Amazon Echo to HA Controllers

[Frunple]

Its best to have lots of options. The controlled bulbs are great for things like lamps where there may not be a switch controlling a lamp. Besides, for a lamp, a controlled switch can't be a dimmer switch, according to code, do then you have no way to dim it unless the lamp itself has a dimmer. 

I use lamp modules in that case. They work great.
See, to me, these new bulbs are for people who know nothing about HA. It's a new fad. "OOH, look, I can turn on the light with my phone!" Except when they go to show a friend and their son turned the light off by the switch like it's intended.
It's just more garbage being added. I think of it like Homekit. The Apple loyal will buy it because if Apple makes it, they must need it. But what about when they find out that it does nothing that we aren't already doing without it??? Why waste time and money on something that is being used today, in a better form?

 

[jkmonroe]

i do it because i like the ability to change color temp. and a smart bulb and module are still at the whim of someone physically turning off the lamp, so theres no difference either way. and since there isn't a difference, having a $12.50 bulb that does *the exact same thing* as a $40 module seems like a good thing to me.

fyi, i was OK with this right until you went into name calling and hopped on a horse. remember -

"Great minds discuss ideas; average minds discuss events; small minds discuss people." - Eleanor Roosevelt

 

[ano]

I'm not assigning probability, but pointing out that existence of a failure point means greater than zero. Whether the actual value of the increased risk is within acceptable levels is a personal decision.

O.K. How do you control lights with 100.00% reliability? 
 
If a bulb is found to be defective, its not hard to replace. Simply grab the top and rotate counter-clockwise until it pops out. To install a new bulb, repeat the above in reverse. Chances are, you may not even require an electrician for this replacement task.

 

[ano]

I use lamp modules in that case. They work great.
See, to me, these new bulbs are for people who know nothing about HA. It's a new fad. "OOH, look, I can turn on the light with my phone!" Except when they go to show a friend and their son turned the light off by the switch like it's intended.
It's just more garbage being added. I think of it like Homekit. The Apple loyal will buy it because if Apple makes it, they must need it. But what about when they find out that it does nothing that we aren't already doing without it??? Why waste time and money on something that is being used today, in a better form?

For me, a smartbulb is a better solution than some clunky wall module, and as jkmonroe says, a wall module can't control color. There is a Zigbee standard called Light Link http://www.zigbee.org/zigbee-for-developers/applicationstandards/zigbee-light-link/ that specifies how to talk with a Zigbee bulb, and this spec includes color control.  Zigbee bulbs today are $13 and they keep dropping in price. We need high volumes to get the price down. Modules are still a $50-$60 device. 
 
I also don't agree that Zigbee bulbs are for "people who know nothing about HA." Controlling a bulb from a smartphone is only one option. You could have Zigbee wall switches and a home controller with Zigbee and do far more than a lamp module will do for you. 

 

[Frunple]

i do it because i like the ability to change color temp. and a smart bulb and module are still at the whim of someone physically turning off the lamp, so theres no difference either way. and since there isn't a difference, having a $12.50 bulb that does *the exact same thing* as a $40 module seems like a good thing to me.

fyi, i was OK with this right until you went into name calling and hopped on a horse. remember -

"Great minds discuss ideas; average minds discuss events; small minds discuss people." - Eleanor Roosevelt

Curious who this is directed at??

 

[jkmonroe]

pay no attention to it. i was sleep deprived thanks to a long night with a crying baby and took it out on here.

point still holds re: smart bulbs v modules.

 

[pete_c]

Personally I am just starting into the Zigbee world. Only have a few Zigbee devices and 3 controllers.

I've not had a need or interest in an RGB type bulb even though I've been playing with LV RGB stuff.

Wondering where I can purchase a Zigbee RGB bulb today.

 

[jkmonroe]

home depot, best buy, apple store, lowes all carry zigbee bulbs around here.
 
GE Link, Philips Hue (bridge required), TCP Connected, Cree all make them.

 

[pete_c]

Lowes is nearby. Which brand of Zigbee RGB bulb is recommended from Lowes?

For the time being will leave the Amazon Echo alone.

 

[jkmonroe]

If you want RGB, you need either Osram or Hue.  Osram does not require a bridge, so that is probably your best bet.
 
Look for Osram Lightify, they have a standard a19 RGB bulb.

 

[pete_c]

Guessing Osram RGB bulb will work with a Zigbee non proprietary controller eh?

 

[jkmonroe]

yep. i believe they follow zigbee home automation and not light link.

 

[ano]

Personally I am just starting into the Zigbee world. Only have a few Zigbee devices and 3 controllers.

I've not had a need or interest in an RGB type bulb even though I've been playing with LV RGB stuff.

Wondering where I can purchase a Zigbee RGB bulb today.

Things are still evolving. The common Zigbee bulbs in HD and Lowes are just white. If you want RGB bulbs that follow the Zigbee Light Link protocol, you need to search from more. Now remember you need a Light Link controller to control them because the Home Automation protocol is different. It probably will provide basic control though.
 
Then you are probably saying why so many Zigbee protocols? They are actually in the process of being merged. This is Zigbee 3 I beleive.
 
So for RGB Zigbee bulbs, look here: http://www.zigbee.org/zigbee-products-2/#zigbeecertifiedproducts/?view_30_filters=[{%22field%22%3A%22field_41%22%2C%22operator%22%3A%22is%22%2C%22value%22%3A%22551c72ab37b6dfa00fb984a7%22}]&view_30_page=1

 

[ano]

Looks like there are three RGB Zigbee bulbs:
 
http://www.zigbee.org/zigbee-products-2/#zigbeecertifiedproducts/productdetails3/5553fe92f7f0b6063927b1df/
 
http://www.zigbee.org/zigbee-products-2/#zigbeecertifiedproducts/productdetails3/5553fe9ef7f0b6063927b21b/
 
http://www.zigbee.org/zigbee-products-2/#zigbeecertifiedproducts/productdetails3/5553fec6f7f0b6063927b2d7/
 
RGB bulbs are still in the minority at this point. I'm not sure if you can even purchase these bulbs. But you can buy the GE or the Cree Zigbee bulbs at HD or Lowes. About $15 each. They work fine with a HAI/Leviton controller.

 

[ano]

Guessing Osram RGB bulb will work with a Zigbee non proprietary controller eh?

Yes, I think that one too. I'm not sure why many of these bulbs are not on the Zigbee Alliance web page.  Yes it can be controlled with a non-proprietary controller using the open Zigbee Light Link protocol. (But you got to find one of those.)