“I am wanting to upgrade to smart lighting and can't decide between the C by GE 3 wire switch or light bulbs such as these. Does anyone know what the pros and cons are of one vs the other? Would there ever really be a reason to use them both together?”
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Jfree, 3 wire switch can use almost any type of bulb (don’t have to use smart bulbs which can save some money if you have several lights associated with a single switch as in my setup with several recessed ceiling lights controlled by one switch). Also, switch will control grouped lights together, whereas individual smart bulbs, even if grouped together in a “room” group, may have slight delays between them when turning on the “group”. Installation is a little more involved with wired switches but if you are handy/familiar with house AC wiring, not that big a deal (just observe all safety protocols). It helps to have deeper electrical boxes though as the switches are relatively deep and when placing in shallower depth boxes, especially when used in a multi-gang arrangement, it can be a little tough getting the wiring in place. I have self-wired about 50 switches in my home, so am familiar and comfortable doing this, but some installs were much more difficult than others. Cost to have an electrician do this work is substantial. If you own your home and expect to be in it awhile, it is nice to have switches hard wired. If you are renting, then the slight disadvantages of smart bulbs (the slight lag when grouped, cost per bulb being somewhat higher (although at the current deal price of $14.99 for 4 is getting close to many non-smart LEDS) etc may be outweighed by the fact that you can just take the bulbs with you when you move. BTW, unlike some brands where you must keep power to the bulb at all times so that it is powered to maintain the WiFi or BT connection (in other words, if you turn off the switch that controls the socket, you lose control via your smart app), with the CbyGE system, you can combine their switches with their bulbs (although I do not know why you would want to do this) and control the bulb (dim, turn on or off) without losing control via the App or via Voice control (Alexa Echo etc) even if you turn the bulb off via the switch. Overall, I think the decision comes down to 1) whether you rent or own, 2) if you just want to test the waters of home automation/voice control (bulbs indicated if just testing), 3) how many bulbs you are planning to replace with smart bulbs, and 4) how comfortable you are with doing home wiring at the switch box or how much you are willing to pay someone else to install the switches. Hope this helps.
Sorry, there was a problem. Please try again later.Thank you for reaching out to us Jfree. Some pros and cons for having either the switches or bulbs or both. Our switches allow you to control the dimming and allows you to physically turn it off or on. We do also carry motion sensing switches that will detect motion and control the light that way. The switches do everything the bulbs do aside from being able to move around to other fixtures. Rewiring might be a bit cumbersome however the switches will also allow you to use other bulbs. We can also assist you with wiring the switches in your wall without having to consult with an electrician. Our smart bulbs can be controlled from the app however the range will depend on the model we sell bluetooth and direct connect bulbs. Bluetooth operates off of bluetooth range and Direct Connect functions off of your home wifi network. Both devices can be automated in our C by GE app allowing you to set timers to have them go on or off at certain times. It all comes down to personal preference and where you intend to use them. You can also reach out to us directly if you have any further questions at 1-844-302-2943 or email [email protected]. -C by GE Support
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Sorry, there was a problem. Please try again later.Have had the bulbs for awhile and just bought our first switch (not set up yet). The benefit of having just the light bulbs is if you want to control individual lights that may be combined on one switch. We got the switch for our ceiling can lights instead. Also don't know yet if the switch responds to vocal commands when connected to a hub or mini. If not, that could be another benefits of the bulbs. I can't think of a reason to have both at all.
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