Hello fellow smart home enthusiasts! I wanted to share my journey in setting up a smart lighting automation system using scenes, which has completely transformed how I manage lighting in my home. If you’re looking to enhance your lighting setup or troubleshoot common issues, this post is for you! 
My Goal: Customized Lighting Scenes
I aimed to create a system where lights automatically adjust based on time, motion, and manual overrides. Specifically, I wanted:
- Lights to dim at night for a gentle glow.
- The ability to temporarily override settings for full brightness.
- Integration with voice commands for convenience.
Challenges Faced
Initially, I relied on the Smart Lighting app, which simplified setup compared to older apps like Webcore. However, I encountered a few hurdles:
- Scene Overrides: I struggled to create a scene that pauses the night routine for an hour before resuming.
- Voice Control: Ensuring Alexa could override settings seamlessly was tricky.
Solutions and Tips
After some research and experimentation, here’s what worked:
- Routine Setup: I programmed lights to turn on at 15% brightness at night, preventing blinding effects while maintaining visibility.
- Temporary Overrides: Using smart app rules, I created a scene that boosts brightness to 100% for an hour when activated. This is perfect for late-night tasks!
- Voice Commands: Integrating with Alexa allowed me to say, “Alexa, turn on all lights,” which overrides the dim setting instantly.
Key Takeaways
- Start Simple: Begin with basic routines before moving to complex scenes.
- Test Thoroughly: Ensure overrides and voice commands work across different scenarios.
- Leverage Smart Apps: Tools like Smart Lighting simplify rule creation without needing advanced coding.
Final Thoughts
Achieving this setup required patience and trial-and-error, but the result is a lighting system that seamlessly adapts to my needs. Whether it’s a quiet night or a late-night project, my home is now effortlessly illuminated. 
If you have questions or need help replicating this setup, feel free to ask! Let’s continue to innovate and enhance our smart homes together! 
