There was a time when light
bulbs were free. And utility bills were modest. Yes, Virginia there was a time
we didn’t worry about the cost of energy or conserving it.
But those days are gone. Now,
our radar is focusing on eco-friendly products—we are living green, folks. And
one smart tech manufacturer makes green a reality, along with red and yellow
and blue and tons of other shades and intensities. It’s a color-changing LED
smart bulb developed by TikTech. You
control it with a Smartphone or tablet. No hub needed. And TikTeck makes it
easy and affordable.
Sure, there are other smart
color-changing bulbs out there, but check out their prices. They can be anywhere
from 3 to 5 times the cost. TikTeck’s smart LED bulb is just $9.99. That’s the
least expensive one I’ve found.
Let’s start with why LED technology:
¡
LED lights consume less energy -– up to 75% less than traditional incandescent
lights
Where
does the light bill go? Down!
¡LED
lights have a lifespan that can be 20 times traditional lighting
¡LED
lights produce little heat when delivering the same amount of light.
¡LED
lights have no mercury
¡LED
lights come on instantly—no warm-up time
The TikTeck smart bulb has a
color temperature range of 2700 to 6500K. Lower values of 2700 to 3500K deliver
a white that’s warm, like an incandescent; higher values like 5000K can deliver
a stark white light. And by producing 600 lumens (the measure of light a bulb
gives), the TikTeck bulb is about in the middle of the brightness scale.
I have just enough technical
skill to make me a hair above average, so set-up was relatively easy:
1. I downloaded the free TikTeck LED app at
Google Play Store
2. I screwed the bulb into a
lamp and turned it on.
3. I activated Bluetooth on my Samsung
Note 3. (I know, I know. I need to update my phone.)
4. I opened the TikTeck app and
tapped “add device”
It took a few minutes to figure
out the menu. (I think TikTeck needs to spell out how to use it a little more).
However, when I got to the home page, I went crazy choosing colors from the
color wheel and watching my lamp suddenly go awash in blue, then red, and any primary
color I chose. I was able to change the brightness with the slider at the bottom
of the page. Another slider let me select the color temperature, as well. And,
pressing a button in the center of the wheel turned the bulb on and off. There’s
also a timer, so you can program the bulb for every day of the week. There’s
even a night light setting and the ability to coordinate music on your phone!
The basic app is simple to
operate and even more actions are possible—I’m still learning.
I am terribly impressed with the ability to
set a mood at a dinner party, add warmth to a room on a dull day and create a
lighting schedule – all with my phone. But most important, I’m on the road to
cutting the utility bill on my all-electric town home!
You can add up to 32 bulbs in your
home, and group them to function at different times, different intensities. I
think the TikTeck bulb is a real value. Go to TikTeck.com for purchase
information.
LB’s rating: 9
(Provided that TikTeck updates their menu instructions.)
