We just moved into a new home and found some light fixtures that don’t seem compatible with our Philips Hue smart bulbs. Can anyone recommend smart bulbs that would work, or do we need to replace the fixtures entirely?
You might need to replace the entire light fixture to use smart bulbs.
Evelyn said:
You might need to replace the entire light fixture to use smart bulbs.
You could switch out the wall switch instead, which might be easier and cheaper depending on whether you want simple smart control or also want dimming and color changes. Typically, fixtures like that are non-dimmable, but there could be exceptions.
Evelyn said:
You might need to replace the entire light fixture to use smart bulbs.
It’s really a shame how many fixtures are designed to be disposable. Imagine a world where you could just replace a bad LED bulb instead of the whole fixture.
/s
@Louis
Maybe someday we’ll have that kind of technology, where everything is standardized. But today is not that day.
That looks like a fixed light fixture, not a bulb. If it’s dimmable, you could use smart switches instead.
Francis said:
That looks like a fixed light fixture, not a bulb. If it’s dimmable, you could use smart switches instead.
So, would I need to replace it with something like this? Hue Slim Downlight 5/6 inch White and Colour Ambiance | Philips Hue
@Sierra
That would only work if you already have a 6-inch circular hole in your ceiling and enough depth for the fixture’s control unit. These are typically designed to fit into existing recessed lighting setups.
@Sierra
You might find it easier to replace your current setup with a standard two-bulb fixture, which would then let you use any smart bulbs you want.
If you’re new to changing fixtures, here’s a tip: the outer screws usually just need a little loosening, and then you can twist off the cover to access the wires. Always turn off the power at your breaker before you start, and test the wires with a voltage tester just to be safe.
@Connor
We have larger fixtures like that elsewhere in the house, but they might be too big for this space.
Sierra said:
@Connor
We have larger fixtures like that elsewhere in the house, but they might be too big for this space.
Philips does make full fixtures that could replace what you have, but they’re quite expensive. If budget’s a concern, you might want to start with something more basic like the Kasa or Govee range before moving up to Hue.
Those square lights are LED panels, and they’re built into the fixture, so you can’t just replace the bulbs. If you want smart capabilities, you’d need to swap out the entire fixture or maybe just the switch if you don’t care about changing colors or dimming.
@Evans
Are there smart fixtures available that can replace these?
Sierra said:
@Evans
Are there smart fixtures available that can replace these?
Definitely, there are many options out there depending on what features you want.
Sierra said:
@Evans
Are there smart fixtures available that can replace these?
You’ll need to check how much space is behind the current fixture. Some flush mount LED fixtures can replace where you can’t fit a recessed can. Whatever you choose, make sure it fits and gives you the control features you want, like on/off, dimming, or color change.
What you have there is a standard LED disk light. I control mine with Lutron smart switches which allows for dimming, but no color change. The Philips product you mentioned wouldn’t fit a standard fixture without modification.
I absolutely dislike those fixed light fixtures.
If you want to keep the fixtures, consider replacing the switches with smart switches that can integrate with systems like Home Assistant.
ProfElizabeth said:
It seems like you’re looking at a standard LED fixture. If you want to make it ‘smart’, you’d need to look at replacing the switch rather than the light itself.
That’s correct. I was hoping there might be a simple bulb replacement, but it sounds more complicated.