Tunable Recessed downlights (HALO/Hue) and Control4 Dimmer/Switches

[Prasad]

I'm building a new construction home and I'd like to be able to have tunable white recessed lights in a few of the rooms.  Basically, brighter/hotter white in the morning and the ability to make it warmer in the evening hours.  I've found a couple cans that have the ability through their own app, and both are Zigbee.  The first is HALO:

https://www.cooperlighting.com/global/brands/halo/905735/rl56-wireless

These do what I want via the HALO app, but I'm wondering if they integrate with control 4.  In particular, it says you cannot use an in-wall dimmer switch with these, which I assume is because the lights need to be always on for you to be able to tune the white.  My question then is if the Control4 switches have this always on capability, so they aren't like standard dimmer switches.

The second option is just the Philips Hue recessed downlights.  https://www.philips-hue.com/en-us/p/hue-white-ambiance-downlight-5-6-inch/046677578527?origin=p69279316211&gclid=Cj0KCQjwnP-ZBhDiARIsAH3FSRdVv2F3Ylq-HBZC4LnSZgrmZw514QXxGf3f72k2Etrs_LEsWjmpPmAaAvFVEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

I know that Hue talks to Control 4, but Hue also says not to use dimmer switches with Hue bulbs.  But, can you use a Control 4 dimmer, which is basically just talking to the light wirelessly?

This is all pretty complicated and I'm a little annoyed I can't just talk to somebody at C4 (or HALO or Hue) that can answer the question directly.  There's a lot of technology out there and it is really unclear what works with what, so any help is appreciated!!

[Andrew H]

A lot of smart bulbs do not work well with dimmer switches since the expectation is that the logic in the bulb will control brightness/color/temperature.

A quick Google doesn't turn up anything suggesting that HALO is compatible with Control4, but I will admit that I don't know that for sure.

I haven't personally used the Philips Hue with Control4, but you should be able to do what you suggested: use a dimmer or a switch (not wired to the bulb - feed the bulb constant power) to trigger a C4/Philips Scene.

 

If you're open to a third option Mirus Lighting does everything that you're looking for. Feel free to shoot me a private message or call/text our office to talk with someone if interested.

[nxr]

I’m interested in this also. What were you able to figure out? 
 

I was hoping I could use regular Lutron switches to turn / off lights that would return to last level used and then have c4 program adjust the intensity and color 

[Prasad]

I have a control4 dealer testing a few lights in their lab (Halo/Hue), but I think the answer is not going to be great.  Lutron does make a dial dimmer switch which basically locks a switch in the on position which could probably work, but I hate the look of it.  Generally speaking, because the lights need to be powered on all the time to enable the smart features, you can't really use them with in-wall dimmer switches which, at least as I understand it, don't give enough power to keep the signal strong and allow for smart features.  

There is a solution that works with control4, but it is much more expensive for the recessed cans.  Ketra is one solution and the other is DMF lighting but the tunable range isn't that great.  Or, you could go with a full low voltage lighting solution if you haven't wired anything yet, and then you can get whatever you want.

Long story short...for more reasonably priced recessed cans that are "smart", I don't think tunable is really going to work with Control4 or any dimmer switch for that matter.  The other alternative is that you just remember to never turn off the light switch (or wire it always hot) and have another smart switch somewhere that talks to the smart features.  Control4 integrates with Hue so that could work, I just think it is unnatural and not realistic to think people in the house are not going to accidentally hit a light switch.

[RAV]

In Control4 you can wire conventional; panel-wall dimmer-can lights.

Then program so the Control4 wall 'dimmer' functions as a keypad, and have Control4 always repower the light to always be on, and program the Control4 wall 'dimmer' as a keypad which sends the smart commands to control the light, rather than the dimmer adjusting the 110v. Summary: light is always powered, and the Control4 wall device controls the smart levels of the light, which also means the vendor app still works as well. If your dealer is confused, there's a knowledge base article on setting this up, #5601.

The other option is to bypass the hot at the wall device, so the fixture is always hot. But if you ever want to change back, an electrician needs to be involved, and if you need to reset the smart can, you may need to jump through hoops using breakers.

[Control4Savant]

1 hour ago, Prasad said:

I have a control4 dealer testing a few lights in their lab (Halo/Hue), but I think the answer is not going to be great.  Lutron does make a dial dimmer switch which basically locks a switch in the on position which could probably work, but I hate the look of it.  Generally speaking, because the lights need to be powered on all the time to enable the smart features, you can't really use them with in-wall dimmer switches which, at least as I understand it, don't give enough power to keep the signal strong and allow for smart features.  

There is a solution that works with control4, but it is much more expensive for the recessed cans.  Ketra is one solution and the other is DMF lighting but the tunable range isn't that great.  Or, you could go with a full low voltage lighting solution if you haven't wired anything yet, and then you can get whatever you want.

Long story short...for more reasonably priced recessed cans that are "smart", I don't think tunable is really going to work with Control4 or any dimmer switch for that matter.  The other alternative is that you just remember to never turn off the light switch (or wire it always hot) and have another smart switch somewhere that talks to the smart features.  Control4 integrates with Hue so that could work, I just think it is unnatural and not realistic to think people in the house are not going to accidentally hit a light switch.

If you use color, white level bulbs and strips you can run smart switches with programmed buttons. Disable the button load control and program the top and bottom buttons for Hue control. You can also use keypads or KPDs if you want additional control or scenes. This will allow you to still turn the loads on and off via the app if needed to ensure they are always ‘active’ before scheduled or circadian changes from either system.