This new full colour LED light strip from TECKIN offers full native integration with Amazon Alexa, Google Home, and the excellent Smart Life home control phone ecosystem. It contains all you need to get going and allows for room for expansion later. This latest generation kit is a marked step upwards from the older ones.
In the attractive product, box was a single 5M 150 LED light strip complete with plugs either end, UK power supply, 24 key infrared remote control, mounting brackets, two female to female 4-pin adapters, and a small but informative User Guide. The User Guide is indicative just how far these kits have developed as it is well written, nicely printed and easy to read.
All you need is included here. There is no need to buy anything more unless you plan to expand the unit with more LED strips which can be daisy-chained onto this one and powered from the same PSU. Older kits had large external junction box controller but this new era kit is smaller and neater whilst the connectors are larger, easier to fit and less fiddly.
To use the kit with the single strip included then simply plug the output from the mains power adapter directly into the end of the small control box. You can cut the LED strip to length being careful to cut with scissors along the indicated points found every 100mm on the strip. You can cut the strip into smaller sections and join it together using the supplied connectors, again a great advance on old-style units and making it far easier to run the strip around corners or stair treads. The strip is sticky-backed and can easily be mounted in place. Remove the battery protector plastic strip from the remote control and connect the mains plug. Listed at being water-resistant it should be OK for use in sheltered areas of the garden or patio.
Setting it up was easy enough and can all be done by following the in-app instructions. Open the app and begin the procedure to add a new device. Plug the strip in and select the device type from the list in the app, input your wifi password, let the app then detect the device on the network. Once the device is set up and online simply switch to the Alexa app, enable the Smart Life Skill and follow the steps to recognise the plugs.
The Smart Life app is excellent and does much more than just allow you to add the strip to Alexa and Google. The app will also allow the strip to be triggered by events such as you entering and leaving the house, sunrise/sunset, etc, and will work in conjunction with a wide range of wifi devices from the same manufacturer. I doubt most users will use the app but will control is just through voice, as I do.
The fitted LED strips if discreetly mounted can be left in place for future festive occasions, otherwise, they can be carefully removed and returned to the box ready for future use. As with all LED strips over time the sticky surface will come loose and so for a long time use a more permanent clip mounting method should be found.
Everything you need from a simple lighting kit is included here and at a very attractive price too at £19.99. Even if you are not a connected home user, the included remote control almost as easy to use. The kit attractively presented and would make a great buy for the smart home.
