HomeKit Using Standard Lights with Hue Bulbs

[nanogirl21]

Hi! I’m almost ashamed to save that I’ve never heard of Hue until I was gifted 4 color bulbs, 4 white bulbs, and a bridge. I managed to get everything connected but I'm honestly confused about how to work these bulbs and how to use HomeKit. Any tips would be appreciated. Thanks!

All the lights are installed in ceiling fans (two bedrooms, living room, and kitchen). Each fan has 2 standard bulbs and 2 Hue bulbs. If I flip the switch (or use fan pull string) to turn the standard bulbs on/off the Hue bulbs do not respond. Is there any way to have the standard bulb and the Hue bulbs sync? If I turn the standard bulbs on/off using the wall switch or pull string, I’d like the Hue bulbs to turn on/off too. I’m able to control the Hue bulbs with the app without any issues. These are the new A19 Bluetooth blubs.

 

[Weaselboy]

There is no way to make the standard bulbs come on the same as the Hue bulbs with your current setup. I think you are just going to need to add more Hue bulbs.

 

[chabig]

In the Hue app you can set the bulbs to remember their state when power is removed. With that set and your Hue bulbs on, your wall switch will turn off and on the lights as you desire.

 

[waw74]

it would be better to have all 4 bulbs be the same in each light.
by having 2 hue and 2 regular, you'll never be able to turn off the regular bulbs, so you can take advantage of all the features of hue.
so if you make the hue bulbs blue, the regular bulbs will still be at full white.

you can set the hue bulbs (using hue app) to a power on state, that tells them what to do when power is restored (like when you flip the switch on).
the default is 100% and warm white. you can set anything you want, or have them go to "last look"
If you're using "last look," I think if the bulbs are "off" (from the app) when they lose power, they will be off when you restore power.
try turning on power, setting a level on the bulbs, then turning the switch off and back on.

if you were gifted these and they were previously used, it's possible the default has been changed.

There will be a slight delay (less than a second) for the hue bulbs to come on in relation to the regular bulbs.

also... DO NOT USE A DIMMER SWITCH to try and control them. it won't work, and only leads to the possibility of damaging the internal electronics. they need to be on a on/off rocker style switch.
even a dimmer switch at full can cause problems, especially if they're older.

 

[nanogirl21]

Thanks, everyone. So to solve my problems I need to get more lights for the rest of the room. I can do this, no problem.

I didn't find the "last state" setting in the app.

 

[waw74]

in the hue app. (not apple's home app)
settings in the bottom right
then power on behavior, should be towards the top, has a lightning bolt.

there will then be a setting for each light.

 

[waw74]

just saw this,
these bulbs are compatible with hue, they are only warm white, so the only control you have is dimming though.
but only $9/each if you buy a 4 pack