I have a smart switch connected to a smart bulb (an Aqara H2 and an Aqara bulb, as well as Ikea bulbs, and a smart ceiling fan). The switch has a "smart bulb mode", where it disconnect's the switch's relay. I have them both in Home Assistant, and I'm currently using automations for turning the bulb off and on. This works, but it seems like it's not the right way to do it? Is there a better way to connect the workings of the smart switch with the light?
#Proper configuration for smart switch and smart bulb?smart switch
orchid blaze
bitter pollen
In general, having smart switch and smart bulbs wired together means you are planning to use automations based on switch actions to control the bulbs.
This is a reasonable setup, especially if you want to control things not on the same circuit or have various scenes to activate instead of just an on and off state.
As example, I have smart switch and bulbs in our main bathroom. Using scenes, I have one tap on up switch to turn on two main bulbs at 50% brightness white color and the light over the shower to 50% and blue for when visitors show up and expect lights to turn on normally. Two up-taps turns on just the shower bulb in blue for low light but still visible, and three up-taps turns all three 100% and white for detail work like doing makeup and hair.
Basically, if you want more than just on/off for the lights, it could make sense to use both