There are a few factors that make using smart bulbs outdoors difficult. Most notably, moisture is often an issue.
Bulb electronics should never be exposed to moisture for extended periods.
Moisture
Moisture can have a major impact on the operation of smart bulbs. It may lead to various issues, including malfunction and damage to the LED technology within the bulb.
One of the primary sources of moisture in an electrical fixture is condensation. This occurs when water vapor changes into liquid water and can lead to issues with lighting fixtures or even short circuit electronics inside bulbs if left outside for too long.
Fortunately, most smart bulbs are weatherproof and temperature resistant. But there are a few things you should remember in order to guarantee your lights remain safe when exposed outdoors.
Before buying any outdoor light bulb, it is essential to make sure it has been UL listed for outdoor use and that its LED technology can withstand extra heat from an enclosed fixture. Failure to do so could cause malfunctions or safety hazards.
LEDs, for instance, can become overheated when exposed to extreme heat found in enclosed fixtures. This could result in their burnout – an extremely serious safety hazard.
Another issue is that a smart bulb may overheat if exposed to sunlight for too long. This heat can also cause the electronics inside of the bulb to malfunction or even short circuit them.
While most smart bulbs are designed to withstand a range of temperature conditions, cold weather can have an even greater impact on their operation. Most operate between -4degF to 104degF (-20degC to 40degC).
Before using any bulb outdoors, it’s essential to check its operating temperature. This will determine how well the bulb performs and how long it will last. Typically, you can find the manufacturer’s recommended operating temperature range on the product packaging.
Temperature
When installing smart bulbs outdoors, it is essential to understand how temperature affects them. Doing this will enable you to decide if a smart bulb is suitable for your home.
LEDs stand apart from other light sources due to their design for extreme temperature ranges, rain, snowfall and direct sunlight exposure.
Making them ideal for outdoor lighting fixtures, they won’t overheat or break like traditional bulbs might.
Smart bulbs require a connection to your WiFi network in order to function. This connection must be strong enough to sustain the amount of power necessary for their electronics inside.
Therefore, smart bulbs should be placed away from walls and other objects that might interfere with their connection. Doing so may reduce their range and cause them to disconnect when necessary.
Smart bulbs operate within a temperature range that’s less well-known than moisture, but it matters if you plan to use yours outdoors. That means making sure it won’t be exposed to rain, hail or snowfall.
Thankfully, most smart bulbs are LEDs and work perfectly at low temperatures due to their lack of mercury content. As such, LEDs have greater resistance to temperature drops than other bulbs can.
Smart bulbs typically operate between -4degF and 104degF, though some models may be even colder. This is because LEDs have an integrated heat sink that helps dissipate heat away from their electronics.
An interesting fact about LEDs is their junction temperature, or how hot electrical energy passes through them. This can range anywhere from 77 degrees Fahrenheit to 185 degrees Fahrenheit, yet LEDs remain resilient even at such low temperatures without malfunctioning.
LEDs produce the same amount of output and efficacy (lumens per watt) as standard incandescent or halogen bulbs at lower temperatures, making them the ideal light bulbs for both indoor and outdoor use.
Dust
When installing smart bulbs indoors or outdoors, you must take into account several elements such as humidity, temperature and dust.
Moisture: If your home is frequently wet, using smart bulbs that are waterproof or water-resistant is a wise idea. These will help dissipate moisture and prevent shorting out due to condensation buildup.
Temperature: Smart bulbs perform best when temperatures remain between 60 degrees and 65 degrees. Colder weather may cause them to overheat, thus reducing their lifespan.
This can happen, especially if the bulb is outdoors where it may be exposed to rain and wind. Depending on the type of smart bulb, you might need to use a special protective light fixture.
When selecting a bulb, its IP rating should be taken into account. These ratings tell you how well protected the bulb will be against dust and water infiltration.
Ratings consist of two numbers and a letter; the first indicates how resistant to solids like dust the case is, and the second indicates watertightness. If you need an outdoor-friendly smart bulb, look for one with an IP rating of 65 or higher.
Once you purchase your bulb, be sure to store it somewhere where temperatures don’t get too hot or too cold. Otherwise, you could end up wasting money on bulbs and needing repairs if they become damaged.
Finally, DiClerico suggests choosing a brand with an app to make controlling your smart bulbs simpler. Well-known brands such as Philips Hue and Ring offer user-friendly apps that will enable all your bulbs to work together seamlessly.
You can program them to turn on and off at predetermined intervals, as well as change color, brightness and lighting effects. This is useful if you’re away for an extended period of time and want to give the impression that someone is home. Similarly, motion or other sensors may trigger changes in their settings – including color changes and brightness).
Insects
Winter may not be the busiest season for bugs, but come summer they come out in droves. Thankfully, you can easily rid yourself of most of these pesky pests with some simple techniques.
One of the best ways to keep these pests away is by replacing your current bulbs with ones that emit a warmer color. Bugs tend to be attracted to yellow-hued lights, so these types of bulbs tend to repel them better than traditional bulbs do.
Some bulbs even use filters to block certain light frequencies that attract bugs, helping keep them away from your home. It’s important to remember that these filters aren’t permanent, so you’ll have to replace the bulb periodically.
Smart bulbs also come with a host of other features designed to make life simpler for you. For instance, some bulbs can be controlled by your smart home assistant such as Alexa or Google Home; this means automating the bulbs’ operations by setting schedules for different times of day and turning on/off as required.
Smart bulbs often feature a lighting mood feature, which is ideal for outdoor areas where you want to set an ambience or tone of light. With soft hues in the evening or brighter ones during daytime, you can easily create different atmospheres and levels of energy.
In addition to setting a lighting mood, you can create an operating mode that automatically changes the light on or off based on time of day or location. That way, you don’t have to worry about changing bulbs each time someone passes them by.
Connecting your smart bulbs to IFTTT and other automations allows you to have them automatically turn on or off depending on whether it’s raining or not, saving time from having to do this manually each day.