Since Rachio is getting into lighting, I’d like to suggest an in-ground pool light control. Would likely need to use a type of powerline adapter to send the control signals over the AC circuit. Many of the existing pool lights work by “dumb” switch cycling off/on for colors or patterns, but Jandy and Pentair have systems for total pool control (lights, pump, salt generator, valves, etc).
If Rachio could make a multi-colored pool light kit with wifi app control and scheduling for around $500 I believe there’s a market. Pool automation systems can be expensive. Many of us just want to the ability to control lighting at an affordable price.
I am all for this! I have used many battery operated lights and currently have Pentair system. Would love a more inexpensive solution with a robust API!
I’m not even sure you need to have to mess with the powerline situation. Unless someone was hell bent on sticking with old school high voltage lights, most of the new LED’s are running low voltage through a transformer anyway. I have Hayward automation on my pool and it does make me wonder how it sets the light color. My same pool lights can be run without the automation and cycle through the colors just as you mentioned. The wires go to the transformer, and then a signal from the control panel somehow…
I do think a $500 price point would be tough considering a quality LED pool light is several hundred dollars on its own (not Amazon, I know many people that went that route and barely got 2 years out of the lights), and that is before you add any transformer or controller aspect. The other trouble I see is the amount of people that would have adequate wifi signal to their pool equipment to make this work. I had to add an outdoor AP to my network in order to keep the Hayward system from dropping off.
When I replaced my niche/light/wire it was almost $1,000 all-in with labor. I took the halogen bulb out of the new niche and replaced it with a Pool Tone (in-house brand from Florida Sunseeker). It’s been in there 2 years now and working well. Just an Edison socket “bulb” with hundreds of LEDs for about $170. If you don’t need the niche and wire pull, a pool owner can swap it out in 10 minutes. I despise the switch flipping, though!
I was thinking powerline signals to avoid having to re-run low voltage lines from a transformer to the light. Pulling wire through that conduit is no fun. If there is a way to send a signal kind of like how Sling used to send internet, maybe…? One adapter to the power switch or possibly one there and one relay at the light’s power box if it’s needed.
I agree $500 might be tough, but we know they can make the bulbs for a reasonable cost. Powerline adapter and transmission tech is decades old, so it shouldn’t be too costly to implement. If they could hit that price point there are a lot of pool owners that would consider it. Could work nicely with their new yard lighting and coordinate everything in the app.
