Hey everyone! I wanted to share a fun DIY project I recently completed and some tips I’ve picked up along the way. First, let me talk about how I transformed a regular lamp into a super cool helmet lamp! 
I added a Govee RGBIC bulb to it, and it’s been a game-changer for creating different moods in my space. The colors are vibrant, and the dimming feature is super smooth. Plus, I love how easy it is to control everything through my phone! 
I also wanted to mention another project I worked on—a Monopoly board! 
Initially, it looked great, but I wanted to add that extra flair. I installed two 16’ Govee LED Strip Lights, and the section control was amazing! It really brought the board to life, especially during game nights. The RGBIC strips added so much character, and it was surprisingly easy to set up. I just wanted to share this in case anyone else is thinking of doing something similar—it’s a fantastic way to combine gaming and smart tech! 
On another note, I’ve been experimenting with automations in my setup. One thing I’m curious about is how others handle their light groups. I’ve set up some basic automations, but I’m looking to make them more efficient. For example, I’d love to find a way to check if a group of lights is on without listing each entity individually. If anyone has tips or tricks for this, I’d be super grateful! 
Lastly, I wanted to mention a small issue I’ve been dealing with. Sometimes, when viewing feeds from my cameras, they disconnect and show an error code. It would be awesome if the app could automatically refresh when it detects a disconnection instead of needing manual intervention. I’d also love to see an alert for how many disconnects have been detected. Maybe someone out there knows a workaround for this? 
Overall, I’m really enjoying the journey of integrating smart tech into my home. It’s been so rewarding to see how these small projects can make such a big difference in my daily life. Thanks for reading, and I hope this post inspires someone to try out their own DIY smart projects! 