Light Programming Success: A Bedside Automation Journey

I recently had an exciting experience reprogramming my bedside lights, and I wanted to share my journey and some tips for anyone looking to do something similar. This process was both challenging and rewarding, and I hope my experience can help others achieve their smart home goals.

A few weeks ago, I noticed that the custom programming for my bedside lights had been lost. The setup I had was perfect for my needs: when I turned the light on, it would start at 25% brightness with a warm, yellowish color. If I quickly turned it off and then back on, it would jump to 90% brightness with a cool, white light. This was incredibly handy for differentiating between waking up and just needing a quick check in the middle of the night.

When this functionality stopped working, I was a bit frustrated but also saw it as an opportunity to dive deeper into the capabilities of my smart home system. After some research and experimentation, I was able to reprogram the lights using the following steps:

  1. Identify the Device and App: I started by locating the settings menu in the Shelly app where I could adjust the light’s behavior. This involved accessing the device profile and navigating to the automation section.

  2. Set Up Scenes: I created two scenes—one for the low-brightness, warm light and another for the high-brightness, cool light. This allowed me to assign specific actions to each scene.

  3. Configure the Switch: The key was linking the switch actions to the scenes. I programmed the switch so that a single press would activate the low-brightness scene, while a double press would trigger the high-brightness scene.

  4. Testing and Fine-Tuning: After setting everything up, I tested the system multiple times to ensure it worked seamlessly. I also adjusted the transition times and color temperatures to make the experience as smooth and pleasant as possible.

The end result was even better than I had hoped! The lights now respond perfectly to my needs, and I feel a great sense of accomplishment having brought this setup back to life. If you’re looking to program your own lights, here are a few tips:

  • Start Simple: Begin with basic automation before moving on to more complex setups.
  • Use Templates: Many apps offer pre-made templates that you can customize to fit your needs.
  • Experiment: Don’t be afraid to try different configurations until you find the perfect setup.

If anyone has questions or needs help with their own light programming projects, feel free to reach out! I’d be happy to share more details or troubleshoot any issues you might encounter.

Happy automating!