5 Fantastic Cheap Accessories for Philips Hue Lighting System

Hue bulbs aren't the cheapest, but thankfully, Hue accessories are in general, cheap, versatile and effective. I've added 5 to my system this year, the Smart Button, the Dimmer Switch V2, the Samotech Light Switch Cover, the Internal Motion Sensor and the Smart Plug. In this video, I'll talk you through all 5.
Hue Smart Plug - geni.us/lrJKxm
Hue Smart Button - geni.us/eE8ySOq
Hue Dimmer Switch V2 - geni.us/kU2P
Hue Internal Motion Sensor - geni.us/nrAXX
Samotech Light Switch Cover - geni.us/kotjHJp
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[@kalaskrille]

The Start Plug will literally solve everything for me. Thanks ever so much.

[@ProperHonestTech]

Glad to hear it!

[@kalaskrille]

@@ProperHonestTech Got me 4 Smart Plugs today... loving it!!!

[@murraycpark]

I've got two sensors in my flat, one at each end of the hallway. The one at the kitchen end is magnetically attached to a fridge and lights the kitchen and part of the hallway as I move around between rooms. The other sits outside my bathroom, lighting it and the bedroom when I approach. It's worth noting that you can schedule different day and night behaviours - I use this so at night the lights come on at a low level when I'm going to bed or using the bathroom. I've also got a dimmer switch by my bed so I can gradually increase the brightness of my bedside lamps on dark mornings, plus on in the lounge to turn off everything outside the lounge when I settle down in front of the TV. Also worth noting is that you can assign routines to the motion sensors in Alexa and you can assign actions to the dimmer buttons in Apple Home, so you're not just limited to what the Hue app offers you.

[@ProperHonestTech]

Sounds like a great setup. We currently only use Hue bulbs in rooms, not in the hallways, so I've yet to set up motion sensors 'inside' so to speak. I'd wanted to in the living room, but found a Dimmer Switch with a Samotech cover to be a better solution, hence putting the motion sensor in the garage. Everyone who has been around to the house has commented that they love the fact that you just open the internal door to the garage and the light comes on automatically! So simple yet such a helpful feature of the house now.

[@JeffreyGVny]

I guess it depends on what one’s definition of cheap is. Certainly, having dived into the Hue ecosphere, I don’t consider it a cheap hobby or lifestyle. Spending $55 just for the convenience of turning on your table lamp ($30 plug +$25 button) because the toggle is conveniently located is hardly a cheap solution!

[@ProperHonestTech]

Yep, as you say, depends on your perspective. But in a situation where, the lamp purchased is the one that my partner wanted to use and didn’t want to purchase another (which would have been more expensive anyway), I view $55 as a method of removing an irritation that would be there every single time she used the light, for years to come, ‘cheap’, and exceptional value in the long run. 🤷🏻‍♂️

[@tiborgabor9632]

Hi What is that colour on the wall at 5:25, please? Which brand? Could you please tell me the exact product/paint? Many thanks

[@paulc3555]

Great video

[@ProperHonestTech]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@girltalk5858]

I just bought a Phillips Hue plug, to turn on my heater, the plug said it is 1400 watts but it still not working, can you give me some tips?🇨🇦

[@totalplonker824]

I was just wondering if the smart plug would be able to turn my kettle on? Btw I'm already in the Philips Hue ecosystem!

[@TreDogOfficial]

Phillips needs an 'analog', tactile way of interfacing with the different colors of their lights. I suggest a smart switch that has an interface much like the old MS Paint program. So you can touch a color wheel to pick out your favorite style. That's it, just a switch and a color wheel.

[@GreeniusGenius]

They used to have one, before Hue came out when they had lights like the LivingColours Iris, it was called the Living Colours Remote. Long gone though now…

[@MikeyC314]

Hi there, I enjoy your videos and this one convinced me to go all hue in my house! Started with the bedroom that has a three in one light/fan feature. Got hue bulbs in all three lights and made a room and then bought this little button so I could turn them on or off from my bedside table. Sounds great but I can't figure out how to set the button so it simply turns on and then off with each press. It seems to have a five press option and a press and hold but I just want to one press for on and one press for off. How did you do it? Thanks!

[@MikeyC314]

I just downloaded the Hue Essentials app and was able to do this. Very odd that you need a third party app for the most basic function ever! Did you manage to do it in the regular hue app?

[@ProperHonestTech]

I just chose ‘Last On State’ for all 5 of those options, and then yes it worked perfectly in the Hue app - give that a try!

