One of the biggest problems with smart lights is how it interacts with traditional wall switches, exactly what Philips Hue hopes to solve with its new wall switch mode.
Usually, the problem with connecting smart lights to a traditional wall switch is that if you use the switch to turn off smart lights, rather than using an app or voice command, smart lights can no longer communicate with the rest of your devices. that your smart lights will not be able to be accessed until the next time you use the wall switch to turn them on again, which virtually eliminates the whole purpose of smart lights.
To solve this, Philips Hue created the new wall switching module, which is a small device that is wired in the existing wall switch, allowing you to use the switch to turn the lights on and off while you are still on Hue bulbs and lights to maintain a connection to your phone or a Philips Hue hub. So, even if you turn them off using the switch, the Hue smart lights will not lose their functionality.
Available at $ 40 each or $ 70 for a pack of two, the obvious disadvantage of the Hue wall switch module is that, in addition to working only with Hue lights, the wall switch module is relatively expensive compared to a wall switch. traditional, so instead of installing them throughout your home, Hue users may want to install them strategically only intraffic areas.
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And to maintain a connection along with the rest of the home network, the Hue Wall Switch module is powered by a small disposable battery. Philips Hue says the battery that comes with the wall switch module should last about five years on a single charge, but when it finally dies, you will need to remove the board from the wall switch and let go of the wiring again to replace it.
In terms of light, Philips Hue says its wall-switching module should work with both traditional and toggle switches, in addition to button switches. That being said, if you want a more modular solution for Hue light control, Philips Hue is also launched an updated Hue hue switch that has a new programmable Hue button which can be customized to activate a specific scene lighting or recipe.
The new Philips Hue Wall Switch module will be available in North America sometime this summer for $ 40, and the Hue Dimmer Switch will arrive for $ 25 earlier on February 23.