Dimming the light, changing the colour via remote control or conveniently switching off switched-on lights from the office - with ZigBee technology, you can integrate lights into a Smart Home system and control ZigBee-compatible devices and lights centrally and conveniently via a network. Especially in the area of Smart Home lighting, ZigBee offers numerous advantages, which we would like to explain to you in the following.
What is ZigBee?
ZigBee is an information transmission path that is an alternative to Bluetooth and WLAN routers. The technology makes it possible to set up an independent network via radio. The defined standard of the ZigBee radio protocol can communicate between the individual smart home products and end devices via several encrypted layers - so you don't have to worry about security gaps.
ZigBee products and end devices are used, among other things, for
- building automation,
- control systems and
- measurements by sensors.
The ZigBee Alliance, an association of about 230 companies, developed the specification for wireless networks. The aim was to enable data exchange in the smart home sector with a system that has significant advantages over known transmission technologies such as WLAN or Bluetooth. This is how the low-energy radio protocol ZigBee came into being.
ZigBee Compared to WLAN and Bluetooth
The advantage of ZigBee over other networks is
- better energy efficiency and
- an enormous range.
ZigBee-compatible lights can be controlled from a greater distance and, with many lights connected, the signal range can even exceed that of WLAN.
In case of network problems, the transmission of information via WLAN router is quickly disrupted and Bluetooth often leads to connection problems because the range is not so wide. Users of Bluetooth speakers know the scenario: as soon as you move one of the two devices a few metres away, the connection breaks and no sound can be heard. With ZigBee, this problem is a thing of the past!
Increase the Radio Range with Several ZigBee Lamps
The transmission technology is particularly suitable for connecting lamps and ZigBee products over short distances. However, the range of the signal can be optionally extended by integrating additional lamps. Each node also serves as a repeater for the radio signal. The more lamps are integrated into the system, the more the limits beyond which ZigBee can be used expand. So if the light in the living room is too far away from the control centre to be able to communicate directly with it, ZigBee will go the way of a nearby light and pass the information on to the living room light in a roundabout way. In short: the more ZigBee lamps, ZigBee switches or ZigBee sockets are integrated in the Smart Home system, the higher the range of the radio signals.
Brun Pendant Light LED anthracite, 2-light sources, Remote control
Paul-Neuhaus Q-VITO Ceiling Light LED brass, 1-light source, Remote control
Paul Neuhaus Q-INIGO Floor Lamp LED brushed steel, 3-light sources, Remote control
Paul-Neuhaus Q-ETIENNE Pendant Light LED brushed steel, 2-light sources, Remote control
Eglo-Leuchten FUEVA-Z Ceiling Light LED white, 1-light source
Other advantages of ZigBee technology are:
- easy to use
- can be used in many areas
- good applicability for Smart Home lighting
- low energy consumption
- optimal suitability for battery-operated devices
Integrating ZigBee Lamps into a Smart Home System
The prerequisite for controlling lighting systems with the ZigBee radio standard is the ZigBee Light Link profile. In the ZigBee 3.0 transmission technology, all profiles and the associated functions are available, including the Light Link profile for smart lighting control. ZigBee 3.0 enables Smart Home control for all areas of application. In combination with Smart Home lamps, the networking, control and configuration of lights throughout the house becomes possible. With a Smart Home system based on ZigBee, you can change the light colour and brightness of lamps, control lamps in groups and conveniently dim lamps via an app or voice command. ZigBee-compatible lamps join the network automatically after initial integration and communicate with other components in the Smart Home lighting system.
Which Devices are ZigBee Compatible?
Especially the ZigBee radio standard 3.0 has a high compatibility with other manufacturers: To use ZigBee, you need a ZigBee-compatible Smart Home central unit, also called ZigBee Bridge, Hub or Gateway. For example, Philips Hue or IKEA TRADFRI with the Gateway as a central unit, Ledvance Smart+ with the Lightify Bridge or Loxone with the Loxone Miniserver can be used for Smart Home lighting via ZigBee. Bridges such as the Philips Hue Bridge or a SmartThings Hub can communicate with the protocol of other manufacturers, so that ZigBee products can also be linked with Google Home or Apple Homekit. It is also possible to use ZigBee with a coordinator such as a ZigBee socket, or an intermediate plug such as the Ledvance Smart Plug.
* 'Zigbee' is a trademark of the Zigbee Alliance.
** 'Amazon', 'Echo Plus' and 'Alexa' are trademarks of Amazon Europe S.á r.l and are only used to indicate the compatibility and possible uses of the lights we offer in our online shop. The products and lights shown are not from Amazon.
*** Google Home is a trademark of Google and only serves as an indication of the compatibility and possible uses of the lights in our online shop.