[@MikeyC314]

@@ProperHonestTech Yes that worked when I put it on 'Scene Cycle' and chose 'Last on State' for all 5 options. Thanks for the tip. Hopefully there are more Hue videos in the pipeline :)

[@kelyrin-douceuretdessin9476]

Thank you for your video ! I have a silly question… in my apartment, there aren’t many sockets at all, so we use a lot of power strips. Could a few smart plugs be plugged on a power strip ? Or maybe one power strip plugged on a smart plug ? Cause I definitely have more accessories than available sockets 🥴

[@ProperHonestTech]

In your instance, you might be better off going for something like a TP Link Kasa Smart Strip. They allow you to plug just the one smart strip into the wall, and have independent control of each item you plug into it. Plugging multiple smart plugs into a strip would be a) expensive and b) probably not encouraged by the manufacturers in case of fire risk. Hope that helps! 🙂

[@kelyrin-douceuretdessin9476]

@@ProperHonestTech thank you very much !! ☺️☺️☺️

[@brontsw]

May you please provide a link to that (samatech?) cover that the hue dimmer switch can go into. Thank you

[@ProperHonestTech]

Samotech Light Switch Cover - geni.us/kotjHJp

[@gpop62]

Hi enjoyed the Philips hue information on your site.Would you have any advice on resetting a Hue white bulb that turns on off via house switch but has gone off net for some reason.Happened after deleting it in one room on Google home.Tried switching on off repeatedly, does not reconfigure on Alexa or Google apps.Some investigation suggests one of the dimmer switch may be able to reset the bulb?If so I would buy. Or buy a hub which I'm not ready to do yet as small setup is required for mum in one room to help with disabilities. Samsung TV works with has smart things but smart things also does not see the light.Can you please help me see the light hallelujah.Any advice would be helpful including buy the hub or another bulb.Thanks

[@GreeniusGenius]

You can use Hue dimmer switches to reset the bulb. Bridge will probably be the most reliable. Your Samsung TV doesn’t have Zigbee, unless you bought the special dongle from Samsung that has the antennas, it’s basically just a hub for internet connected devices that integrate with Smartthings.

[@Techlifeandmore]

For the smart plug, if you don’t care about integrations with Philips hue, then you could always just grab a much cheaper alternative that connects to your home Wi-Fi off of Amazon. They are as cheap as eight dollars!

[@GamingwithMusa]

Philips Hue's ecosystem is really expensive. I've got two bulbs and a hue bridge which cost me around PKR 17000 ($100) and now I've ordered a light switch for PKR 4000 ($25). In total $125 just for two bulbs and one accessory. Now imagine a whole house will cost $1000+ which is a lot.

[@ProperHonestTech]

Yep, you can definitely spend a lot of money on Hue. We spent a small fortune buying multiple bulbs for our new house, but we really enjoy being able to power all lights (and lamps) from one switch as we walk into a room, or from our phones, or with our voices. That's what you're paying for I guess?

[@andylie7699]

It is pricey, but it works really well. Its a very reliable system, and therefore worth the money in my opinion.

[@JeffreyGVny]

Sometimes, I wish I had just used lutron dimmer switches. Then I wouldn’t have all these p-touch labels on my wall switches telling people not to touch 😝. But then I see the great colours I have programmed for my sunset into night and I can’t imagine not having them.

[@wilsonblack2023]

Are you still using hue bulbs? Did you link them with matter? I tried it but have lost most of the functionality. All the best

[@NoxiismWasTaken]

My light switches have screws on the top and bottom :(

[@theattorney6072]

8 dollars Hue smart button. Hhh where ? Give me a link

[@Jallandhara]

Where the actual hell did you find a smart button for $8? Amazon doesn't even sell singles; and the 2 packs are $80 (in the US)

[@GarrettBlackmon]

It's bull. Ive been buying hue stuff for years, they sell nothing under $30.

[@ConnAndTheThings]

Lol the smart button is now £38 on Amazon

[@Saiyukimot]

Smart button - you say it is £6. Then you say its £17. I follow the link to Amazon - £27. TOTAL FAIL

[@ProperHonestTech]

😂 Sure, whatever. The caption was wrong, I accept that - mistakes happen, we're only human. But I do say it's £17 in the video, and it was when I bought it (check Amazon price trends, you can see that the price has fluctuated). Strangely enough, Amazon don't check with me before they raise the price on something. I guess some people will always find something to complain about though 🤷🏻‍♂️

[@stuarts124]

October 2022 update: “It costs £17 here in the UK, which is about $2 in the US.”

[@hydroaegis6658]

Hue Smart Buttons are NOT $8