Philips Hue FAQ

AndyBoBandy · 07-05-2021 3:00pm

In 8 years with Hue, and with 5 sensors and 12 remote dimmers (most of which is coming up on 4-5 years old), I've changed batteries on 1 sensor, and one dimmer switch...

the sensor takes 2 AAA batteries, so easy enough to get, and teh remote dimmer takes CR2450 batteries, and I just bought 2 Duracell ones from an eBayer in Galway, so now I've a spare for teh next dimmer that needs one....

Plug mounted ones would seem so alien to Hue. Sensors go up in corners, and wires going to them would look awful...

brio09 · 07-05-2021 5:56pm

Thanks AndyBoBandy, Bluefoam. does sound like no wires has worked well enough for hue accessories!

how did you handle the existing physical switches?

AndyBoBandy wrote: »

If your going to do your entire house with Hue, only buy from Amazon and only when they have 3 for 2 deals or very heavy discounts.

It’s an expensive product to install (all in I’ve bought about 80 bulbs over the years)

any tips on how folks stay up to date with deals like this? I'm planning to refurbish the house I'm moving into (pre-owned purchase) with hue everywhere and it seems the price will run away unless there are deals.

do you create camelcamelcamel alerts for each product of amazon?

btw, is the june bank holiday a time for sales usually? feel like the next sale is months away at Halloween otherwise

punisher5112 · 07-05-2021 5:58pm

brio09 wrote: »

Thanks AndyBoBandy, Bluefoam. does sound like no wires has worked well enough for hue accessories!

how did you handle the existing physical switches?

any tips on how folks stay up to date with deals like this? I'm planning to refurbish the house I'm moving into (pre-owned purchase) with hue everywhere and it seems the price will run away unless there are deals.

do you create camelcamelcamel alerts for each product of amazon?

btw, is the june bank holiday a time for sales usually? feel like the next sale is months away at Halloween otherwise

Get blank plates or you get covers that hold the wireless switch on the original switch.

Bluefoam · 07-05-2021 6:24pm

brio09 wrote: »

Thanks AndyBoBandy, Bluefoam. does sound like no wires has worked well enough for hue accessories!

how did you handle the existing physical switches?

any tips on how folks stay up to date with deals like this? I'm planning to refurbish the house I'm moving into (pre-owned purchase) with hue everywhere and it seems the price will run away unless there are deals.

do you create camelcamelcamel alerts for each product of amazon?

btw, is the june bank holiday a time for sales usually? feel like the next sale is months away at Halloween otherwise

I didn't, I just ignore them. There's only one switch in the house in use. I might in the future put in blanking plates... Hasn't been a problem so far.

I have a spare remote switch thing, so might set that up as a master off button and keep it in the living room

AndyBoBandy · 07-05-2021 9:08pm

Same here, I mount them side by side to the traditional switches.
Makes it easier for non players to use the lights in a dumb capacity.

Shlippery · 11-05-2021 5:23pm

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fgLHRLcBWE8 - Signal RGB - latest update adds Phillips Hue support - takes Hue Sync to the next level by syncing up your Hue Entertainment areas w/ all your PC RGB - I've managed to sync up all my Corsair & Logitech stuff with Phillips Hue.

For the inner child or wanting that extra bit of immersion playing a horror game!

Irish Gunner · 13-05-2021 10:45am

Picked up Hue Lily from the Amazon Warehouse and now looking for extension cables so can extend them more. Just installing them and more than likely will need cable extension just not sure which length yet

Other than Amazon and spending more money on them is there anywhere else to get them or are options limited?

Something like the below

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Cable-Extension-Related-Articles-black/dp/B07CBLC7TC

However these do not seem to be in Supply on Amazon anyway 2.5m does but not longer ones

Take it these are the only options and no other lead will suffice?

Thoie · 14-05-2021 10:06am

Irish Gunner wrote: »

However these do not seem to be in Supply on Amazon anyway 2.5m does but not longer ones

Take it these are the only options and no other lead will suffice?

Could you daisy chain 2x 2.5m, or is that a terrible idea?

AndyBoBandy · 14-05-2021 4:19pm

Thoie wrote: »

Could you daisy chain 2x 2.5m, or is that a terrible idea?

Should work fine... I'd imagine you could daisy chain a lot more than 2 if you needed.

Irish Gunner · 14-05-2021 6:45pm

AndyBoBandy wrote: »

Should work fine... I'd imagine you could daisy chain a lot more than 2 if you needed.

Just set them up and the leads that came with it and seems fine for the moment. Just need to hide cable under bark.

Two lights at the side one at the top for the moment. Will look at getting 2-3 more when money allows to finish around the garden.

Need to wait till darkness descends to see real effect

Also hopefully rain will not cause any damage

Any other tips or suggestions welcome

OU812 · 17-05-2021 6:04pm

Lads, Getting an extension put on the front & want to put some hue GU10 bulbs as downlighters into the canopy.

Would they be ok for outdoor or should they be in a waterproof enclosure?

Bluefoam · 17-05-2021 7:36pm

OU812 wrote: »

Lads, Getting an extension put on the front & want to put some hue GU10 bulbs as downlighters into the canopy.

Would they be ok for outdoor or should they be in a waterproof enclosure?

It might be dependent on the light fittings you use...

punisher5112 · 17-05-2021 7:48pm

OU812 wrote: »

Lads, Getting an extension put on the front & want to put some hue GU10 bulbs as downlighters into the canopy.

