Hue vs Lifx on isy

[Blackbird]

I understand there is a polyglot for both of these colored lights.  Can anyone tell me which is most compatible or works the best with the isy?

 

Thanks

[lilyoyo1]

21 hours ago, Blackbird said:

I understand there is a polyglot for both of these colored lights.  Can anyone tell me which is most compatible or works the best with the isy?

 

Thanks

They're probably about equal in regards to usage.

I use hue mostly because that's what I started with. I do like having the hue bridge vs using wifi as it's hardwired vs multiple devices being on my network. 

If I did swap, I'd go with lifx bulbs but stay with hue light strips only because I have more options in regards to cutting and placement with the hue light strips. Lifx has much better color than hue which is why I would go with their bulbs.

[simplextech]

6 hours ago, lilyoyo1 said:

Lifx has much better color than hue which is why I would go with their bulbs.

This is very true.  The LiFX bulbs are brighter and colors are more vivid.  

I have both lights in my house.  I'm currently running Hue Ambiance in the dining room for a test and I have LiFX in all of the table/floor lamps.  From an ISY integration stand point both work well and are responsive.  Both are local control as the Hue bridge is local and the LiFX nodeserver is using the local API.  The only concern in regards to LiFX is that they are Wifi so if you have poor Wifi signal then you might have issues.

[gviliunas]

I haven't tried Hue but very much like my 17 LIFx bulbs.    Especially high on the WAF is LIFx in the bathrooms.

My bathrooms have 4 lights on a bar above the mirror and a single 5th light in the room. All are controlled by the same switch and the wire is fed from switch to light bar to 5th light so not easy to control just 1 light.

When I used regular bulbs, I had a program to modify-scene to dim them to the lowest level at night. With 5 bulbs, this was still pretty bright. Now, with 5 LIFx bulbs, I can modify the scene at night to only light the 5th bulb with a low warm glow. If needed, a double-click with bring all 5 lights to normal brightness and hue.

So far, this has been 100% reliable. The only penalty is a 1-2 second delay between switch-on and light(s)-on.

[giomania]

Both are local control as the Hue bridge is local and the LiFX nodeserver is using the local API.

How does this work exactly? Is that via Polyglot?

Thanks.

Mark



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

[simplextech]

How does this work exactly? Is that via Polyglot?

Thanks.

Mark



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

Yes both are accessed via polyglot


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[lilyoyo1]

I'm not using Polyglot for my hue. I use network resources. Mine were done prior to Polyglot and I've been to lazy to redo everything. Even outside that, I probably won't switch over only because when I want to change color combinations, I simply update the app rather than having to do extra work with scenes etc.

[Blackbird]

10 hours ago, gviliunas said:

I haven't tried Hue but very much like my 17 LIFx bulbs.    Especially high on the WAF is LIFx in the bathrooms.

My bathrooms have 4 lights on a bar above the mirror and a single 5th light in the room. All are controlled by the same switch and the wire is fed from switch to light bar to 5th light so not easy to control just 1 light.

When I used regular bulbs, I had a program to modify-scene to dim them to the lowest level at night. With 5 bulbs, this was still pretty bright. Now, with 5 LIFx bulbs, I can modify the scene at night to only light the 5th bulb with a low warm glow. If needed, a double-click with bring all 5 lights to normal brightness and hue.

So far, this has been 100% reliable. The only penalty is a 1-2 second delay between switch-on and light(s)-on.

Why the 1-2 second delay?  Using a program or scene from the isy?  Or Lifx bulbs are slow?

[Blackbird]

7 hours ago, lilyoyo1 said:

I'm not using Polyglot for my hue. I use network resources. Mine were done prior to Polyglot and I've been to lazy to redo everything. Even outside that, I probably won't switch over only because when I want to change color combinations, I simply update the app rather than having to do extra work with scenes etc.

Probably a long response for you to answer but can you explain a bit (a lot) more about how you use it with network resources?  When you say update the app do you mean the LIFx app?

[lilyoyo1]

27 minutes ago, Blackbird said:

Probably a long response for you to answer but can you explain a bit (a lot) more about how you use it with network resources?  When you say update the app do you mean the LIFx app?

I use hue not lifx. I've tried lifx and like them but since I was already invested with hue (there's alot of other reasons), I've stayed with them. You can't go wrong with either one really.

