I recently embarked on a project to enhance the lighting in my home using smart automation, and I must say, the results have been nothing short of amazing! 
I live in Norway, where the daylight conditions can be quite unpredictable. From long, dark winters to bright, sunny summers, finding the right balance in indoor lighting has always been a challenge. That’s why I decided to integrate a Sensative Strip outdoor lux sensor with my Zigbee-connected lights. The goal was to create an automated system that adjusts the indoor lighting based on the outdoor conditions, ensuring comfort and energy efficiency throughout the day.
Here’s how I approached it:
-
Morning Routine: The system starts by reading the outdoor lux levels in the morning. Depending on the brightness, it sets a target for the indoor lights, gradually adjusting over 30 minutes to ensure a smooth transition. This has been particularly helpful during the darker winter months, where the lights gently wake me up with a soft glow.
-
Daytime Automation: Between 9 AM and 6 PM, the lights remain at a high setting to compensate for any natural light shortages. This has been especially useful on cloudy days when the indoors can feel quite dim.
-
Evening Transition: As the sun sets, the lights begin to dim, creating a cozy ambiance. This gradual dimming helps in winding down for the day, making the transition to bedtime much smoother.
-
Bedtime Routine: After my usual bedtime, the lights dim completely for 45 minutes, ensuring a restful sleep environment. This feature has been a game-changer for maintaining a consistent sleep schedule.
One of the challenges I faced was ensuring the lights would turn on without manual intervention. I discovered that setting the brightness above 0% was sufficient to activate them, eliminating the need for constant adjustments. Additionally, I worked on smoothing out the transitions by integrating a fade-in feature over the course of 30 minutes, which made the entire system feel more natural.
I also explored different setpoints for brightness based on the outdoor lux levels. For instance, if the outdoor sensor detects less than 10 lux, the indoor lights adjust to 30% brightness. This adaptive approach ensures that the lighting is always appropriate, whether it’s a sunny day or a cloudy evening.
Overall, this project has been a fantastic learning experience, and I’m thrilled with how it’s transformed my home environment. The ability to automate such a fundamental aspect of daily life has not only improved convenience but also contributed to energy savings. If anyone has tips or suggestions for further optimization, I’d love to hear them! 
