I was a bit concerned when I ordered these – but after receiving them via Amazon PRIME, I was able to set them up and configure them via all 3 methods (VeSync, Google Assistant, and ALEXA (by Amazon). ALEXA is the hot ticket, as you can set up Routines in ALEXA that enable automatic ON/OFF functionality based on Sunrise & Sunset, and user can set those events x minutes AHEAD or AFTER the Sunrise/Sunset actually happens or EXACTLY on the event (sunrise/sunset) it's your choice. Bonus, you activate your cell phone's location and the daily changes because of solar orbit (days get shorter/longer thus sunrise/sunset is a little different every day) all is accommodated automatically by the Alexa ROUTINES that you set up. Note that Android/Google Assistant (via Google Home App on your smartphone is NOT conducive to automatic adjustments you have to select a specific on/off TIME OF DAY, I could NOT find the Sunrise/Sunset feature on Google Home. But you can use the Alexa app to build that feature and program it, and from then on, you can manually voice-activate either from Alexa or from Google Assistant/Google Home Hub (HUB is NOT required). Out of the box setup is simple, you must download the free VeSync smartphone app, and from there you connect to your 2.5ghz (NOT 5ghz!) WiFi home network. You need your email address and choose your own password to create the VeSync (free) account which you them program each bulb and name it. You can put bulbs into 'groups' for example "Living Room" "Garage" "kitchen" and so on. The you can voice control the bulbs without needing to manually flip the light switch on/off (the switches must be left in the 'on' position.) You do not need to buy any other hardware for these smartbulbs to work, assuming you have home WiFi and you own a smartphone. You do not need a special adapter for these to screw into. Because these are LED technology, you save $$ compared to old school bulbs. These output 800 lumens, and consume 9 watts. These are Soft White (Dimmable) bulbs- they do NOT change color. You can vocally dim them. The things you can do are impressive. For the price of the four-pack, you can automate your lights to always remember to turn on/off or put them in AWAY mode so the lights will go on and off as if someone is at home while you are away. I regard this item as a very worthwhile purchase- for its convenience and the security it provides. When you unbox these, you are impressed with the HEFT of them. They are HEAVY (they should be, each bulb has a wi-fi radio built in). This is the ESL100 model when you go through VeSync setup. If you select the wrong bulb model during SETUP, the bulbs will NOT configure! In VeSync, then, this is the first of the 3 bulb choices "Soft White". It cannot change colors or use "Cool White" in lieu of Soft White. In the Alexa routine you can setup routines quite simply. In addition to the "Security Lights" group I created, I also created a single Porch Light that comes ON at Sunset and turns off at 2 AM. I can also speak commands to my Google Home Hub "OK Google, Turn PORCH ON" or "OK Google, Porch 50%" as examples. Similarly I can tell ALEXA the same commands. I used the ALEXA smartphone app on my Android Note 5 to build the sunrise/sunset based routines for all of my smart bulbs.
Report