Easiest way to turn your Dumb Home into a Smart Home

[@nasaspacemanwho6711]

How are you getting on with the lighwave switches? Any issues.

[@PaulsViewsReviews]

So far, so good - and we’ve been using them for about 6/7 years, since generation 1. You do have to ensure there is enough load on a circuit so, for example, one of our lights has 8 small led bulbs and I had to swap two of them (for symmetry) to their halogen equivalent to ensure the switch could see it. Lightwave do provide a list of compatible bulbs to help on situations like this, though.

[@nasaspacemanwho6711]

@@PaulsViewsReviews thanks Paul. Appericate it. Age old question I guess smart bulbs with smart switch and cover the dum switch or go with this. Iv got a full house renovation coming up so I might mix and match.

[@PaulsViewsReviews]

@@nasaspacemanwho6711 I mixed and matched. Fancy light fittings get Lightwave switches, regular lights get Hue bulbs. Apple Home can control both so it works well.

[@drpawanjain]

hi, i will be grateful if you can advise on Phillips hue v/s lightwave. I live in uk & My whole house is getting rewired pretty soon.

[@PaulsViewsReviews]

It honestly depends on the kind of lights you have. If you can fit a smart bulb like Hue then it’s great but you need to remember that it needs to stay turned on all the time, so you’ll need to cover the light switches to ensure nobody turns them off. You may then want a hue switch or else you’re reliant on your phone or an Alexa (or similar) to turn it off/on. With that in mind, I’d lean towards Lightwave as a better all round solution, wherever possible. The only real exception is if you have lights across multiple circuits and you want to control them simultaneously, then Hue works best. I used that solution for our 5 front of house lights that are on three different switches. By using hue bulbs, I can switch them all on or off simultaneously. Hope that helps!

[@tomwilliams4253]

Hi, I watched your Tesla wall video with great interest. All your videos are very easy to digest. I am now a subscriber. I'd love a similar set up but keen to understand how you decided on which solar panels to buy and how you found your installer. Any chance you would create a new video to explain how you chose both?

[@PaulsViewsReviews]

Hi Tim. Thanks for subscribing. To be honest, the choice of panels and installer was decided by the fact that they were the company who got in touch with me after I registered an interest in the Powerwall on the Tesla website. They made recommendations and I went with them. That was about it!

[@luisstorms3792]

Having like 12 spotlights in the living room, that’d be smart switch for me! I’ve been contemplating it for a while now! Great video!

[@PaulsViewsReviews]

Glad I could help!

[@eeyvrcs]

Hi Paul. I just finished watching your Dec '21 video on Solar and Tesla Powerwall 2 + Gateway 2, really enjoyed it. I'm Bristol-based and really looking to take the plunge and getting solar panels and storage. I've signed up on Tesla UK's website and submitted my interest for the Powerwall 2. My question to you is, I didn't think the Tesla Gateway 2 was yet available in the UK, at least not directly from Tesla. Coudl you advise on how you source your powerwall & gateway? Was it through Tesla? If not, any recommendations? Also, what was your timeline from assessment, quote, order, delivery and install? Finally, about your podpoint...in your diagram it seemed to be on its own, grid side, not drawing electricity through your house. I know cars are high consumption but does this mean you never charge your car from solar at all, always from the grid? I know typical car usage would be during the day, charging at night, but if you're home on a sunny weekend would the excess solar not be useful to charge the car?

[@PaulsViewsReviews]

Hi. I generated a lead on the Tesla website and then a registered supplier reached out, and we went from there. From enquiry to installation was about 5 months. They Gateway 2 arrived in the UK around the same time as Powerwall 2, I believe. Your last question about the PodPoint and solar power has got me thinking about the wiring set up. Thanks for bringing that up - you’ll have to leave it with me!

[@eeyvrcs]

@@PaulsViewsReviews Thank you very much! I really appreciate it.