I'm curious what people are using for outdoor lighting. I would like to have lights pointed back at the house and trees at various locations with color changing ability. I want to control the colors independently and on my own schedule.
Something like this:
However:
Are there any better solutions out there?
I'm using these, They are operating on 24VDC, Each Light is a WS2811-20W/10W which is an Individually controllable LED. They are connected in a Virtual String and appear to be a LED Light Strip. I use a GLEDOPTO WLED 12-24V controller. The controller WLED Open Source code. It connects via WiFi.
I use a 4 conductor cable and Junction box to have a single line to each light,
Here are three other options that would work:
1.) Philips Hue - Smart LED outdoor lights | Philips Hue (either via Hub or Direct Integration)
2.) LIFX - LIFX Outdoor Collection (via Matter)
3.) Govee - Smart LED Outdoor Lights - Govee | Collection (via Community Integration)
Govee have so many options available. I'm wanting to do similar for my garden and deck but I'm bewildered by the range.
The Govee options are numerous, and keep growing.
Okay... still a bit confused.
Do you use one of these controllers per light?
Does this mean you are using only one controller; and extending from one light to the next? Does this mean all lights have to be the same color, when using a single controller?
Govee provides the whole package as far as a power adapter to power the device, A controller similar to a wled controller, and then the light devices. So basically once you receive the devices you will connect power to the controller and if that isn't perm connected to the devices you then connect it to the devices.
Most new Govee devices support Bluetooth and wifi so you would add it to your Govee Home app on your phone with Bluetooth and as part of the setup it would connect to your home 2.4 ghz wifi.
Then the Govee Integration in Hubitat allows you to bring that devices into the hub and control it like any light device. It can control it a few ways, but regardless of which API/method used the Govee devices is simply a light source. For capabilities that are not standard custom ones have been created. The Govee Cloud API allows you to do all kinds of things including selecting DIY, or Govee Scene effects. There is also a LAN API that can control almost all aspects of the devices like the Cloud API, but is missing segment controls for devices that support it. There is also Matter support for some devices and the driver created for those is hybrid and can use LAN API for submitting DIY/Govee Scenes as well.
To be more specific to your exact questions
It comes with a controller
Depends on the devices. Many will be one controller per device, Some will allow you to expand the devices to a certain amount. A good example of one that is expandable are the Perm Outdoor Lights. Another is the Govee Hexa Light Pro's. Generally the reason they wouldn't be expandable is because of the power supply provided as they are intended to be a complete package and take the guesswork out of figuring out what you need to get.
Pretty much everything Govee now uses RGBIC so they are broken in to segments or pods that can all do their own thing. You can go to this link here and see what I have outside right now. Just click on the link in the middle of the post.
Most of the queries I had have been answered here, so thanks to @joshlobe for articulating the questions & @mavrrick58 for the clear answers. I bookmarked the docs for the V2 integration yesterday as I may go the Govee route.
One thing I'm not sure of is whether I need Govee or whether I could just use external RGBW strips alongside Z Wave controller(s) (if I don't need all the fancy effects that Govee can achieve). On the other hand it looks as though keeping it all Govee could be an advantage setup wise.
What I'm describing is a DIY version of what Govee calls RGBIC Lights. RGBIC = RGB Induvial Consolable.
I went this route becuase I custom modified Pool lighting fixtures from 110VAC to 24VDC using 20W RGBWW LED's. If It was not for the Pool Lights I would have considered Govee.
After trying various options over the years, with limited success and quality, I finally "bit-the-bullet" and acquired Philips Hue systems to perform this job. They have been great and running strong for 2-3 years now. I can do all sorts of holiday scenes and mood lighting as desired and control them all in Hubitat (with an added third-party app). I will stay with these for as long as I can.
That is the first time I have heard/seen that . Normally I see it translated to RGB + built in Integrated Circuit. There is nothing individual about it. The integrated circuit controls a group of led's at once. It it could be one led, but in reality it can be any number of LED's which is often determined by led density, length of the strip, and controller limitations.
Thank you everyone for your input, here. But honestly, I'm just as confused as when I started the topic. However, a little more clear on the available devices.
Let me try explaining my ideal needs:
I have LED light strips with GLEDOPT?? controllers. Hubitat finds the controller; I assign an advanced RGB driver; and I can then use the LED strip in any routines and rules.
Am I thinking about / going about this incorrectly?
Govee has spotlight kits that include 2 or 4 spotlights. Here is a link to the two light kit on amazon.
I would expect the Govee Integration to control each spotlight individually with it's segement control options.
It would be either 2 or 4 kits but you should be able to control them as if they were all seperate.
Download the Hubitat app
