Use of interior bulbs of Philips OPURE: profitable trick (under their own risk)

If you are already part of the Philips Hue gang and want to take your intelligent outdoor lighting, you are not alone.

Hue offers a range of bulbs and accessories centered abroad, but the cost can be quite discouraging. $ 100 for the tastes of Inara or Lucca, or more than $ 160 for more premium models such as appearance or economy, it is a considerable outlay for an outdoor light, although quite elegant.

So, here there is a confession: I have been using interior bulbs of regular outdoor tone for years.

To be more precise, I have a pair of bulb of white and color A19/B22 on the wall outside with the kitchen that illuminates the patio and a trio of GU19 bulbs in the sofit of my garage.

The patio are housed in Light accessories from the St Ives Swan neck, with IP44 classification, of the garden trade and the garages are in the covers of the descending light with IP65 classification.

They have lived in these accessories for almost 6 years, I have never had a single problem with them. In addition, they help extend my Zigbee range to my garden office, which has a lot of tone lights.

These interior bulbs have delivered the complete intelligent lighting experience (color changes, schedules and everything, without problems.

But here is the capture: doing this comes with risks.

The case of outdoor inner tone bulbs

Yes, you can use outdoor inner tone bulbs, provided that it takes into account the environment in which they are placed.

My own tone bulbs have lasted seasons of rain, snow and heat.

The key? They are installed in accessories with outdoor classification that offer protection against the elements, protecting the bulbs from direct moisture exposure.

Essentially, I get the benefits of the outdoor environment of Hue, at a fraction of the cost.

In the time before the tone, I had regular interior bulbs in the outdoor accessories, so I did not think it would cause too much problem to change these silly bulbs for smart interior bulbs.

Official limitations: Why do significance recommendations recommend it?

The Philips Hue parent company officially does not officially support indoor bulbs in outdoor conditions for a good reason.

Interior bulbs are not designed for extreme temperatures or potential exposure to moisture that outdoor lights are built to support.

Extended heat or rain exposure, for example, can damage both bulbs and circuits over time, especially during peaks or temperature drops.

And anything that is electric and is damaged is dangerous. That is the case both inside and outside your home.

So be sure, if you are thinking of using regular outdoor tone lights, not only use climate -proof accessories as mentioned above, but also make sure your wiring is updated and meet modern standards.

If something was going to go wrong … an frayed wire, an oxidized socket, water entry and the like … you would want to make sure that your electrical circuits shoot and leave as they should.

It must also take into account that the use of interior egg bulbs outside the guarantee, since the bulbs will be considered “misused” when they are installed outside.

My personal experience: why it has worked (until now)

Over the years, I have faced everything, from frozen winters to abrasing summers, and my standard bulbs of tone have survived everything.

That is not only because I have used specific homes for exteriors for them, but the bulbs of tone itself, even the basic interiors, are designed to be operational in temperatures of -20 ° C to 45 ° C.

Things to take into account

1. Humidity protection: Make sure your outdoor accessories are completely sealed to avoid rain and moisture, which are breaks of bombers not with IPI classification. And be sure to verify them periodically to make sure there is no damage.
2. Accept the guarantee risk: As with any solution, there is a degree of risk, especially with respect to guarantee coverage. Be sure to agree with the possibility that Philips does not replace an inner bulb used outdoors if it fails prematurely.
3. Try first: Before compromising, try a single bulb in an outdoor accessory during an intensive weather season to see how it works. This test approach will help you know what to expect in the long term.

In the end, there are no guarantees with this configuration, but if it works for you, then it is an easy and cheaper way to enjoy the lighting of the tone in your outdoor spaces.

Be safe

However, remember that there is a reason why Hue advises all this, and that extends to more than just want to buy the most expensive outdoor models.

In the best case, the useful life of the interior bulbs will probably shorten, since the extreme heat will affect the circuits. In the worst case, it could cause a serious situation if you do not use adequate outdoor accessories and/or you have disjunctors installed in your home wiring.

The use of a bulb of tone that is designed to live indoors in the outdoor is already a small enough risk, so be sure to safeguard it protecting it properly.

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