi配合使用，无需集线器。适用于Alexa和Google Home。
- Belkin WeMo（59 美元）：连接到Wi-Fi并使用(Wi-Fi)WeMo应用程序或使用Alexa打开或关闭。
- D-Link 户外插头(D-Link Outdoor Plug)（50 美元）：使用这款 2 插座户外智能插头控制您的户外灯(outdoor lights)或其他设备。适用于Alexa或Google Home。
- 亚马逊智能插头(Amazon Smart Plug)（25 美元）：经济实惠的亚马逊(Amazon)智能插头，可通过Wi-Fi工作并与您的Alexa设备集成。
自动化(Automate Lights Inside)您家(Outside Your Home)内外的灯光
有很多解决方案可以使用智能手机或Alexa(Alexa)或Google Home等智能家居控制器控制家中和周围几乎所有的灯光。也不必花大价钱。
如果你想改造你的整个家，你可以通过购买集线器并随着时间的推移添加兼容的智能灯泡来更实惠地做到这一点。或者，您可以简单地使用支持Wi-Fi的设备，一次只将一个房间的灯泡更换为智能灯泡。
您选择的选项仅取决于您希望以多快的速度实现家庭照明自动化以及您愿意花多少钱。
How to Automate Lights (Both Smart and Non-Smart)
Smart lights are one of the most useful smart home dеvices on the market today. They provide a wide variety of optionѕ to use to aυtоmate lights inside and outside of your homе.
In this article, we’ll cover how to do this by using either actual smart bulb solutions, or by using other smart home devices to control your existing light bulbs.
Options to Automate Lights in Your Home
You can control lights throughout your home with your smartphone in different ways. If you don’t want to replace every light bulb, you can just replace strategically located switches and plugs. Or, if you want more advanced features like colors or dimming, look into smart bulb options.
Here are all of the options you have to choose from:
- Replace wall switches with smart switches.
- Plug smart plugs into existing outlets.
- Replace existing light bulbs with smart bulbs.
Each of these have pros and cons, and the options you choose can change the overall cost significantly if you don’t plan wisely.
Smart System Compatibility
When you start building your smart home, you’ll need to decide which smart home ecosystem you want to base your system on.
While the smart home industry isn’t quite the Wild West that it used to be, there isn’t one central device you can use to control all other devices. But there are a few common devices – called “smart home hubs” – that attempt to do so.
- ZigBee: Connects to your smart devices via an IEEE 802.15.4 personal-area network.
- Z-Wave: A mesh network that talks to smart devices via low-energy radio waves.
- Lutron: Connects to Lutron smart lights via Clear Connect RF technology.
- Philips: Uses ZigBee 802.15.4 network technology to connect to Philips smart bulbs.
There are two areas of compatibility you need to consider: which light bulbs, switches, or plugs the hub will talk to, and what smart home controllers it’ll work with like Alexa, Apple HomeKit, or Google Home.
Replace Wall Switches With Smart Switches
If you want to automate all of the lights in each room with your smartphone, the best way to do this is by replacing your standard wall light switches with smart switches instead.
There are a few varieties of these. If you want to install several of these switches in various rooms, you should choose some that are compatible with the ZigBee or Z-Wave smart hubs. A Lutron smart hub with Lutron switches is another option.
GE Zigbee Smart Dimmer
There aren’t a lot of Zigbee hub-compatible switches on the market, but it should be no surprise the GE offers one that works with Alexa. GE has been creating many smart home devices that continue to top most smart home review lists.
Install the GE Zigbee Smart dimmer in multiple rooms of your house and then connect them to any Zigbee compatible hub like SmartThings, Wink, or most smart hubs offered by major cable companies.
The dimming feature only works with dimmable bulbs, but you can also use the switch to turn lights on or off as well.
Purchase GE Zigbee Smart Dimmer for $32 to $43 depending on style.
GE Z-Wave Smart Dimmer
GE also offers one of the best smart switches compatible with Z-Wave smart hubs like ADT hubs, Honeywell, Nexia, Vivint, and more. It also acts as an extender by extending the wireless signal from the Z-Wave hub. Meaning you can place switches throughout your house beyond the 150 foot distance limitation of the Z-Wave hub itself.
The GE Z-Wave Smart Switch is compatible with both Alexa and Google Home. It works with any standard room lights by controlling them through the same wiring used by your original light switches.
Purchase GE Z-Wave Smart Switch for $40. If you prefer a smart dimmer, then go with the GE Enbrighten Z-Wave Smart Dimmer for $35.
Wi-Fi Smart Switches
If you only have one or two rooms that you want to control, then you might consider just going with a Wi-Fi connected smart switch. These switches don’t require any smart hub. They instead connect directly to your Wi-Fi network so you can control them to your Wi-Fi connected smartphone.
The following are 5 of the most popular Wi-Fi smart switches on the market.
Replace Bulbs With Smart Bulbs
If you only wish to turn your home lighting into smart home lighting, and aren’t interested in adding a family of different products, then dedicated smart home bulbs might be a better option.
This is especially true if there are only one or two rooms you care about, so that the number of smart bulbs you need are limited. Another advantage of this approach is that you don’t have to do any electrical wiring work to automate lights. You just change out the light bulbs, and you’re done.
Philips Hue Smart Bulb Starter Kit
The Philips Hue starter kit (either colored or white lights) comes with the Philips Hue hub and a set of four bulbs. The bulbs communicate with the hub via Zigbee communication protocol. Plug the hub itself directly into the router and you can control all of the lights via a smartphone app.
By using the app you can set various color schemes, dim the lights, or even automate the lights to match movies or games that you’re watching on a television in the same room.
As you expand the Philips Hue smart light system, you can install the bulbs into any room of the house. You can assign the lights to any room and control them all via the hub. You can also control the lights via Alexa or Google Home.
Purchase the Philips Hue smart light starter kit for about $200.
C by GE Smart Lights Starter Kit
If you really don’t want to dish out a few hundred dollars to get started with smart lights in your home, GE offers an affordable solution with the C by GE smart lights starter kit.
This solution uses an innovative plug that you can use to control a lamp or any other device, and it also serves as a Wi-Fi bridge for controlling the light bulbs as well. Use Alexa or Google Home to control the bulbs and the plug. It even has integrated voice control as well.
Buy the C by GE smart lights kit with 2 bulbs for $35 or 4 bulbs for $55.
Using Smart Plugs to Automate Lights
One of the simplest ways to automate lights in your house is to just plug lamps in each room into a smart plug. Then use your phone to control all of those lamps from a single app.
The following are the most popular smart plugs you can use to do this.
- TP-Link Kasa ($23): Works with Wi-Fi, and no hub required. Works with Alexa and Google Home.
- Belkin WeMo ($59): Connect to Wi-Fi and turn on or off with the WeMo app or using Alexa.
- D-Link Outdoor Plug ($50): Control your outdoor lights or other devices with this 2 outlet outdoor smart plug. Works with Alexa or Google Home.
- Amazon Smart Plug ($25): Affordable Amazon smart plug that works via Wi-Fi and integrates with your Alexa device.
Automate Lights Inside and Outside Your Home
There are plenty of solutions for controlling nearly all lights around and inside your home using your smartphone or your smart home controllers like Alexa or Google Home. It doesn’t have to cost a fortune either.
If you want to convert your entire home, you can do so more affordably by buying a hub and adding compatible smart bulbs over time. Or, you could simply use Wi-Fi enabled devices and change out your bulbs into smart bulbs just one room at a time.
The option you choose just depends on how quickly you want to automate your home lighting and how much you’re willing to spend.
