I’ve been diving into the world of smart lighting lately, and I wanted to share my experiences and some questions I’ve come across. As someone who’s relatively new to this space, I’ve been trying to find the perfect balance between affordability, functionality, and compatibility with Home Assistant (HA).
One of the bulbs I’ve been using is the Yeelight 1s Colour in my daughter’s room. It’s been decent for a budget-friendly option, especially for a nightlight. However, I’ve noticed that even at its dimmest setting, it’s still quite bright. I’ve heard great things about Philips Hue bulbs sinking much lower in terms of light intensity, but the price point, especially for a bulb that doesn’t get much use, feels a bit steep. Plus, the requirement for a Hue Bridge adds to the cost, which I’m trying to avoid.
Another challenge I’ve faced with Yeelight is the constant struggle to get it to work seamlessly with HA. I’ve spent hours tweaking configurations only to find that the bulb becomes unavailable or the entity disappears, even though it works perfectly through the Yeelight app. It’s been a frustrating experience, to say the least.
I’ve recently come across a CC2531 Zigbee USB Dongle, which I’m hopeful will open up more options for Zigbee devices. I’m curious to know if others have had success with Zigbee bulbs in terms of dimming capabilities and color accuracy.
I’d love to hear from the community about their experiences with different smart bulbs. What bulbs have worked well for you in terms of dimming, color quality, and HA integration? Are there any hidden gems or budget-friendly options that I might have missed? I’m also interested in tips or tricks to make the setup process smoother, especially for someone like me who’s still learning the ropes.
If anyone has recommendations or insights, I’d be really grateful! Let’s light up this conversation and help each other find the perfect smart lighting setup. 
