Hi everyone, I’ve been diving into the world of smart lighting automation and wanted to share my experience and some tips that might help others out there.
Recently, I’ve been experimenting with setting up my lights to automatically turn on at sunset and then switch off at a specific time, say 10 PM. This seemed like a straightforward task, but I ran into a few hiccups along the way. Let me walk you through how I tackled it and what I learned.
The Goal:
I wanted my outdoor lights to come on as the sun sets, providing safety and ambiance in the evenings. Then, after a few hours, I wanted them to turn off automatically to save energy. Sounds simple, right?
The Setup:
I’m using the SmartThings app for this automation. Initially, I tried setting up a basic automation rule, but it didn’t quite work as expected. The lights would either turn on too early or too late, and sometimes they wouldn’t turn off at all.
The Challenges:
- Sunset Timing: The app uses the device’s location to determine sunset, but it wasn’t accounting for daylight saving time changes. This meant my lights were sometimes an hour off.
- Overlap with Existing Routines: I had other routines running that also controlled the lights, causing conflicts.
- Manual Overrides: If I manually turned the lights off before the scheduled time, the automation wouldn’t reactivate them the next day.
The Solutions:
After some research and experimentation, here’s what worked for me:
- Adjust Sunset Trigger: I found that manually adjusting the sunset trigger time by 30 minutes helped compensate for any discrepancies caused by daylight saving time or weather conditions.
- Layered Automation: Instead of relying on a single automation rule, I created multiple layers of automation. For example, one rule handles the sunset trigger, another manages the 10 PM shutdown, and a third ensures the lights reactivate the next day regardless of manual overrides.
- Geofencing Integration: I linked the automation to my geofencing settings so that if I’m away from home, the lights still follow their scheduled routine. If I’m nearby, they can be manually controlled without affecting the automation.
Tips for Others:
- Test Incrementally: Don’t try to set up the entire automation at once. Test each component separately to ensure it’s working as expected.
- Log Monitoring: Keep an eye on the app’s activity logs to spot any issues early on.
- Backup Plans: Have manual controls in place so you can override the automation if needed.
Final Thoughts:
Setting up this smart lighting automation has been a rewarding experience. It’s not just about convenience; it’s also about creating a safer and more energy-efficient home environment. I’m now looking into expanding this setup to include other outdoor lights and maybe even some smart plugs for seasonal decorations.
If anyone has tips or tricks for improving this setup, I’d love to hear them! Happy automating! 