Smart bulb

A smart bulb screws into an ordinary socket, then is controlled from an app: brightness, colour temperature, hue, schedules and voice control. The choice comes down to three points only: the fitting of the luminaire, the connection method and the light you want in the room.

How does a smart bulb work?

The socket powers the bulb like any LED bulb. A built-in radio module receives the commands sent by the app, and the electronics adjust brightness, colour temperature or hue. The wall switch stays in place: phone control is added on top, without touching the circuit.

What this changes plays out at two moments. In the evening, you lower the brightness and warm the light without leaving the sofa. In the morning, a schedule turns the bedroom on gently before the alarm. For the format, everything comes down to the fitting: browse our full range of bulbs and the LED bulb catalogue before making your choice.

Wi-Fi or Bluetooth smart bulb: what is the difference?

Wi-Fi connects the bulb to the home network: you control it remotely and schedule it. Bluetooth works nearby, without a home network, which is enough for a bedside lamp. Zigbee goes through a bridge and keeps an immediate response when several bulbs are grouped together.

Do you need a bridge or a home automation box to control it?

Not in Wi-Fi or Bluetooth: the bulb connects on its own and the control app is enough. The bridge only becomes useful with Zigbee, to bring several bulbs together on one network or to relieve the Wi-Fi. Check this point before buying if you plan to equip several rooms at once.

What are the advantages of smart bulbs?

Three benefits always come up: remote switching, dimming and scheduling. You turn everything off in one gesture when leaving the house, you lower the light without lifting your arm, and you set a mood hour by hour. Add to that colour temperature changes, coloured hues and voice control.

These uses are spread by room. In the living room, bulbs designed for the living room accompany dinners as well as film nights. In the sleeping area, bedroom bulbs are mainly used for gentle waking and reading. A group of bulbs gathered under one name turns off in a single gesture.

How do you use a bulb that changes colour?

Keep coloured hues for chosen moments: a very low blue for an evening, a pale pink for a children's party. Day to day, stay on a warm white; colour tires quickly and clashes with the furniture. In a classic LED bulb, the hue is fixed at manufacture.

Scheduling the lighting: morning and evening scenarios

In the morning, raise the brightness in steps over twenty minutes and stay around 3000K to ease waking. In the evening, go down towards 2700K and low brightness, with the ceiling light left off. Two scenarios are enough, one per time of day, to avoid reprogramming everything.

Which fitting to choose between E27, E14 and GU10?

The fitting is read on the original bulb or directly on the socket, before looking at anything else. E27 equips ceiling lights, pendants and large lamps, E14 bedside lights and small shades, GU10 recessed and adjustable spotlights, G9 pin-based luminaires. The format does not change because the bulb is smart.

E27 smart bulb: for which luminaires?

It is the large screw format, the one used for dining room pendants, hallway ceiling lights and floor lamps. As the body of the bulb stays wide, measure the space available under the shade. Find the E27 fitting models to compare shapes.

E14 smart bulb: small accent luminaires

The small screw fitting equips bedside lights, wall lights and accent lamps. Space is tight there: a bulb that is too long sticks out of the shade. The small E14 bulbs and the powerful or cool white E14 bulbs cover these two needs. For a recessed spotlight, go instead towards the GU10 bulbs for spotlights.

Warm white, neutral white or colour: which light to choose?

For the living room or bedroom, a warm white around 2700K gives an enveloping light in the evening, while a neutral white around 4000K suits the office, kitchen or bathroom better. A smart bulb lets you move from one mood to another, and add colour, without changing bulbs.

LED bulb for a bedside lamp: which temperature?

First check the fitting, often E14, and the space under the shade. For reading, a warm white around 2700K and moderate brightness work well, as with the 2700K warm light bulbs. A smart version lets you dim or switch off from the bed, without getting up.

Smart bulb and dimmable bulb: what differences?

A dimmable bulb is set with a wall knob, once and for all. The smart version adds scheduling, hue, voice control and remote operation. If your circuit already has a dimmer, compare the dimmer-compatible models or use a crisper rendering around 3000K depending on the room.

How do you change a recessed or adjustable spotlight bulb?

