Philips Hue Outside Sensor Evaluate: A Excellent Add-on For Outside Lighting
Philips Hue Outside Sensor
“Easy and versatile, the Philips Hue Outside Sensor will take your property lighting to the following degree.”
Weatherproof
Wi-fi connectivity
Battery-powered with two years of working time
Straightforward mount and configuration
Straightforward, versatile controls
No rechargeable battery
Bridge is required
We’ve needed to wait a while for Philips to forge an outside vary of Hue lights to match its spectacular array of indoor options, however momentum is constructing rapidly.
Final summer season, we lastly bought our arms on the Hue Calla bollard lamps and out of doors lightstrips; we discovered each to be succesful, if pricey, additions to the line-up. This 12 months, Philips is doubling down on backyard lighting with two new wall-mounted fixtures and the topic of right this moment’s overview, the $50 Hue Outside Sensor.
This system performs an analogous function to the Hue Movement Sensor, which has been obtainable for indoor techniques since 2016: It would illuminate out of doors lights each time movement is detected. That makes it a really perfect associate for pathway lights like Hue Calla in addition to the corporate’s Ludere safety lamps and number of wall lanterns. As ordinary, you’ll want the Philips Hue bridge (offered individually or in a starter equipment) to attach the sensor to your system. We took the sensor exterior for a check spin. Right here’s the way it went.
Wire-free, trouble free
For comfort, the Hue out of doors sensor is totally wi-fi, powered by two replaceable ‘AA’ batteries that ought to ship not less than two years of service. As you’d anticipate, the sensor is totally weatherproof, with an IP54 ranking. Philips tells us that the system has undergone important testing and can face up to heavy rainfall (however not full submersion in water), whereas an working temperature vary of -Four to 131-degrees Fahrenheit (-20 to 55-degrees Celsius) ensures year-round suitability.
With a black and white shade scheme neatly matching different gadgets on the Hue Outside vary, the sensor is each compact and somewhat cute, with a bulbous ‘eye’ retaining watch over your pathway. It’s designed to be mounted high-up on a wall, fence or different out of doors fixture, detecting movement as much as 10 meters away, with a beneficiant 160-degree (7 meter) field of regard.
Set up is straightforward because of strong plastic flat-wall and nook mounts included in field, plus accompanying screws and wall anchors. If drilling partitions sounds an excessive amount of like laborious work, you may get inventive by threading cable-ties by means of the flat-wall mount to safe the sensor to empty pipes or different exterior fittings.
Easy setup for day and evening scenes
Establishing the sensor is a simple process. In contrast to Hue bulbs, there’s no must hit a button on the bridge to attach the system to your system. Merely go to the Equipment space of the Hue app, choose the sensor from the record of supported gadgets, press a small setup button on the rear of the sensor, and also you’re linked.
It’s a really perfect associate for pathway lights like Hue Calla in addition to safety lamps and wall lanterns.
From there, you’re free to configure sensor settings as desired. The Hue app permits straightforward setup of each indoor and out of doors room lights throughout the day and night, so you’ll be able to set off pathway and hallway lights to welcome you residence at evening. Person-configurable schedules outline every time zone, so it’s straightforward to program how your lights react to detected movement throughout the day, with a completely totally different program for the night. Every zone additionally helps a person delay after which your lights ought to to return to their default state, from one minute as much as one hour. And as you’d anticipate, you need to use the sensor to set off the complete array of preconfigured or customized Hue scenes; in case you want to shock intruders or greet night guests with a riot of shade, the Hue app could make it occur with simply a few faucets.
We’re massive followers of the Philips Hue app, which efficiently balances simplicity with sophistication. It’s newest iteration, which provides assist for the out of doors sensor, receives a welcome design refresh. Fortunately, it stays simply as straightforward to make use of, so that you’ll be up and working in minutes.
Finely balanced movement detection with straightforward management
As soon as mounted, you’ll be able to wonderful tune the sensor’s daytime and night-time movement detection sensitivity. We examined the sensor in the course of a Canadian winter ice storm and each the sensor and our check Hue Calla bollard gentle proved sturdy sufficient to courageous the harshest components. We discovered the default settings had been sufficiently balanced to keep away from false alarms, however in case you discover your lights are being triggered by tree branches or passing site visitors, you’ll be able to alter sensitivity with a easy slider.
Guarantee data
The Philips Hue Outside Sensor is protected by a two-year guarantee.
Whether or not you’re working a phalanx of out of doors Hue lights, you’d like to reinforce residence safety, or just present a welcoming atmosphere after a protracted day at work, you’ll discover the Hue Outside Sensor to be a easy, strong and versatile addition to your good lighting toolbox.
Is there a greater different?
Should you’re invested within the Philips Hue ecosystem and want an outside sensor, that is your solely alternative, until you want to experiment with IFTTT recipes. Our recommendation? Don’t hassle.
How lengthy will it final?
We had been happy to see the sensor carry out nicely, even in wintry circumstances. As a frontrunner in good residence lighting, Philips Hue is a model you’ll be able to belief. Make investments with confidence.
Do you have to purchase it?
Completely. The Philips Hue Outside Sensor is a straightforward however versatile addition to any residence with Hue good lighting.