I only use hue for lamps and accent lighting. Generally speaking, if the regular lights are off then the accent lights come on. In regards to lamps they turn on/off. Depending on the room different button presses do different things. For example, in the family room or living room, a single tap turns on the lamps. A double tap sets it to a dim level. Late night that reverses. 

You actually get more control by using Polyglot than you do with NRs. For example you can dim the lights from your insteon switch. My way works for me because I prefer presets vs manually dimming something. If I get tired of my colors, I can simply play around with color combinations in the hue app, and save. Much easier than doing that with the ISY via scenes and such. Once again it works for me because I only use the hue app for updates. I don't turn on lights via hue or anything else.

[larryllix]

OTOH I use NRs for most non-Insteon things. Total control is made possible by using variable substitution. I find ISY scenes of non-Insteon lights way too slow.

Here is one NR I use for 24 x $8 RGBWW bulbs.

[Blackbird]

What is NR's?

[jec6613]

54 minutes ago, Blackbird said:

What is NR's?

Network Resource.

I use LiFX, because the lighting strips do not dim at the longer lengths I was using them for, but they are largely similar in compatibility.  Older LiFX devices had some compatibility issues with multiple dual band WAPs, but the newer controllers have fixed those.  I would choose to go with whichever system fits your lighting needs best, and for me that was LiFX, but for you may be different.

There are also other systems with color change bulbs you could try as well, including some Z-Wave ones (Aeotec I believe has bulbs and strips) and I do have one caveat to bring up: LiFX is a larger security risk since it's more direct WiFi devices.  It's not an issue for me, but I have them VLANed off and controlled access for them.  For someone less savvy about networking, the Hue which use ZigBee or any of the Z-Wave devices may be better simply for that reason.

[Blackbird]

So I take it, with lifx, programs can be written on the isy let's say to "fast on," a light switch and a preset color comes on but if you want to operate the light, using the app, you will still have to power on the switch?

[lilyoyo1]

4 hours ago, Blackbird said:

So I take it, with lifx, programs can be written on the isy let's say to "fast on," a light switch and a preset color comes on but if you want to operate the light, using the app, you will still have to power on the switch?

With Polyglot, you can turn on your switch when using the app. It allows for 2 way control. With NRs you don't have that ability. I only use the hue app to change my colors schemes not to control my lights so NRs work for me. 

The best way to do anything is based on how you use things. From your questions it sounds like Polyglot is your best choice.

[simplextech]

7 hours ago, Blackbird said:

So I take it, with lifx, programs can be written on the isy let's say to "fast on," a light switch and a preset color comes on but if you want to operate the light, using the app, you will still have to power on the switch?

The switch always needs to be on for the LiFX or Hue bulbs to work.  The Hue are more forgiving and faster to come online from a no power state though which provides (to me) more flexibility in their use beyond table lamps.  I currently but may change this only use LiFX/Hue in table or floor lamps that always have power and then I use the polyglot nodeserver to turn the lamps on/off and set brightness etc.  I do have a KPL setup for the living room area that has no load to it so it's just a remote and it can be used to turn on/off all lights in the room or select individual lamps.

[lilyoyo1]

1 hour ago, simplextech said:

The switch always needs to be on for the LiFX or Hue bulbs to work.  The Hue are more forgiving and faster to come online from a no power state though which provides (to me) more flexibility in their use beyond table lamps.  I currently but may change this only use LiFX/Hue in table or floor lamps that always have power and then I use the polyglot nodeserver to turn the lamps on/off and set brightness etc.  I do have a KPL setup for the living room area that has no load to it so it's just a remote and it can be used to turn on/off all lights in the room or select individual lamps.

I think he was meaning on in the sense of state vs powered.

Either way it's an easy fix. Since you're using automation, simply cap the red wire and run the switch leg to the hot

[simplextech]

1 minute ago, lilyoyo1 said:

I think he was meaning on in the sense of state vs powered

Well I'm just too literal this early

 

[upstatemike]

Some random thoughts:

Hue are only 800 lumens while Lifx are available at 1100 lumens. 

Hue are available in candelabra base which is required for many chandelier fixtures. Lifx does not have this option.

If you power on a bunch of Lifx bulbs at once they will all hit your wireless access point and DHCP server for authentication at the same time.  This can cause one or more to not show up in the app because they failed to authenticate successfully on boot.

