Anyone have experience with WiFi light bulbs?
I have WiFi outlets that I absolutely love. Two of the lights in my living room are hooked up and can be turned on and off with an app. I use two more for the Christmas tree and outdoor Christmas lights during that season, which is also great. The tree can be turned on and off without having to go reach under it and plug/unplug, and the outdoor lights are on timers so it's all automated by the app. The outlets have been rock solid for a couple years of ownership.
However, the same isn't true for my WiFi light bulb that is used above my front door. I use that also with a timer so it can be on ~8 hours daily in the summer or >12 hours daily in the winter, depending on the sun. I can't remember turn the switch on and off regularly, so automation is great.
The problem is that the fixture above the front door is enclosed by glass and metal. The WiFi bulb, unlike the outlets, has all the electronics in its base where it plugs into the light socket and then has a 10W LED above it (equivalent lumens to 75W incandescent). I have trouble keeping these things alive more than 6 months or so. I suspect having the electronics plus LED in an enclosed environment is just cooking them to death. Because there is no outlet feeding them, I have to use the smart bulb as well--I have no convenient way to wire up a smart outlet.
They're not horribly expensive... ~$10 each last time I bought them. But that's not nothing, and having to go out there every 6 months on the ladder and replace the bulb is annoying.
So I'm wondering if anyone has messed around with these and found more reliable options? I'd much rather buy something better (even for more money) if it means not having to replace it often.
