@blaineg@lonocat Most things are rated up to one (1) cat-proof. Like foolproof things are only rated to protect from a single fool; anything in large numbers (in these cases, greater than 1) tends to throw everything into disarray (but sometimes into dat array).
@ciabelle@IndifferentDude Looks like “First Light” refers to the entire string of one to four sets. “First Light” is the default name for the string but you can use any name you like.
@DaveMan2048 According to the manual, they can be controlled from the transformer/plug via push buttons, but that requires using your hands, like an animal.
@DaveMan2048@yeppers I was expecting this to be a Tuya device but it does appear to only work with Alexa. You can have Home Assistant control it via Alexa routines. If you want to control it locally it would be a royal pain. I still suspect it is probably a Tuya device and it might work with pairing the Tuya app.
@shirlema
I’m still confused about what they actually are. I don’t get why they don’t show the string of lights, UNLESS… it’s not actually a string of lights.
Edit… I clearly don’t know what I’m talking about! I’m seeing them pretty clearly this time when I looked. Clearly OPERATOR ERROR as I like to say! Lol
@CarDowBenn Nope, trust me you don’t want solar string lights. Dim glow for a few hours after sunset. Then internal batteries go bad. Worse for the environment than just using a few cents of local electricity. If you have solar on your roof providing power to your house, then yes they could be solar. (most utilities allow you to “bank” power that you generate during the day to use overnight. But they are cracking down because they are getting nervous about too many people adding solar and hurting the fossil fuel cartels).
@DonWhiteside I went and looked at smart strings on Amazon. Usually seeing 15 bulbs on a 48 foot line. 12 on 25 is actually a pretty good density. I’m more curious if they’re just RGB Or RGBW. Color duplication on an RGB only is meh (not to pun) without a white source.
@scorpyo72 It might be good for multicolor I guess. The ones I have that look like the picture above, but only in an LED warm white, the bulbs are about 14” apart. Even that isn’t great for illumination purposes on my patio so I’d caution folks to view these as purely decorative.
So I understand that if using the pre-programmed settings we can get the variety of “holiday” color mixes, but if trying manual control we can only set one for the whole string?
Another question with anything with a semi-smart control like this. If I set it to “magical festive holiday mix 3” or whatever they call it, and then turn it off (maybe with timer) and turn it back on the next light, will I still get magical mix or will I get all boring white or whatever?
Specs
Product: Mr. Christmas Alexa Compatible Smart RGB Bistro Lights
Model: E308678000000
Condition: New
What’s Included?
Price Comparison
¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Warranty
90 days
Estimated Delivery
Friday, Nov 29 - Monday, Dec 2
No Mrs. Christmas lights?
@yakkoTDI
Mrs Christmas is taking a vacation in the Bahamas this year…
Meh
Shatter-proof, but are they cat-proof?
@lonocat Darn… NO exploding kitty
@lonocat Is anything cat-proof?
@blaineg @lonocat Most things are rated up to one (1) cat-proof. Like foolproof things are only rated to protect from a single fool; anything in large numbers (in these cases, greater than 1) tends to throw everything into disarray (but sometimes into dat array).
Bistro lights? I’ll just hang these up at my favorite restaurant.
In case anyone is interested, here’s an Instruction Manual:
https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0031/1633/5173/files/Mr._Christmas_Instructions_61697_Alexa_Bistro_Light.pdf?
@IndifferentDude When I skimmed the manual, I had hopes each bulb was individually addressable with the mention of “first light”. Sadly they are not.
@ciabelle Yeah, it’s an odd setup. I assume “First”, “Second”, etc. refer to each attached set and not individual light.
@ciabelle @IndifferentDude Looks like “First Light” refers to the entire string of one to four sets. “First Light” is the default name for the string but you can use any name you like.
Can you control them with Home Assistant? We’ve banished Alexa.
@DaveMan2048 According to the manual, they can be controlled from the transformer/plug via push buttons, but that requires using your hands, like an animal.
@DaveMan2048 The manual says they connect via WiFi, so if you’re willing to spend the time writing some code, I bet HA will support these.
@DaveMan2048 @yeppers I was expecting this to be a Tuya device but it does appear to only work with Alexa. You can have Home Assistant control it via Alexa routines. If you want to control it locally it would be a royal pain. I still suspect it is probably a Tuya device and it might work with pairing the Tuya app.
Searched YouTube for videos. I don’t want to link to any because they’re all
Uhh, you may want to put you get 12 of them in the main page listing…
@shirlema
It says you get 12 bulbs… Maybe they already edited it, IDK.
@Lynnerizer they did because I checked a few times because I couldn’t believe it
@shirlema
I’m still confused about what they actually are. I don’t get why they don’t show the string of lights, UNLESS… it’s not actually a string of lights.
Edit… I clearly don’t know what I’m talking about! I’m seeing them pretty clearly this time when I looked. Clearly OPERATOR ERROR as I like to say! Lol
@Lynnerizer @shirlema PEBCAK
@Lynnerizer @shirlema PICNIC
@Lynnerizer @Milyvan1 @shirlema Not enough people use PICNIC.
Are they solar?
@CarDowBenn Nope, trust me you don’t want solar string lights. Dim glow for a few hours after sunset. Then internal batteries go bad. Worse for the environment than just using a few cents of local electricity. If you have solar on your roof providing power to your house, then yes they could be solar. (most utilities allow you to “bank” power that you generate during the day to use overnight. But they are cracking down because they are getting nervous about too many people adding solar and hurting the fossil fuel cartels).
@CarDowBenn @pmarin I use solar lights for a bush at the end of my drive that has no easy way to run power. Everything else is plug in.
12 bulbs over a 25 foot length ain’t a lot of lights.
@DonWhiteside I went and looked at smart strings on Amazon. Usually seeing 15 bulbs on a 48 foot line. 12 on 25 is actually a pretty good density. I’m more curious if they’re just RGB Or RGBW. Color duplication on an RGB only is meh (not to pun) without a white source.
@scorpyo72 It might be good for multicolor I guess. The ones I have that look like the picture above, but only in an LED warm white, the bulbs are about 14” apart. Even that isn’t great for illumination purposes on my patio so I’d caution folks to view these as purely decorative.
Definitely need to be individually addressable.
Pass.
I’m conditioned to buy any RGB light on meh, but the Alexa-only is my Narcan.
So I understand that if using the pre-programmed settings we can get the variety of “holiday” color mixes, but if trying manual control we can only set one for the whole string?
Another question with anything with a semi-smart control like this. If I set it to “magical festive holiday mix 3” or whatever they call it, and then turn it off (maybe with timer) and turn it back on the next light, will I still get magical mix or will I get all boring white or whatever?