{"id":353,"date":"2017-01-30T16:06:04","date_gmt":"2017-01-31T00:06:04","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.nathanbak.com\/?p=353"},"modified":"2026-01-02T20:04:41","modified_gmt":"2026-01-03T04:04:41","slug":"let-there-be-light-part-3","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/nathanbak.com\/?p=353","title":{"rendered":"Let there be light (part 3)"},"content":{"rendered":"

In Let there be light (part 1)<\/a> I played with Phillips Hue home automation and in Let there be light (part 2)<\/a> I tried out the WeMo Light switch.\u00a0 Both solutions work well where they are used in my home.\u00a0 In this post, I’m going to compare the two and mention some things I like and dislike about the different approaches.<\/p>\n

Cost<\/h2>\n

Retail for the Phillips Hue starter set (a hub and two bulbs) is about $70 and an Amazon Dot costs $50 so it would have cost $120 to do Boy #1’s room, but Amazon had a Black Friday deal and so I got everything for $90.<\/p>\n

The WeMo switch is around $40, so that paired with a Dot would normally be $90, but I managed to save $20 on the Dot during a special promotion so my actual cost was $70.\u00a0 Had I gone with Phillips Hue (even without needing to purchase another hub) I would have had to spend about $14 for each of six bulbs meaning it would have been $84 without the Dot.<\/p>\n

The WeMo switch is a cheaper initial investment.\u00a0 Also, assuming that switches last longer than bulbs, I think maintenance costs will also be lower.<\/p>\n

Installation<\/h2>\n

The installation of the Phillips Hue doesn’t require messing with any wiring which is nice, but it does require setting up the hub.\u00a0 The hub needs power so it has to be plugged into an outlet and it also requires a physical (wired) network connection.\u00a0 Putting the bulbs in place is just like changing an ordinary light bulb.<\/p>\n

The installation of the WeMo switch is just like swapping out any other light switch.\u00a0 The switch does require having a neutral wire (not to be confused with a ground which is optional)–since my house has the neutral wire it isn’t an issue, but some homes are wired differently.<\/p>\n

If you already have a hub in place, it’s definitely easier to screw in a new light bulb than to install a new switch.\u00a0 It is also safer and requires less skill.\u00a0 However, having a hub does mean one more device in the home that requires power and a physical (corded) network connection.\u00a0 I think Phillips could have done better and put everything into the bulbs and not require the hub at all.<\/p>\n

Other Aspects<\/h2>\n