Great Video! I myself recently purchased 20 of the Essentials Matter down lights for my own home. I’ve got 4 units installed in 3 rooms, then a hallway with 4, and two other areas with the rest. As you stated, I found out I needed to update my Apple TV 4K to the current version and then yesterday bought my first Home Pod mini to test in one of the rooms so I would be able to walk into the room and tell Siri to turn them on and off, etc.. (I’m happy to report that it works) and I plan to add some other commands with some new scenes. I had similar issues exactly like you experienced with the delayed responses and some long delays waiting for the lamps to connect to Home Kit (before I updated the firmware through the Nano leaf app). Prior to installing any of them I set up one unit on a countertop with a hardwire Edison plug which I tested until I was willing to put 4 in the ceiling and try to sync them up once installed. Mine are the pancake style so they are now hardwired with the drivers and installed into the drywall ceiling. After a considerable amount of effort here is my findings and the 4 steps I did which got them working really well. Step 1 - Once I installed all of the lights in the ceiling I turned them on and off 5 times at the light switch. 2-3 seconds on / 2-3 seconds off until they all flashed a few colors and reset back to factory. (I found this step to be the most important) If you only get a couple of them to reset (by flashing), I suggest come back in 5-10 mins and try again. Step 2 - Add each device using the Nanoleaf app BEFORE setting them up in Apple Home Kit. I tried it the other way around and failed miserably with massive lag and connection issues that were aggravating. Even if you don’t use the Nanoleaf app in the future this is super important. And I bought these so I could use them exclusively with the Home Kit App, but you have to go through this step first. Step 3 - Update all the lights to the latest firmware using the Nanoleaf app, which will minimize the lag time, disconnections etc… And get them working the way they should be working. It will also allow you to check that each device is connected to thread. Yes look under the setting of each device and it will say “Connect to Matter” or “disconnect”. Step 4 - Add each device by clicking “connect to Matter” into the Apple Home Kit. Anyway, I wanted you to know that after watching your video I was able to connect the dots from my other research and get all these lights working correctly. I appreciate your time and energy on the video, there were a few missing links that helped me.
Glad I could help. We wnded up going out and buying another 10 of these lights after I had a software mishap with my Tasmota Flashed Deta Grid-Connect downlights in the kitchen and loungeroom. We've now replaced all the downlights in the Lounge and Kitchen with Nanoleaf Downlights, and - theoretically at least - we should now have an extremely robust Thread network in the back half of the house. I still need to get a sparky in to wire up some sockets to put them under the eaves at the front of the house to illuminate the driveway, but I'm so far really happy with them in the main living area, as we had some issues with the Wi-Fi network struggling in the back half of the house anyway.
I don’t have any of those scene options in the nanoleaf app for some reason. I keep seeing people make scenes but I don’t seem to be able to get it to work
there's downloadable scenes you can "install" from the "Discover" tab at the bottom of the app (Cloud icon with a downward pointing Arrow) When you download scenes, it should ask you which devices you want to install them on
Why not just install landscape lighting? Because the low voltage transformers (they are powered through) have dusk/dawn photocell sensor and timer functions to make their operation effortless. Plus you get the added benefit of adding to your homes curb appeal and your cameras won’t have to readjust all their optical sensors and value settings to try and capture a clear and balanced image each time there is a motion sensor event. Also...... people are less likely to mess with properties that have landscape lighting that might put them at risk of being spotted in the act, or identified afterwards.
I had a feeling you were going to use the RGB to flash blue and red like a police light on motion.
I'd originally planned to just turn the lights on.... but now that you mention it......
Patrick
Great Video! I myself recently purchased 20 of the Essentials Matter down lights for my own home. I’ve got 4 units installed in 3 rooms, then a hallway with 4, and two other areas with the rest. As you stated, I found out I needed to update my Apple TV 4K to the current version and then yesterday bought my first Home Pod mini to test in one of the rooms so I would be able to walk into the room and tell Siri to turn them on and off, etc.. (I’m happy to report that it works) and I plan to add some other commands with some new scenes.
I had similar issues exactly like you experienced with the delayed responses and some long delays waiting for the lamps to connect to Home Kit (before I updated the firmware through the Nano leaf app). Prior to installing any of them I set up one unit on a countertop with a hardwire Edison plug which I tested until I was willing to put 4 in the ceiling and try to sync them up once installed. Mine are the pancake style so they are now hardwired with the drivers and installed into the drywall ceiling.
After a considerable amount of effort here is my findings and the 4 steps I did which got them working really well.
Step 1 - Once I installed all of the lights in the ceiling I turned them on and off 5 times at the light switch. 2-3 seconds on / 2-3 seconds off until they all flashed a few colors and reset back to factory. (I found this step to be the most important) If you only get a couple of them to reset (by flashing), I suggest come back in 5-10 mins and try again.
Step 2 - Add each device using the Nanoleaf app BEFORE setting them up in Apple Home Kit. I tried it the other way around and failed miserably with massive lag and connection issues that were aggravating. Even if you don’t use the Nanoleaf app in the future this is super important. And I bought these so I could use them exclusively with the Home Kit App, but you have to go through this step first.
Step 3 - Update all the lights to the latest firmware using the Nanoleaf app, which will minimize the lag time, disconnections etc… And get them working the way they should be working. It will also allow you to check that each device is connected to thread. Yes look under the setting of each device and it will say “Connect to Matter” or “disconnect”.
Step 4 - Add each device by clicking “connect to Matter” into the Apple Home Kit.
Anyway, I wanted you to know that after watching your video I was able to connect the dots from my other research and get all these lights working correctly. I appreciate your time and energy on the video, there were a few missing links that helped me.
Glad I could help.
We wnded up going out and buying another 10 of these lights after I had a software mishap with my Tasmota Flashed Deta Grid-Connect downlights in the kitchen and loungeroom.
We've now replaced all the downlights in the Lounge and Kitchen with Nanoleaf Downlights, and - theoretically at least - we should now have an extremely robust Thread network in the back half of the house.
I still need to get a sparky in to wire up some sockets to put them under the eaves at the front of the house to illuminate the driveway, but I'm so far really happy with them in the main living area, as we had some issues with the Wi-Fi network struggling in the back half of the house anyway.
I don’t have any of those scene options in the nanoleaf app for some reason. I keep seeing people make scenes but I don’t seem to be able to get it to work
there's downloadable scenes you can "install" from the "Discover" tab at the bottom of the app (Cloud icon with a downward pointing Arrow)
When you download scenes, it should ask you which devices you want to install them on
Why not just install landscape lighting? Because the low voltage transformers (they are powered through) have dusk/dawn photocell sensor and timer functions to make their operation effortless. Plus you get the added benefit of adding to your homes curb appeal and your cameras won’t have to readjust all their optical sensors and value settings to try and capture a clear and balanced image each time there is a motion sensor event. Also...... people are less likely to mess with properties that have landscape lighting that might put them at risk of being spotted in the act, or identified afterwards.
Good Plan, I might check that out.