Philips Hue - best place to buy, and bayonet fittings?

Forums › Gadgets, robotics, home automation, electronics (including wearables) › Philips Hue - best place to buy, and bayonet fittings?

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7 posts

Wannabe Geek

#1751388 31-Mar-2017 23:01

I have used a range of the Philips Hue products for about one year, they are quite good, easy to install and set up, and quite reliable as well,

most importantly, they are compatible with quite lot of thing like Amazon Alexa and Harmony etc. meanwhile their price are acceptable whatever

you buy from New Zealand or Amazon UK shop.

lchiu7

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#1752686 1-Apr-2017 15:07

I have Insteon to control a light switch (wired into the switch itself behind it) and Insteon and D-Link wall switches to control lamps. Insteon uses RF and also pulses on the powerline and D-Link WiFi. My experiences with both are not what I call solid with both devices falling off the networks occasionally. This has zero WAF :-(

So I am doing to ditch the Insteon behind the wall switch and spent the money on Hue which seems a lot more solid. Having bought the hub a 2 bulbs from Amazon UK I will buy the rest of the bulbs locally for about $30 I think. At least I can put bulbs anywhere and control them without having to install more switches.

Staying in Wellington. Check out my AirBnB in the Wellington CBD. https://www.airbnb.co.nz/h/wellycbd PM me and mention GZ to get a 15% discount and no AirBnB charges.

iSmartWindow

7 posts

Wannabe Geek

#1752799 1-Apr-2017 17:27

Yesterday I installed Broadlink TC2 1-gang,2-gang,3-gang switch for my kitchen,dining room and living room LED lights, included one for my garden light, they are pretty good, it's easy to replace the old switch and easy to configure.

The Broadlink use RF to control the switch,so it can reach quite far distance, it resolved my long time headache problem, that's my garden light, the switch was installed in my garage, I need to go there to turn on the light every night, although my old switch can be set to turn off in 3 hours time, but it still need to be turn on manually, before that,I have tried to install a Philips Hue light, but because it's too far away from the Philips control Hub and other Philips Hue lights,so the Zigbee sign can't reach to my garden Philips Hue light. now I used the Broadlink switch TC2 to replace the old switch, I can set the timing to control the garden light every night via Broadlink's e-control App.

Just one thing is a little bit disappoint, at the moment, I can't control the TC2 switch through the Amazon Alexa, Broadlink e-control app and Broadlink RM Plugin App via voice command. I think it's because the TC2 doesn't have remote control, so e-control app can't learn the codes via the remote control, otherwise we almost can control everything like motorised curtains and roller blinds; air condition and outdoor gate etc via voice command.

Lizard1977

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#1756188 4-Apr-2017 11:02

So my bulbs arrived today. The email advising they were shipped came at 12.40am and the bulbs arrived around 6am. Pretty good delivery!

I had a quick play before work and have a few observations. The bulb wifi bridge is a lot smaller than I expected - easily fits in the palm of my hand - and the "white" light is more pink than pure white. Also, the MiLight app (v3) is pretty good but doesn't have the programmability that I was hoping for. The key feature I wanted was a gradual brightening from a set time (simulating sunrise). Is this possible with the app (or another compatible app)?

iSmartWindow

7 posts

Wannabe Geek

#1757297 5-Apr-2017 22:36

Philips Hue is compatible with other devices like Amazon Alexa and Harmony etc. and is controllable by Apple Homekit and Siri, and also you can download the Yonomi App.

lchiu7

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#1759569 8-Apr-2017 18:31

Just got mine and I wasn't able to set them up initially since I am running HABridge which emulates a Hue hub so the Hue app got confused and found all my emulated bulbs and said I had too many scenes. But the Dot found them without my having to setup the Hue app. Problem was I was initially stuck with the default bulb names.

Disconnected the Pi running HABridge, setup the bulbs using the app and gave them meaningful names and then reconnected the Pi. Then the Dot found the new bulbs with the new names.

Only slightly annoying thing about buying from Amazon UK is the plug for the bridge is a UK one but luckily I have tons of adapters around.

Staying in Wellington. Check out my AirBnB in the Wellington CBD. https://www.airbnb.co.nz/h/wellycbd PM me and mention GZ to get a 15% discount and no AirBnB charges.

Lizard1977

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#1766764 18-Apr-2017 14:57

Over the last week I purchased a number of Hue bulbs, taking advantage of sales and price guarantees (cheers to Mitre 10 PN for price matching Bunnings, even though Mitre 10 had no stock and had to order it in specially). Then Noel Leeming took 20% off Philips products (including Hue), which meant that Mitre 10 took a further 15% bringing the price of the white bulbs down to about $20ea, and the dimmer switches down to $34.

