Hey everyone, I have this desk lamp with a small control unit that has four buttons: ON/OFF, brightness up and down, and light colour change. I’ve connected it to a smart plug, so I can control it with Alexa routines. But here’s the problem: when I turn off the smart plug, the lamp resets to OFF with its default settings. So, when I switch on the smart plug, the lamp doesn’t turn on unless I press the button manually.
Is there a way to keep it in the ON state, so that when I turn on the smart plug, the lamp comes on automatically?
If your lamp allows it, you could try swapping the bulb for a smart bulb with its own app that works with Alexa. Many smart bulbs can save their settings, so you won’t need to press any physical buttons once you set it up through the app.
Davis said: @Zachary
Unfortunately, I can’t replace the bulbs on this lamp That would’ve been my first choice, too.
Does anyone else wonder why we’re so quick to replace real physical controls with app controls? Why not keep both? Imagine having guests over or kids in the house, and everyone has to use an app just to turn a light on.
You could easily keep the smart functionality and the physical buttons, so anyone can use the lamp without hassle. I mean, it feels like the advice here sometimes is to make everything app-controlled and ditch what actually works well already. There’s value in physical controls, and we should really consider keeping them available.
@Colton
I totally get that! I call it the ‘mum test.’ If my mom, who doesn’t do well with tech, can’t control it without help, I don’t put it in the house.
You’re likely working with 12V power here. Your best option might be an LED controller for adjustable color temperature strips, which could replace the buttons entirely.
Katherine said:
You’re likely working with 12V power here. Your best option might be an LED controller for adjustable color temperature strips, which could replace the buttons entirely.
Honestly, I still don’t get why people think eliminating physical control just to add smart tech is a good idea.
So, they just need to replace it with a 12V LED controller and forget about physical buttons? That’s the best advice? Look, maybe this person doesn’t want to lose the manual control and have to rely entirely on an app. We don’t even have all the details, yet we’re telling them to buy a whole new setup?
Giving advice is fine, but let’s be real about how reliable or useful it is. If someone has to guess at the setup, they shouldn’t be throwing out advice like it’s a guarantee.
Terryanne said: @Colton
You okay, friend? This sounds like it’s coming from somewhere else.
Haha, yeah, maybe that was a little intense. I guess I just see a lot of half-baked advice floating around, not just here but all over. It’s frustrating when advice can lead to issues later. I still remember struggling when I first started, trying to follow online suggestions that ended up being unsafe or totally wrong.
I think there’s a responsibility to answer questions with care, especially when it comes to wiring and electronics, because a mistake could hurt someone or cause damage. I don’t want to sound like a know-it-all, but I really think we should give answers that take all this into account and consider the person’s safety and needs.
It’s good to keep options open so people can decide what fits their situation. Anyway, thanks for calling me out a bit—probably needed to hear that.
@Colton
Actually, I assumed the person would check the voltages before making changes. From my experience, it’s usually between 5 and 24V, with 12V being common for setups like these.
Also, no one said the physical controls needed to be removed. The original controls might not work with smart features, and replacing them with a new setup could make the most sense here.
And for the record, I have a similar lamp, and it works well with a low-voltage controller. So I’m sharing from personal experience.
@Katherine
Sure, it’s likely low voltage, but which exact one? What type of controller should they get? If the lights inside are older RGBW or addressable, which controller do they need, and at what voltage?
I can’t assume the setup without a clear look, but I’d want to keep the option for physical control too. I prefer to keep choices open and think that losing manual controls for app-only access isn’t necessarily an upgrade. I’d install a small board to keep those buttons functional, so the lamp can be used even without tech.
I know similar setups exist, but I think it’s worth covering all options before making permanent changes.
The circuit can’t save settings when you cut off power at the plug; it’s like starting from zero each time. To fix it, you could try to put the smart plug behind this circuit and set it to stay ON, or try rewiring the power button. Could be a good mini project!
@Jasper
I thought about messing with the circuit but wasn’t sure where to start. Maybe I could skip the button function so it’s always on… Know a good forum for that?
As for placing the smart plug behind the circuit, it’d involve cutting wires and might be a bit much. Hoping to find a simpler option if possible.
Alright, let’s get into this. If you want real help, give more details on the lamp itself. Got any pictures? Where’d you buy it? Type of light inside?
If you just want generic advice, people can guess based on a few buttons and might tell you to change the whole setup without knowing the full picture. A smart upgrade should add options without taking away anything. It’s no improvement to lose a convenient button setup for something less practical, right?
So, think about adding a little microcontroller setup to work with the existing buttons. This way, you’ll have both physical and app controls. If you add a board, you can keep the functionality you like, plus the smart features.
That would’ve been my first choice, too.