Rookie question again

[JeepVoodoo]

So i have ordered my Smartthings hub. i have a light switch for the kitchen lights coming and an outlet that i want to use for my attic fan..... so thats my beginner plan.... but my living room is all lamps with no ceiling lights. all lamps are switched on the lamp. how can i automate them and the kids still be able to turn them on? I cant wrap my head around that. 

 

[mikefamig]

If you have any switched outlets in the living room you can plug the lamp into the switched outlet and then automate the switch rather than automating the lamp outlet.
 
Mike.

 

[JeepVoodoo]

no wall switches for the room..... is there such an animal as a programmable remote button that can be used for individual devices?

 

[jkmonroe]

I don't think it's SmartThings compatible, but Lutron Caseta has a module for this exact scenario.
 
Staying inside ST, you might need to get a lamp module or microswitch and a battery operated switch (Cooper makes them), or something like the MiniMote.  I'm fairly sure the minimote works with ST, but I'm not sure about the Cooper battery switch.

 

[ano]

For lamps the easiest thing to do is use Zigbee smartbulbs. Cree and GE both make them and they work great with a hub.  I have used the Wink hub with these, but I'm pretty sure SmartThings supports them also.  They are around $13 each when you find them on sale.  You need to leave the lamp switch on for them to work. You can turn the lamp on by turn the lamp switch off then on, but you have to shut them off at the hub. If you turn them off at the lamp, then obviously the hub can't turn them back on.

 

[JeepVoodoo]

Minimote and the bulbs both sound good.... i really like hearing the bulbs are smart like that but i think we would end up leaving them off..... Minimote might be my best option....  

 

[ano]

If everyone agrees just to use your phone to turn them off, then that isn't a problem, but yes, if you turn them off at the switch on the lamp, no app will be able to turn them back on. 

 

[mikefamig]

no wall switches for the room..... is there such an animal as a programmable remote button that can be used for individual devices?

 
That exists in UPB lighting but is a whole different animal than Smartthings. Very customizable lighting but at a cost. Just google UPB and/or Simply Automated.
 
Mike.

 

[ano]

Actually there are several Zigbee and Z-Wave wall switches that are compatible with the SmartThings hub. Have you been to the SmartThings store page?
https://shop.smartthings.com/#!/taxons/things/lights-and-switches
 
SmartThings doesn't support UPB.
 
With A Zigbee bulb (Cree or GE) and a remote (Zigbee or Z-Wave) you can turn the bulb on and off with the SmartThings hub. Can use your phone as well.

 

[mikefamig]

Actually there are several Zigbee and Z-Wave wall switches that are compatible with the SmartThings hub. Have you been to the SmartThings store page?
https://shop.smartthings.com/#!/taxons/things/lights-and-switches

 
The OP mentioned that there were no switches on the lamp outlets.He needs to switch the outlets themselves.
 

SmartThings doesn't support UPB.
 
With A Zigbee bulb (Cree or GE) and a remote (Zigbee or Z-Wave) you can turn the bulb on and off with the SmartThings hub. Can use your phone as well.

 
The problem with that is that he wants his kids to be able to switch the lights manually in addition to them being automated.