I had a bit of fun setting things up. My wife likes them, and we're using the wake-up setting to help both us and our 2-year old wake up each day. The 2-year old especially likes the colour bulbs I bought, and shouts out colours for me to change to while she's brushing her teeth.

The dimmer switches are great, the official Hue app works really well, and the integration with Siri and Homekit is a nice bonus, especially the control centre screen that gets added in iOS. And then to set up geofencing so the lights switch off when I leave is spooky cool! I'm looking forward to also playing with IFTTT and seeing what cool things I can do. It's also nice to see the integration with the Harmony Hub. So many things work so well (apart from Siri not always understanding my mangled Nu Zild), it offers a tantalising glimpse of what the future holds. Now I'm keen to get my hands on an Echo Dot to see how that works with Hue. If they were a bit cheaper I could easily see myself having them in each room of the house for voice control of the lights.

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Trade NZ and US shares and funds with Sharesies (affiliate link).

Paul1977

5047 posts

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#1766815 18-Apr-2017 15:37

Lizard1977:

Over the last week I purchased a number of Hue bulbs, taking advantage of sales and price guarantees (cheers to Mitre 10 PN for price matching Bunnings, even though Mitre 10 had no stock and had to order it in specially). Then Noel Leeming took 20% off Philips products (including Hue), which meant that Mitre 10 took a further 15% bringing the price of the white bulbs down to about $20ea, and the dimmer switches down to $34.

I had a bit of fun setting things up. My wife likes them, and we're using the wake-up setting to help both us and our 2-year old wake up each day. The 2-year old especially likes the colour bulbs I bought, and shouts out colours for me to change to while she's brushing her teeth.

The dimmer switches are great, the official Hue app works really well, and the integration with Siri and Homekit is a nice bonus, especially the control centre screen that gets added in iOS. And then to set up geofencing so the lights switch off when I leave is spooky cool! I'm looking forward to also playing with IFTTT and seeing what cool things I can do. It's also nice to see the integration with the Harmony Hub. So many things work so well (apart from Siri not always understanding my mangled Nu Zild), it offers a tantalising glimpse of what the future holds. Now I'm keen to get my hands on an Echo Dot to see how that works with Hue. If they were a bit cheaper I could easily see myself having them in each room of the house for voice control of the lights.

I did the same thing over the weekend in Christchurch, got Mitre 10 to do the 15% off the Bunnings and Noel Leeming price.

@Lizard1977 Quick question for you regarding the coloured bulbs you got. Does the model number of the bulbs say LCT007 or LCT010 in the Hue app?

I only realized today that Gen 3 bulbs (LCT010) came out late last year, but all the ones got from Mitre 10 are Gen 2 (LCT007). But I can't figure out whether it is because the Gen 3 simply haven't been released in NZ yet or not? So I'd be curious to know what models you got?

If Gen 3 simply aren't available in NZ then that's fine, but if I just got old stock then I'd likely want to get them changed.

richms

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#1766820 18-Apr-2017 15:38

No new stock in NZ at all when I asked philips about it, the gen 3 fixes the lousy colour issues that had me return the lot I got.

Richard rich.ms

Paul1977

5047 posts

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#1766825 18-Apr-2017 15:46

richms:

No new stock in NZ at all when I asked philips about it, the gen 3 fixes the lousy colour issues that had me return the lot I got.

@ richms So, is that to say that there are no Gen 3 yet in NZ according to Philips? How long ago was this?

Lizard1977

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#1766826 18-Apr-2017 15:46

Paul1977:

I did the same thing over the weekend in Christchurch, got Mitre 10 to do the 15% off the Bunnings and Noel Leeming price.

@Lizard1977 Quick question for you regarding the coloured bulbs you got. Does the model number of the bulbs say LCT007 or LCT010 in the Hue app?

I only realized today that Gen 3 bulbs (LCT010) came out late last year, but all the ones got from Mitre 10 are Gen 2 (LCT007). But I can't figure out whether it is because the Gen 3 simply haven't been released in NZ yet or not? So I'd be curious to know what models you got?

If Gen 3 simply aren't available in NZ then that's fine, but if I just got old stock then I'd likely want to get them changed.

LCT007. I suspected they were Gen2 because I'd read that the newer bulbs had packaging that said "Richer Colours", and these didn't have that. I'm not too fussed about that. I've only got a few of the colour bulbs, and may upgrade down the track if it's worthwhile.

Paul1977

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#1766832 18-Apr-2017 16:06

Lizard1977:

Paul1977:

I did the same thing over the weekend in Christchurch, got Mitre 10 to do the 15% off the Bunnings and Noel Leeming price.

