I screwed the bulbs into my porch fixture and turn the lights on. The bulbs flashed a few times showing that they were connected, I opened up my SmartThings app, clicked add new device, and the system found both bulbs right away. I set the bulbs up on two automated rules. Both bulbs will turn on at sunset and off at sunrise.

I’ve been running the bulbs outside for over a month. The temperature range has been anywhere from 28 to 63 degrees. We’ve had snow, humidity, ice, wind, rain, and sun and the weather has not at all impacted the bulb’s ability to perform on a schedule.

Do I expect the bulb’s to live long lives? Not at all. However, it’s worth it to me. The bulbs perform an important safety feature by keeping our entry lit at night and also by making it appear that we are home even when we are not. They do all of this without any interaction from me.

In order for the bulbs to work outside I do recommend using them on a porch or covered area. Also, use them in a fixture for added protection from the elements. The bulbs use ZigBee HA 1.2 which works off of a mesh network with your other existing devices. I can’t say if your bulb will be in range for your unique situation but it worked for me. I am calling these bulbs a win for limited outdoor use.

You can purchase a GE Link bulb for $15 from Amazon here. You can read our SmartThings review here.