I have been looking to buy some smart bulbs for a while but couldn't quite justify the expense. I had looked at Yeelights before but was put off with the lack of compatibility with the Echo.
However, they are now compatible, I have bought a couple and they work well. They don't need a hub so a much cheaper way to add smart bulbs to the home than some alternatives.
Echo functionality is still in the beta stage but it works well with a few minor limitations. Anyone can participate in the beta, instructions here:
Superb if you don't have a bridge for the other systems and a lot cheaper than the Hue colour, even on offer. Might grab one out of interest to play with and for my kids to use with their tablets for their bedroom lamps.
BungalowBill
23 Dec 162#4
I'm always nervous about mains powered products from cheap overseas retailers, not sure if that's just me. Xiaomi might be one of the better brands but I doubt these have been certified for EU?
These are yes (E27), I am going to buy some adapters and try in other fittings around the house.
ghostm4n to EarlBarrett
17 Jan 17#14
Can probably get them elsewhere but IKEA were selling adapters to convert screw to bayonet for about 49p in their lighting section. They work really well.
In order to use the beta you have to connect you're echo to the Singapore server!
PurpleTrousers to minesweeper
23 Dec 16#9
No, you connect your bulbs to the singapore server rather than the default chinese server, not your echo, the echo you simply add the skill and scan for devices
taneesha963
23 Dec 16#10
Can I just buy the bulb and control it with my echo or do I need other things as well?
PurpleTrousers to taneesha963
23 Dec 16#12
Yep other than setting up the apps that's all you need. I can say Alexa living room on and the lights come on :smiley:
minesweeper
23 Dec 16#11
I see, thanks for letting me know.
taneesha963
23 Dec 16#13
Thanks .. is there and app on the Alexa app? I checked and I couldn't find it
ollie87
17 Jan 171#15
Wait... are you saying I'm the Amazon Echo? But my name isn't Alexa!
dadofdaisy
17 Jan 17#16
I received one a couple of days ago and have to say it's nowhere near as good as the Hue in terms of colour output and range. For the price though it's ok, I've added the bulb to my OpenHAB setup on the Raspberry Pi and it's seen as a Hue item by Alexa.
If you have a spare Raspberry Pi you should definitely check it out!
RooGuru to dadofdaisy
17 Jan 17#18
Are these good enough to light a small room? From the videos on the site they seem a bit dim.
shakerstevens to dadofdaisy
17 Jan 17#20
Does your Hue system see it as a Hue bulb? I have the hue bridge and two hue white bulbs but as the colour bulbs are so expensive I'm looking at 3rd party alternatives that work with the existing set up. I appreciate the colour range might not be as good but I'll try it for £15 as opposed to £50.... (PS I'm using Apple home kit not Amazon Echo) thanks
Ross87
17 Jan 172#17
"Alexa, please correct their grammar".
steevieboy4u
17 Jan 17#19
Can the light be turned on / off when away from the local wifi network i.e. when i'm on holiday or away from home etc?
EarlBarrett to steevieboy4u
17 Jan 171#27
I use the white bulb and I can control that from anywhere.
dadofdaisy
17 Jan 17#21
No, the Hue bridge doesn't talk to the bulb. The Raspberry pi's emulated hue bridge shows non hue items as hue items to Alexa so it wouldn't work for you as you're using HomeKit.
Your best option would be to buy the Osram Lightify RGBW bulb that Amazon have on offer for £20 as that connect directly to the hue hub and is fully compatible.
InTheKnow444
17 Jan 17#22
sure these were even cheaper a few days back
dadofdaisy to InTheKnow444
17 Jan 17#24
You should've shared
dadofdaisy
17 Jan 17#23
If you just use the white range of colours then yes, once you get to the reds and blues it gets fairly dim. The colours are only really for ambient lighting
InTheKnow444
17 Jan 17#25
Think they were £14:09, didn't appeal to me, even at that price
DAMNOME
17 Jan 172#26
I just say "wife, turn on the light"
Norgie
17 Jan 17#28
So when they run out you just throw £15.00 down the drain? Is that correct?
dudedude to Norgie
17 Jan 17#29
what do you mean when they run out? their lifespan is typically 15,000 hours, that's 8 years @ 5hrs/day.
Total cost over lifetime:
Bulb £15
Electricity £18
Norgie
17 Jan 17#30
I had no idea they lasted this long, fair play :stuck_out_tongue:
aravind_svu
17 Jan 17#31
My main worry here is the lumens output. The Gearbest page says 600lm, which in comparision with 800lm output from Philips hue bulbs is low. In fact the max light output is my biggest concern with philips hue lights. The philips hue bulbs while outputting 5000K white light the illumination is not good enough for a decent sized room.
Considering this bulb's maximum output seems to be rated 600lm, I have doubts. Has anyone got one of these? Any comments on the brightness?
dudedude to aravind_svu
17 Jan 17#32
The Hue is 10W (80lumen/W). This is 8W (75 lumen/W). So fairly similar in efficiency, this is just lower wattage.
One Hue or Yeelight bulb is not enough to light a room, nor is it a good idea to try and light and room with only one bulb (of any brightness), as it will look like a prison cell.
The solution is obviously to buy more of these bulbs as they are cheaper and it will look better than a single brighter bulb.
defard
17 Jan 17#33
Does this mean that if you lose internet connection you lose your lights?
ironicman92
17 Jan 17#34
Can this be used with iPhone smart home
BungalowBill
17 Jan 17#35
Not sure about these, but with WeMo bulbs you can override by turning the wall switch off and back on.
e4kenndr
18 Jan 17#36
I doubt they'd suddenly go out if net connection went down. Just wouldn't be able to issue anymore commands until it was back. But you should still be able to connect to them directly over the app i imagine.
I would also assume that turning them off/on via main light switch they would resume their last programmed colour too?
e4kenndr
18 Jan 17#37
After some digging it looks like IFTTT is already live! :smiley:
Opening post
I have been looking to buy some smart bulbs for a while but couldn't quite justify the expense. I had looked at Yeelights before but was put off with the lack of compatibility with the Echo.
However, they are now compatible, I have bought a couple and they work well. They don't need a hub so a much cheaper way to add smart bulbs to the home than some alternatives.
Echo functionality is still in the beta stage but it works well with a few minor limitations. Anyone can participate in the beta, instructions here:
http://forum.yeelight.com/t/call-for-beta-users-for-ifttt-and-echo/193
cheers
All comments (39)
Original Xiaomi Yeelight E27 Smart LED Bulb - WHITE
Edit. On Amazon for example
LONGYEE( TM ) 6 x Bayonet BC Cap B22 To E27 ES Edison Screw Light Bulb Lamp Base Socket Converter Extender Adaptor Holder Fitting 220-240V https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01M1FS069/ref=cm_sw_r_em_apa_5WFFybCWS48QP
If you have a spare Raspberry Pi you should definitely check it out!
Your best option would be to buy the Osram Lightify RGBW bulb that Amazon have on offer for £20 as that connect directly to the hue hub and is fully compatible.
Total cost over lifetime:
Bulb £15
Electricity £18
Considering this bulb's maximum output seems to be rated 600lm, I have doubts. Has anyone got one of these? Any comments on the brightness?
One Hue or Yeelight bulb is not enough to light a room, nor is it a good idea to try and light and room with only one bulb (of any brightness), as it will look like a prison cell.
The solution is obviously to buy more of these bulbs as they are cheaper and it will look better than a single brighter bulb.
I would also assume that turning them off/on via main light switch they would resume their last programmed colour too?
https://ifttt.com/yeelight
Just convinced me to buy a couple