After upgrading to the EISY, I decided to expand my primarily Insteon (and some Z-Wave) system by incorporating some color bulbs. I chose the Zigbee Hue Bulbs, intrigued by the possibility of running smart bulbs alongside my existing smart switches without needing a hot light socket. **Here’s my experience and some key takeaways:**Zigbee Integration Magic I was pleasantly surprised by how effortlessly the EISY integrated with the Zigbee bulbs. All I had to do was power up the bulbs and click on “add a Zigbee device.” Within moments, all three bulbs appeared as devices in my system. No complicated setup or additional hardware required—just pure simplicity!Color Customization with Hue Saturation (HSL) The Hue bulbs offer two color settings: HSL and xyY. While I found xyY a bit tricky to navigate, the Hue Saturation (HSL) mode was user-friendly. I utilized an online color picker to experiment with different hues, which made setting up scenes a breeze.No Hot Socket Hassle I was initially concerned about maintaining the bulbs’ settings without a hot socket. However, I discovered a clever workaround by adding the Insteon switch and the “Hue-Sat” into a scene. This setup allows the bulb to revert to a default pale white when turned on via the switch and then transition to the programmed color. It’s a seamless integration that blends old and new technologies perfectly.Scene Automation and Voice Control To overcome the limitation of setting only one color per scene, I created multiple programs for different colors. Each program adjusts the scene’s color settings, which I can trigger via spoken commands to Alexa. This added layer of automation enhances the user experience, making it both versatile and convenient.Community Insights While most of my experience was smooth, I encountered a minor hiccup with the initial setup. Thankfully, the community forums were a treasure trove of solutions and tips. Engaging with others who had similar experiences provided reassurance and additional insights, reinforcing the value of community support.Final Thoughts The EISY’s compatibility with Zigbee Hue bulbs has been a game-changer for my smart home setup. It’s not just about the technology; it’s about how it enhances daily life with ease and creativity. Whether you’re a seasoned pro or a curious newcomer, exploring the integration of different smart devices can open up a world of possibilities. Happy experimenting! 