Hi everyone, I’ve been working on setting up a smart lighting system in my home and I wanted to share my experience and some tips that might help others. I’ve been using Hue Dimmers along with motion sensors to automate the lighting in my living areas, and it’s been a fantastic journey so far. However, I did run into a few bumps along the way that I thought I’d document here in case someone else is facing similar issues.
First off, the setup itself is pretty straightforward. I’ve configured my Hue Dimmers to work with the Hubitat app, and I’ve been using the Button Controllers and Motion and Mode Lighting Apps to manage the automation. The idea was to have the lights turn on when motion is detected, and then stay on when I press the ‘on’ button on the dimmer, regardless of whether motion is still detected. This part worked like a charm initially, but I ran into an issue where the app wasn’t saving the button input correctly. I’d enter the button number, press done, and it would just show up as null. It was pretty frustrating, but after some digging, I realized that I needed to ensure that the button number was correctly associated with the dimmer in the app settings.
Another thing I wanted to share is how I’ve been using modes to enhance the lighting experience. I’ve set up different modes for different times of the day—like a ‘Wake Up’ mode in the morning that gradually increases the brightness of the lights, and a ‘Sleep’ mode that dims everything as it gets late. Pairing this with the motion sensors has made the system incredibly responsive and convenient.
I also wanted to mention the importance of testing and tweaking. After setting everything up, I spent a good amount of time testing different scenarios to ensure that everything worked as intended. For instance, I tested what happens when I press the ‘on’ button right after the lights have been turned off by the motion sensor. It was a bit tricky at first, but once I got the settings right, it worked seamlessly.
One piece of advice I’d give to anyone looking to set up a similar system is to take the time to understand how the apps and integrations work together. Sometimes, what seems like a minor setting can make a big difference in how the system performs. Also, don’t hesitate to reach out to the community for help. There are some really knowledgeable people here who are more than willing to share their expertise.
In conclusion, setting up a smart lighting system with motion sensors and modes has been a great project. It’s made my home more comfortable and has added a nice touch of convenience to my daily routine. I hope this post helps someone else who’s looking to do something similar!
Best regards,
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