Would they be ok for outdoor or should they be in a waterproof enclosure?

Get the covered in fitting suitable for outdoor.

Irish Gunner · 17-05-2021 10:54pm

Current lily set up outdoors with 3 spotlight powered by 40w power supply

Waiting for Prime day hopefully pick up 3 more

However do I need to get 100w power supply or would 40w support all 6 on same extension lead.

Nedved85 · 17-05-2021 10:57pm

You’ll need a 100watt psu or else a second 40Watt psu. I just bought a 100 Watt one. I have a spare 40 watt if you are interested in grabbing one on the cheap?

Irish Gunner · 18-05-2021 8:19am

Nedved85 wrote: »

You’ll need a 100watt psu or else a second 40Watt psu. I just bought a 100 Watt one. I have a spare 40 watt if you are interested in grabbing one on the cheap?

Cheers thought so

Thanks for the offer but how garden and plug is situated I was looking at just one plug to power all the lights.

I'll hold off until prime day, sometime in June i believe and see if I will add to Bezos millions unfortunately

Nedved85 · 18-05-2021 8:52am

I think 5 will work, but not 6. It’s worth trying out I guess.

100 watt version is working fine for me.

Irish Gunner · 18-05-2021 9:53am

Nedved85 wrote: »

I think 5 will work, but not 6. It’s worth trying out I guess.

100 watt version is working fine for me.

Each Lily is 8w so this would bring the total to 48w so should be enough for the 100w but not for 40w

RobbieTheRobber · 18-05-2021 10:03am

OU812 wrote: »

Lads, Getting an extension put on the front & want to put some hue GU10 bulbs as downlighters into the canopy.

Would they be ok for outdoor or should they be in a waterproof enclosure?

Philips don't support standard bulbs outside. But I have a Hue gu10 Colour bulb at my front door for over three years with no issue.
It was a new build house and there was a standard downlighter fitting in the front door canopy when I moved in and I just swapped the bulb with the hue one.
And I have had zero issues with that particular bulb. Set to turn on and off on a timer and never failed. (Except when Hue messed up times zones on the app)

Helpneeded86 · 21-05-2021 8:36pm

I have picked up enough Hue lights to cover my new house. I guess what I am wondering is do I need the Hue Bridge. I cant see how it adds a whole lot more for me.

Would people here think I should go for it?

irelandrover · 21-05-2021 8:37pm

Helpneeded86 wrote: »

I have picked up enough Hue lights to cover my new house. I guess what I am wondering is do I need the Hue Bridge. I cant see how it adds a whole lot more for me.

Would people here think I should go for it?

The bridge allows all the automation. It's definitely worth getting

punisher5112 · 21-05-2021 8:39pm

irelandrover wrote: »

The bridge allows all the automation. It's definitely worth getting

2nd this, did you not get one with all the packs you bought ....?

killbillvol2 · 21-05-2021 9:05pm

Why would you even buy the lights without the bridge? Just buy ordinary bulbs.

Sleeper12 · 21-05-2021 9:08pm

Helpneeded86 wrote:

Would people here think I should go for it?

Definitely. I'm surprised you didn't get the bridge bundled in with some of the bulbs.
I ended up with 3 because it worked out cheaper to buy the bulbs in the starter pack. So cheaper bulbs & free bridge. I have a spare bridge I'd be happy to donate if you are in the Dublin area

Helpneeded86 · 21-05-2021 10:30pm

killbillvol2 wrote: »

Why would you even buy the lights without the bridge? Just buy ordinary bulbs.

Voice Control via Alexa? Im testing it in the current house and that for me alone makes it worth it.

It seems the bridge is the way to go so.

Helpneeded86 · 21-05-2021 10:31pm

Sleeper12 wrote: »

Definitely. I'm surprised you didn't get the bridge bundled in with some of the bulbs.
I ended up with 3 because it worked out cheaper to buy the bulbs in the starter pack. So cheaper bulbs & free bridge. I have a spare bridge I'd be happy to donate if you are in the Dublin area

Thanks for the offer but I am in Tipperary. I got the bulbs for 7/8 euro via pretty solid deals on Amazon. I didnt see any negative to get started without the bridge. I did envisage that I would end up buying a bridge so its not really unexpected.

irelandrover · 21-05-2021 10:37pm

Helpneeded86 wrote: »

Voice Control via Alexa? Im testing it in the current house and that for me alone makes it worth it.

It seems the bridge is the way to go so.

My living room lights come on an hour before sunset. I have wake up lights in mine and my kids rooms. A time off at night to make sure everything is off. Loads of my rooms are on sensors.

I very rarely touch a light switch. i do use voice control a lot but it's definitely worth having the bridge

The bRidge really makes the bulbs worth it

lardarse · 22-05-2021 4:35pm

4 x lily spot lights plus PSU in argos for 340

https://www.argos.ie/static/Product/partNumber/8393616/Trail/searchtext%3EHUE.htm

acalmenvoy · 23-05-2021 2:11pm

Great price at the moment £78.83 Philips Hue Play White and Colour Ambiance Smart Light Bar Double Pack Base Unit

Nedved85 · 28-05-2021 9:30am

Philips Hue outdoor with 3 x Lily lights:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B07CHLGM6C/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?smid=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE&psc=1

Bargain?

Philips Hue FAQ

Comments