@Lizard1977 Quick question for you regarding the coloured bulbs you got. Does the model number of the bulbs say LCT007 or LCT010 in the Hue app?

I only realized today that Gen 3 bulbs (LCT010) came out late last year, but all the ones got from Mitre 10 are Gen 2 (LCT007). But I can't figure out whether it is because the Gen 3 simply haven't been released in NZ yet or not? So I'd be curious to know what models you got?

If Gen 3 simply aren't available in NZ then that's fine, but if I just got old stock then I'd likely want to get them changed.

LCT007. I suspected they were Gen2 because I'd read that the newer bulbs had packaging that said "Richer Colours", and these didn't have that. I'm not too fussed about that. I've only got a few of the colour bulbs, and may upgrade down the track if it's worthwhile.

I just phoned Philips (someone answered straight away and answered my question immediately).

According to the lady I spoke with the Gen 3 bulbs aren't in NZ yet and they don't know when they will be.

Assuming she knew what she was talking about, that makes me feel better!

The main reason I got the coloured ones was to have the best control over the colour temperature of the whites, I can't imagine I'll use them much for green and red etc anyway. Certainly not worth it for me to return them and wait an unspecified time for the Gen 3 (which will probably be more expensive as well).

We bought some new lighting fittings to show them off as well.

Living room:

Dining Room:

richms

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#1766972 18-Apr-2017 20:01

I got some of the mi yilight wifi bulbs. Nice colour and whites, and the cheap white only one isn't crusty orange but a nice 4000k white. Not got anything beyond my mi hub controlling them yet.

Not that bright tho so may have to up the number of lamps that go in the makeshift kitchen and dining Reno.

Richard rich.ms

sonyxperiageek

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#1766987 18-Apr-2017 21:00

Lizard1977:

Over the last week I purchased a number of Hue bulbs, taking advantage of sales and price guarantees (cheers to Mitre 10 PN for price matching Bunnings, even though Mitre 10 had no stock and had to order it in specially). Then Noel Leeming took 20% off Philips products (including Hue), which meant that Mitre 10 took a further 15% bringing the price of the white bulbs down to about $20ea, and the dimmer switches down to $34.

I had a bit of fun setting things up. My wife likes them, and we're using the wake-up setting to help both us and our 2-year old wake up each day. The 2-year old especially likes the colour bulbs I bought, and shouts out colours for me to change to while she's brushing her teeth.

The dimmer switches are great, the official Hue app works really well, and the integration with Siri and Homekit is a nice bonus, especially the control centre screen that gets added in iOS. And then to set up geofencing so the lights switch off when I leave is spooky cool! I'm looking forward to also playing with IFTTT and seeing what cool things I can do. It's also nice to see the integration with the Harmony Hub. So many things work so well (apart from Siri not always understanding my mangled Nu Zild), it offers a tantalising glimpse of what the future holds. Now I'm keen to get my hands on an Echo Dot to see how that works with Hue. If they were a bit cheaper I could easily see myself having them in each room of the house for voice control of the lights.

Does your geofencing work? I've had my Hue bulbs since December last year and still to this date haven't been able to set up geo-fencing. I turn it on, but then when I click back after turning them on, it turns off automatically again! When I try turn them on, the Google Maps display comes on but that's about it. Then it turns off again.

Sony

Paul1977

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#1767010 18-Apr-2017 21:36

richms: I got some of the mi yilight wifi bulbs. Nice colour and whites, and the cheap white only one isn't crusty orange but a nice 4000k white. Not got anything beyond my mi hub controlling them yet.

Not that bright tho so may have to up the number of lamps that go in the makeshift kitchen and dining Reno.

Depends on your taste, to me 4000K is far too cool for a living room. Brightness on any of these smart bulbs seems to be an issue - in my living room I went from 3x 100W incandesants to 5x gen 2 hues to get a comparable max brightness.

After reading about the better colours in the Hue gen 3 I had a bit more of a play with the gen 2 ones tonight, and the only colour that is really quite poor is green (which just comes out as an off-yellow). All other colours are fine and the various shades of white are really good.

99% of the time I anticipate using a shade of white, or maybe a more orange low-light 'flame' colour (like an Edison bulb) - so lack of a decent green isn't enough to warrant not keeping them (unless I could immediately swap for gen 3, which doesn't seem to be an option in NZ yet).

The only other somewhat annoying thing is the crazily bright blue status LEDs on the Hue Bridge which can't be disabled - had to sort that with some electrical tape.

I will likely wait for gen 3 bulbs before doing the bedroom though.

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