Smart Light Bulbs

rk911 wrote:
i'm considering dumping my old style light timers replacing them with wifi smart bulbs. lots of questions i hope others can answer.

- most of the smart bulbs will be in fixtures that are on timers year round but some of the smart bulbs will be in other fixtures that are occasionally used on an as-needed basis. will the smart bulb also function as a "regular" bulb? will it lose its programming if turned off at the wall switch or fixture? if it holds its programming how long will the bulb's programming be retained when the bulb or fixture is off?
The smart bulb will retain any programming, HOWEVER, when you shut the power off to the bulb and turn it back on, the bulb will come on at full brightness, until the next program event kicks in. You can use a wall switch as needed, but when you power the switch back on, the bulb will be at full brightness till the next programmed event.

- we have a planned momentary power outage each week when our stand-by generator tests itself under load. will these momentary outages (~5-seconds) disrupt, alter or cancel the bulb's programming? does the programming reside in the bulb or on the PC? the PC at home is on a UPS so there is zero interruption to it.
Again, when the power comes back on, ALL bulbs will turn on with full brightness until their next scheduled programmed event.

- i don't care for or need smart bulbs that can change hue or color. prefer soft white especially in the lamps that will see occasional use. LEDs are notoriously harsh. can anyone recommend a brand that's not so harsh?
Go to Home Depot or Lowes and look at the display bulbs they have. You can play with them and see exactly what type of light they offer.

- do smart bulbs come in 3-way wattages such as 60/100/150 (equivalent)? can i get single wattage bulbs in the equivalent of 25 or 40-watts?
No typical 3-way bulbs are available in led, but they are almost all infinitely dimmable. Yes, you can get led's in various wattage equivalents.

- the upfront expense is ok but i sure don't want to be replacing them often. for those that have them what has been your experience in terms of longevity? not looking to go cheap nor am i wanting to take out a mortgage. looking for good value.
Odds are that ALL the bulbs will live longer than you.

- do the bulbs come with an app for my iphone/ipad? do i program them with those devices or with my PC?
Focus on bulbs that are compatible with HomeKit for use with iPHone's/iPads. There are a number of them. Check out CNET.COM for reviews.

- any other opinions, cautions or words of wisdom would be appreciated.

thanks.