Fit smart bulbs — HomeGraft

Swap an ordinary bulb for a smart one and connect it to your phone app in under fifteen minutes.

SB-01Check your fitting and choose a systemLook at the base of your current bulb: bayonet (a push-and-twist cap, called B22) or screw (E27 for standard size, E14 for small candle bulbs). Buy a smart bulb with the same base. Decide whether you want a hub-based system, where a small box plugs into your router and talks to the bulbs, or a WiFi-only bulb that connects straight to your home network with no extra box needed.

1 each · Smart bulb (bayonet or screw, to match your fitting)

Buy:ScrewfixB&QToolstationAmazon

1 each · Smart hub (only needed for hub-based systems)

Buy:ScrewfixB&QToolstationAmazon

SB-02Download the app and create an accountInstall the free app for the brand you have chosen on your phone before you touch the light fitting. Create an account and make sure your phone is connected to your home WiFi. Having this ready first makes the actual fitting much quicker.

SB-03Turn off the switchTurn off the wall switch that controls the light before you remove the old bulb. If the bulb has been on, wait a minute or two so it can cool before you touch it. You do not need to isolate the circuit at the consumer unit for a simple bulb change like this.

SB-04Remove the old bulb and fit the smart bulbTwist a bayonet bulb anticlockwise and pull it free, or unscrew a screw-fit bulb. Fit the smart bulb the same way it came out, turning it until it is snug in the holder. Do not overtighten it, as this can crack the base.

SB-05Turn the power back on and check it lightsTurn the wall switch back on. The bulb should light up normally, even before it is connected to the app, because it still works as an ordinary bulb from the switch. If it does not light at all, turn the switch off, check the bulb is seated properly, and try again.

SB-06Connect the bulb to the appOpen the app and choose 'add device'. Follow the on-screen steps, which usually ask you to turn the bulb off and on a few times to put it into pairing mode. Once found, give the bulb a sensible name such as 'Living room lamp' so it is easy to find later.

SB-07Set up schedules and groupsIn the app, group bulbs by room and set any schedules or automations you want, such as lights coming on at dusk. If you use a smart speaker, link the app to it now so you can control the bulb by voice. Leave the wall switch on from now on, since turning it off will cut power to the smart bulb and stop it responding to the app.

SB-08Tidy up and dispose of the old bulbKeep the packaging in case you need to return or exchange the smart bulb. If the old bulb was a CFL or fluorescent type, do not put it in the general bin. Take it to a household recycling centre or a shop collection point instead.

RULES

KNOW THE RULES

CFL and fluorescent bulbs contain mercury and must be recycled under WEEE rules, not thrown in ordinary rubbish. Most supermarkets and recycling centres have a bin for this. Standard LED and incandescent bulbs can go in general waste, though many councils also recycle these.

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