Does Lightwave work with Google Home?

Lightwave is a superb starting point for exploring home automation. It’s highly affordable, easy to install and programme, and works with multiple 3rd parties. If you’re already using the Google Assistant, you might wonder: Does Lightwave work with Google Home?

 

Thankfully, the two work well together, allowing you to control your Lightwave smart home system using voice commands. And while the Google Assistant won’t replace the Lightwave app or online portal, it’s ideal for quickly controlling your system.

So, does Lightwave work with Google Home? And how quickly can we get the two systems working together? Let’s find out!

 

 

What is Lightwave smart home automation?

Designed in Birmingham, Lightwave is an affordable, entry-level smart home system. A hub sits at the heart of the system and uses a proprietary protocol to send and receive signals to devices.

 

The Lightwave hub connects to an Ethernet port on your Wi-Fi router, allowing you to use a smartphone, tablet or website for control. Or as you’re about to learn, the Google Assistant!

 

Lightwave only costs a couple of grand to install and is ideal for DIY installation. The system allows you to control lights, power, blinds, heating and gates.

 

All you need is a Wi-Fi connection, and you can control your Lightwave smart home. You don’t need to be in the UK to keep tabs on your home.

 

While not as advanced as other systems such as Fibaro or Crestron, it is a fantastic option for automating your home, especially if you’re just starting or only want control over the basics.

 

 

How does Google Home and Assistant work?

Google Assistant is already installed on loads of devices, including fridges, headphones, speakers, smartphones and even cars! It’s also built in the Google Home/Nest product range.

 

Introduced in 2016, the Google Assistant has become the most advanced and dynamic virtual assistant available. For many users, it’s more evolved than Siri and Alexa. Plus, Google continues to update the system with new features, options, and improvements.

 

Here’s just a taste of what it can help you! You can control smart home devices, make appointments and send messages, read your notifications aloud, and so much more. Many, us included, have only dipped our toe into what’s possible with the Google Assistant.

 

 

 

 

So, does Lightwave work with Google Home?

Google Home and the Google Assistant are compatible with Lightwave first and second generation devices. So it doesn’t matter if you’re using a Lightwave Link Hub (Connect Series) or Link Plus Hub (Smart Series), you can painlessly add the Google Assistant into the mix.

 

For example, using a Google Nest Mini, you can ask the Assistant to control Lightwave devices by voice. You can ask it to dim lights, change heating temperatures, control sockets and more, without needing to open the Lightwave App or log on to the online portal.

 

Just say “Hey Google”, followed by the action you want, the room, and the device. For example, “Hey Google, turn on kitchen spotlights“, and Google will complete the task. You’ll see that the kitchen spotlights are on. Magic!

 

 

How to connect Google Home with Lightwave

Getting started is very simple. After you’ve set up your Google Home or Nest smart speaker, create a Google account. Next, download the Google Home app and log in.

 

Within that app, open the menu and select Home Control. You’ll be able to choose Lightwave to connect to your Lightwave devices and start commanding those smart home devices using the Google Assistant, as well as through the Lightwave App.

 

 

 

 

Try these basic voice commands

On/Off:

“OK Google, turn on [or off] the [device name].”

“OK Google, turn on the Kitchen pendant.”

“OK Google, turn off heating in lounge.”

 

Dimming:

“OK Google, brighten [or dim] my [dimmer name] by [number].”

“OK Google, brighten my lounge pendant by 50%.”

“OK Google, dim my lounge pendant by 20%.”

 

Turn on/off device type:

“OK Google, turn on [or off] all [device type].”

“OK Google, turn on all lounge sockets.”

“OK Google, turn off all kitchen sockets.”

 

Dimming:

“OK Google, set my [dimmer name] to [number].”

“OK Google, set my bedroom dimmer to 45%.”

 

Check Status:

“OK Google, is my [device name] on?”

“OK Google, is my TV socket on?”

“OK Google, is my kettle socket on?”

“OK Google, is my lounge heating on?”

 

Turn on/ off scene:

“OK Google, turn on [or off] [scene].”

“OK Google, turn on morning scene.”

“OK Google, turn off movie scene.”

 

Turn on/ off everything:

“OK Google, turn on [or off] everything.”

 

 

Will the Google Assistant replace the Lightwave app?

In a word, no. The Google Assistant is ideal for actioning short commands such as “dim dining room lights” or “increase the temperature by 5 degrees”. However, you can’t use it to build scenes or sequences. So, you’ll also need the Lightwave app to monitor the system and devices.

 

Think of the Google Assistant as another control option that compliments the app, the web portal and the Home or Away button. It doesn’t replace any or all of these but instead adds another option that’s quicker and easier to use.

 

 

Can I control Lightwave using both IFTTT and the Google Assistant?

Lightwave excels at controlling and automating the essential devices within a home. But it does have its limitations. And so, we need to look at other solutions that will enable us to use multiple systems in harmony.

 

For more complex control options, we can use IFTTT with Lightwave. We can then use the Google Assistant to control IFTTT, which in turn, controls Lightwave!

 

If that sounds complex, don’t worry. IFTTT takes care of the heavy lifting, allowing you to painlessly programme your system to react to your requirements and lifestyle. IFTTT can also control other smart home devices and programme them to work with your Lightwave devices.

 

 

 

 

Where to get started

So, does Lightwave work with Google Home? The answer is yes. Plus, getting them working together is fairly simple. Firstly, you need a Google Home/Nest device as they all have the Google Assistant built-in.

 

Consider using a Google Nest Mini. They are highly affordable and widely available. From there, set up a Google account. Next, download the Google Home app onto your smartphone and/or tablet. And you’re ready to go!

 

Next, experiment with controlling devices using voice commands rather than the Lightwave app. There are plenty of commands you can use.

 

If you want even more control, consider using IFTTT. It will add another layer of flexibility to your smart home system. Also, IFTTT can trigger a range of devices, scenes and sequences.

 

Combining Lightwave, the Google Assistant, and IFTTT allows you to create a powerful smart home system that’s far more advanced than the individual parts.

 

The Google Assistant won’t replace the app or the web portal but will enhance how you control your Lightwave smart home system. And for that reason, it’s worth adding a Google smart home device to your home.