Hey everyone,
I wanted to share my experience with the Hubitat Room Lighting app, which has completely transformed how I manage lighting in my home. I stumbled upon this app a few weeks ago, and it’s been a game-changer for me. Let me walk you through my journey and some tips I’ve picked up along the way.
The Setup
I have a mix of smart devices: Zooz switches, Hue bulbs, and a few Lutron Picos. Initially, I was using Button Controller and Rule Machine to handle my lighting, but it quickly became overwhelming. The Room Lighting app simplified everything.
Key Learnings
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Forget About Rooms: If you’re already using Rooms in Hubitat, don’t force them into the Room Lighting setup. It’s better to build the rule from scratch by directly selecting devices. This approach gives you more control and avoids confusion.
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Think in Terms of Activation: Instead of focusing on turning lights on or off, think of the Room Lighting rule itself as a device. When activated, it triggers the actions defined in your Device Control table. This mindset shift makes rule creation much easier.
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Toggle Buttons: Use button presses as toggles. For example, if you press a button to activate the rule, pressing it again will deactivate it. This eliminates the need for complex if/then statements.
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External Controls: If you’re using external controls like Alexa or smart bulbs, include them in your rule’s activation criteria. This ensures consistency even when devices are controlled outside of Hubitat.
Example Use Case
In my kitchen, I have:
- Hue bulbs under the cabinets
- Hue light strips above the countertops
- Zooz switches and a Lutron Pico for control
My goal was to create a seamless lighting experience where any switch press or button press would toggle the lights on or off. Using the Room Lighting app, I set up the rule to activate when any of these devices are triggered. It works perfectly!
Challenges and Solutions
One thing that tripped me up initially was including switches in both the Device Control table and the activation criteria. I realized that switches in smart bulb mode shouldn’t be in the Device Control table—they should only be used to trigger the rule. This adjustment made everything work smoothly.
Final Thoughts
Room Lighting has simplified my smart home setup in ways I never imagined. It’s powerful yet intuitive, and it’s made me rethink how I approach automation. If you’re struggling with complex rules or multiple apps, I highly recommend giving this app a try!
Feel free to reach out if you have questions or want to share your own experiences!
Best,
[Your Name]