Introduction: Manage Philips Hue Bulbs in Minutes Without Any Technical Knowledge

By TimeSquAir & ThingBox
About: The ThingBox Project - A ready to flash Raspberry Pi image that contains Node-RED and Internet Of Things software for non developers.

This tutorial allows you to manage Philips Hue bulbs in minutes without any technical knowledge using a graphical editor on a Raspberry Pi for free.

Step 1: A Simple Flow

Here is the simple flow we will build with the graphical editor.

It allows to swith a bulb on and off and shows also how to set the color.

Step 2: Download and Install the Pi SDCard

Go to http://theThingbox.io and download the SDCard image you can flash using the Etcher app (link)

Learn more here.

Step 3: Access the Visual Editor

Use your web browser to access the visual editor using the network name you gave in the setup process

Learn more here.

Step 4: Install NodeRED Nodes

Click the right menu in the Node-RED web page.

Choose "Manage Palette" then "Install".

Type "ttb-huemagic" in the edit box and click the OK button.

Wait for the install

Learn more here.

Step 5: Add a Hue Light Node

We will build a simple flow for switching a Hue bulb on and off

First add a Hue Bridge node and then a Hue light node.

Edit them.

Learn more here.

Step 6: Build a Simple Flow

From the "intent" palette, add open and close node.

Deploy, you can now switch your bulb on and off!

Learn more here.

Step 7: Set the Color

Add a color node and edit it to set the color.

Learn more here.

Step 8:

Here is the final flow!

Learn more here.
http://thethingbox.io/docs/Hue-Book.pdf

Step 9: Deploy and Test

Just hit the deploy button and now, by clicking the Go button you can switch the LED on and off.