Smart outdoor lighting: Smart outdoor lighting for greater convenience and ambience

With smart outdoor lighting, you can easily decide when your garden is lit and what kind of atmosphere you want to create. Control the lighting with an app, set schedules, and adjust the lights by brightness or color. This eliminates the need to turn the lights on and off yourself every evening. Smart outdoor lighting also offers various options for both existing and new Lightpro systems.  

But how does outdoor lighting work with an app? What’s the difference between Zigbee and Wi-Fi, and when do you need a gateway or switch? In this blog, we’ll explain the capabilities of the Lightpro Smart System.

Summary

Smart outdoor lighting gives you more control over the lighting in your garden. Lightpro’s smart lights and Motion Sensor communicate via Zigbee and are connected through the Gateway. The Switch and Camera work via Wi-Fi and therefore do not require a Gateway. With a Switch, you can also turn your existing Lightpro garden lighting into smart lighting. Using the Lightpro app, you can control the connected products and set timers, brightness levels, and various lighting settings, among other things.

What is smart outdoor lighting?

Smart outdoor lighting is also known as smart exterior lighting. It consists of lights and other products that you control digitally. Instead of just using a switch, you can manage various functions through the Lightpro app. 

The options available to you depend on the product. With smart lights, for example, you can turn the lights on and off, dim them, and set different colors. You can also use automations to have the lights turn on or off at specific times.

This makes smart outdoor lighting a great option if you want more control over the ambiance and use of your garden. For instance, you might want different lighting for an evening on the patio than when you just need to illuminate a garden path.

Controlling outdoor lighting with an app

Controlling outdoor lighting with an app lets you adjust various settings right from your smartphone. With the Lightpro app, you can manage connected smart products and customize the lighting without having to control each light individually. 

With an app-controlled outdoor light, for example, you can determine how bright it shines or which color you want to use, depending on the fixture’s capabilities. So, for a relaxing evening, you can choose warm light, and at other times, you can create a different atmosphere.

The Castor Smart is an example of this. You can use this spot light in a flower bed and, via the app, set the desired color and brightness, among other things. The Oberon Smart is a freestanding fixture. You can place it along a garden path, driveway, or in a flower bed, for example. You can also connect this light to the Lightpro app.

With app-controlled garden lighting, it becomes easier to tailor different areas of the garden to their intended use.

Remotely controlling outdoor lighting

Remotely controlling outdoor lighting offers extra convenience. You don’t have to walk to every switch or light fixture when you want to adjust the lighting. With the smart system, you can manage the settings right from the app.

This is handy, for example, when you’re inside and want to adjust the lighting on the patio. You can also check which connected lights are active and change the settings as needed.

The Switch as a solution for your existing garden lighting

Do you have existing Lightpro garden lighting that isn’t smart on its own? Then the Switch is a great solution. It lets you control your existing lights as a group via the app. This means you don’t automatically have to replace all your existing fixtures if you want to add smart control.

Controlling outdoor lighting with a schedule

You don’t have to manually control smart outdoor lighting every day. With schedules, you can automate part of the process. For example, set when the lights turn on and off.

Want to prevent lights from staying on unnecessarily? Automation is very practical for that, too. Instead of checking every evening to make sure all the lights are off, let the system switch them on and off according to the set times.

You can also combine smart controls with motion detection. The Motion Sensor triggers connected lights as soon as movement is detected within the detection zone. This is particularly useful along a garden path or at an entrance.

What are the benefits of smart outdoor lighting?

● Flexibility: You’re not limited to a single fixed lighting setup; instead, you can adjust the lighting to suit the moment. Opt for dimmed lighting on a quiet evening, while using different settings during a dinner party.

● Automation: Schedules and motion detection ensure that you only use the lighting when needed. This way, you combine convenience with mindful use of lighting.

● Visibility around the home: for example, automatically turn on lights along a path or have certain lights stay on at preset times.

Zigbee vs. Wi-Fi: What’s the difference?

The Lightpro Smart System uses both Zigbee and Wi-Fi. Both technologies enable wireless communication but are used for different products within the system.

Zigbee

Zigbee is used for the Lightpro smart lights and the Motion Sensor. The Zigbee network operates as a mesh network. The smart lights help relay the signal within the network. This allows the network to expand throughout the garden when multiple compatible products are used.

Wi-Fi

The camera and Switch operate via Wi-Fi. These products therefore do not use the Zigbee Gateway. They are connected via Wi-Fi and then configured and controlled through the Lightpro app.

So you don’t have to decide yourself whether a specific Lightpro product should communicate via Zigbee or Wi-Fi. The type of product determines which connection is used. When setting up the system, it’s especially important to know which components are needed.

When do you need the Gateway?

The Gateway provides the connection for the Zigbee products within the Lightpro Smart System. Do you want to use the Oberon Smart or Castor Smart lights or add a Motion Sensor? Then you’ll need to add the Gateway first. Next, you’ll pair these Zigbee products.

The Gateway is therefore essential if you’re setting up a garden with individual smart lights and the corresponding Zigbee products. Each compatible smart light also helps spread the Zigbee signal further throughout the garden.

When should you use the Switch?

The Switch serves a different purpose. It’s a great option if you want to control your existing Lightpro garden lighting smartly without replacing all your fixtures with smart lights. With the Switch, you can control connected lighting via the app.

The Switch works via Wi-Fi, so you don’t need a Gateway. That makes the Switch a practical solution if you want to expand an existing lighting system with smart controls.

The difference between the Gateway and the Switch

So the difference is simple: you need the Gateway for Zigbee products, and you use the Switch to make existing, non-smart Lightpro lighting controllable via Wi-Fi.

Which smart products can you use?

The Lightpro Smart System consists of several components.

● The Castor Smart: offers color and dimming capabilities. Can be used to highlight plants or other features.

● The Oberon Smart: a freestanding fixture that looks great along a path, driveway, or flower bed.

● The Motion Sensor: allows your lighting to respond to motion. The 12V camera adds camera functionality and motion detection. This camera works via Wi-Fi and does not require a Gateway.

● The Gateway: connects to the Zigbee products.

● The Switch: a convenient way to make existing Lightpro lighting smart. This allows you to build a smart system that works with both new and existing gardens. 

Check out the SMART products to discover the various possibilities.

How do you set up smart outdoor lighting?

The steps required depend on the products you’re using. For Zigbee fixtures and the Motion Sensor, start by downloading the Lightpro app and pairing the Gateway. Then add the smart products to the system.

Are you using a Switch or a camera? In that case, the connection is made via Wi-Fi, and you don’t need a Gateway. Once the products are paired, you can manage the available settings from the app.

You don’t have to set up the entire smart system all at once. You can add additional compatible products later if you want to further expand your smart outdoor lighting. Want to know exactly how pairing and setup work? Check out the Lightpro app manual. 

When should you choose smart outdoor lighting?

Smart outdoor lighting is ideal for a garden where flexibility is important to you. Do you use your patio in different ways? Do you want to be able to adjust lighting settings or automate parts of your lighting system? If so, smart features provide additional possibilities. Could you use some help, or do you need advice? Please contact us.