Switch off the power at the breaker and let it cool. On a recessed spotlight, the luminaire unclips from below or turns a quarter turn. The GU10 socket is then released by pressing the small side ring. On an adjustable spotlight, rotate the trim to reach the bulb, then refit a fitting of the same type.

For small pin sockets, the G4 and G9 fittings require the same care: same shape, same length.

How do you change a GU10 bulb in a ceiling?

On the GU10 socket, two pins pass through the plate. Press the side ring or turn the bulb a quarter turn to release it, then click the new one into the slots. Never pull on the wires, they are not designed for that.

How do you change a recessed spotlight bulb in a bathroom?

First of all, look at the protection rating shown on the luminaire's data sheet: that is what allows installation near a water point, not the bulb. Then refit a model with the same fitting and the same dimensions. If in doubt about the sealing of the housing, call an electrician.

How do you change a recessed spotlight bulb without clips?

The absence of visible clips often means the spotlight is held by friction or by a ring to turn. Lever very gently on the rim, without forcing on the ceiling. If the luminaire does not come out, stop and entrust the job to a professional rather than damaging the socket.

How do you wire a ceiling bulb and several bulbs in parallel?

Switch off the power at the breaker. Connect the socket wires to the markings on the luminaire terminal block, live and neutral, and earth if the luminaire has one. In parallel, each bulb receives the same voltage and lights independently; in series, they go out together. Any modification of the circuit should be entrusted to an electrician.

Wiring a ceiling light point: the steps

Identify the wires, strip them to the length indicated by the terminal block, tighten each screw and pull gently on the wire to check it holds. Close the cover before switching the power back on. 220V LED bulbs connect directly to this type of light point, without a transformer.

Wiring three bulbs in parallel: the principle

Each socket is connected to the same live and neutral supply, not one after the other in series. Each bulb then receives the same voltage and can light separately. If the circuit is not clearly identified at the panel, stop there and call an electrician.

How do you install and pair a smart bulb?

You screw in the bulb, switch on the wall switch, then follow the control app: it detects the bulb, asks for the 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi network and lets you name it by room. You then link it to a voice assistant, then schedule the times. Allow a few minutes per bulb, more if you create your scenarios.

Name each bulb by use rather than by reference: kitchen, bedside, entrance. Modern design bulbs are quickly spotted in the list, as their shape helps identify them at a glance.

Controlling your smart bulb from your phone

The app groups bulbs by room, sets brightness and hue, and triggers schedules. Remotely, everything goes through the home Wi-Fi. When buying, check that the bulb works on the 2.4 GHz network, as most models do not accept 5 GHz.

Rechargeable smart bulb: when should you choose it?

A battery-powered bulb goes where there is no power supply: a lamp that is moved often, a terrace table, a reading corner without a socket. It recharges then is controlled like the others. Its runtime depends on the brightness chosen, so plan to put it back on charge regularly.

Can you use a smart bulb outdoors?

Outdoors, it is the luminaire that protects the bulb: choose a closed housing and check the protection rating shown on its data sheet. Also check that the Wi-Fi signal reaches the wall light, and the space available in the shade or wall light before choosing an E27 fitting. A bulb on its own does not withstand rain.

Finally, look at the orientation: a wall bulb cover open upwards retains water, a closed model facing downwards protects better. The type of outdoor installation matters here as much as the bulb model.

E27 smart bulb for outdoors: what to check

The large screw fitting goes into most terrace wall lights and lanterns. Check three points: the sealing of the housing, the space around the bulb and the signal range from the house. Filament bulbs dress an entrance well, provided they stay sheltered.

Wall bulb cover: which luminaire for a terrace or entrance?

A closed cover facing downwards suits an exposed entrance, an openwork model is enough under a canopy. Measure the depth of the cover before ordering, as some smart bulbs are longer than a simple bulb. The luminaire itself is chosen with the bulb already in mind.

To go further, compare fittings and colour temperatures in our lighting universe, then order your bulb: secure payment, tracked delivery, possible returns and Designix customer service to help you if a fitting does not match your socket.

Frequently asked questions about smart bulbs