With Hue you can use their accessories to set up dead simple automation scenarios that just work. With Lifx you have to use something (like Polyglot) to bridge protocols and write programs even for very basic switch and motion actions. 

Hue has a limit of 50 bulbs per hub which can get chewed up quickly. I have single light fixtures that contain 10 bulbs each. So how scalable is Hue lighting really?

Lifx can chew up LAN addresses quickly. I currently have 190 reserved addresses in my router before I start counting smart bulbs and switches so how scalable is Wi-Fi based automation really?

Neither Hue nor Lifx should be used in enclosed fixtures or fixtures where the bulbs are horizontal or hanging upside down  In other words 90% of the light fixtures in most homes.

Hue bulbs also cannot be used outside or in damp locations.

[lilyoyo1]

1 hour ago, simplextech said:

The switch always needs to be on for the LiFX or Hue bulbs to work.  The Hue are more forgiving and faster to come online from a no power state though which provides (to me) more flexibility in their use beyond table lamps.  I currently but may change this only use LiFX/Hue in table or floor lamps that always have power and then I use the polyglot nodeserver to turn the lamps on/off and set brightness etc.  I do have a KPL setup for the living room area that has no load to it so it's just a remote and it can be used to turn on/off all lights in the room or select individual lamps.

I like direct control of my main lighting. If my hue hub goes down or my router broke (Murphy will ensure it happens while I'm gone and coming home at night) then I'm stuck trying to get lights in the dark. If my lamps don't go on I can fix it later. If all lights are broke I'm screwed. 

[Blackbird]

29 minutes ago, upstatemike said:

Some random thoughts:

Hue are only 800 lumens while Lifx are available at 1100 lumens. 

Hue are available in candelabra base which is required for many chandelier fixtures. Lifx does not have this option.

If you power on a bunch of Lifx bulbs at once they will all hit your wireless access point and DHCP server for authentication at the same time.  This can cause one or more to not show up in the app because they failed to authenticate successfully on boot.

With Hue you can use their accessories to set up dead simple automation scenarios that just work. With Lifx you have to use something (like Polyglot) to bridge protocols and write programs even for very basic switch and motion actions. 

Hue has a limit of 50 bulbs per hub which can get chewed up quickly. I have single light fixtures that contain 10 bulbs each. So how scalable is Hue lighting really?

Lifx can chew up LAN addresses quickly. I currently have 190 reserved addresses in my router before I start counting smart bulbs and switches so how scalable is Wi-Fi based automation really?

Neither Hue nor Lifx should be used in enclosed fixtures or fixtures where the bulbs are horizontal or hanging upside down  In other words 90% of the light fixtures in most homes.

Hue bulbs also cannot be used outside or in damp locations.

What do you mean cant be upside down?   You mean the bulb cant be facing the floor?

[simplextech]

19 minutes ago, lilyoyo1 said:

I like direct control of my main lighting. If my hue hub goes down or my router broke (Murphy will ensure it happens while I'm gone and coming home at night) then I'm stuck trying to get lights in the dark. If my lamps don't go on I can fix it later. If all lights are broke I'm screwed. 

Agreed.  I currently and probably always only use Hue/LiFX in lamps.  My primary lighting are all switched.  I played with some Hue lamps in the dining room and although they are ok the features never got used by anyone so it made no sense at all.

Speaking of network problems... I've had that happen with the LiFX where I had a router failure overnight and the LiFX bulbs became mostly useless in function however them not working was I suppose a secondary router monitor?

 

[lilyoyo1]

21 minutes ago, Blackbird said:

What do you mean cant be upside down?   You mean the bulb cant be facing the floor?

I've used bulbs in all sorts of conditions over the years without issues. Upside down, outside in the south, sideways. In fact,  my original bulbs that was used on my old patio is still in use in my wall sconces outside hanging upside down.

[Blackbird]

To me a BR30 and GU10 are meant for aiming down at the floor 90% of the fixtures I have seen.  When you guys keep saying upside down, what exactly are you talking about?  Gu10 and br30 aiming at the ceiling?

[simplextech]

1 minute ago, Blackbird said:

To me a BR30 and GU10 are meant for aiming down at the floor 90% of the fixtures I have seen.  When you guys keep saying upside down, what exactly are you talking about?  Gu10 and br30 aiming at the ceiling?

I've never heard of the can't be upside down thing before... BR30's are primarily used in ceiling fixtures.