Reddit reviews White Switch Plate Cover Guard Keeps Light Switch ON or Off Protects Your Lights or Circuits from Accidentally Being Turned on or Off.

So, to be fair, this is in a closet and fastened to a high shelf just below the equipment. It' really never in danger of accidental actuation, but it's a good thing to consider. Otherwise, these are good for accidental protection and if I wanted to make real project out of it I could probably hook up a microcontroller to turn on a warning light locally plus somewhere else in the house which was obvious. But, lucklily, my home crew is the reliable sort.

https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B06XP9M2FT

I bought those and put them on the switches. Cleaner look than tape.

So you would realistically do smart switches instead of having smart bulbs. The only reason I would see to use smart bulbs is because you don't own the property or because you want the ability to change colors of a color lightbulb.

> Do smart switches always keep the smart bulbs powered?

It depends on what you mean by smart switches. You would realistically just use a smart switch like this. The light switch itself would always have power no matter if you turn the light on or off (unless you kill the breaker), so you could control it no matter the state of the light.

Your best bet if you want to continue using the smart bulbs, and not smart switches, is by buying the Philips Hue Dimmer switches. You would still need the power for the light to be on (meaning don't touch it/block it off if needed). They would still be at the mercy of people using the light switch itself.

But, unless you rent or need color control, it doesn't make sense to keep dropping money on this path.

https://www.amazon.com/Switch-Protects-Lights-Circuits-Accidentally/dp/B06XP9M2FT

Something like this is what I used to stop my mother in law from turning off the switch.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06XP9M2FT

These are another option depending on what kind of switches you have. We have a couple of these at our house.

I covered all of my switches with these

It's enough for me to remember not to switch them, for my guests to realize they probably shouldn't switch them, but for me or guests to be able to do so if necessary.

Just try one, with the dimmer cranked all the way up. If they're ok, install these to keep power to the bulb.

if it's just a 2 wire switch you can wire nut it and blanket off

but the easier option would just get switch protectors

White Switch Plate Cover Guard Keeps Light Switch ON or Off Protects Your Lights or Circuits from Accidentally Being Turned on or Off. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06XP9M2FT/ref=cm_sw_r_other_apa_i_yh-ADbT6NH58F

I just use these:

White Switch Plate Cover Guard Keeps Light Switch ON or Off Protects Your Lights or Circuits from Accidentally Being Turned on or Off. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06XP9M2FT/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_2avDCbS9KW9JM

Easy, buy this https://www.amazon.com/Switch-Protects-Lights-Circuits-Accidentally/dp/B06XP9M2FT/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1541447968&sr=8-3&keywords=switch+guard

That would work, but I was thinking something a little easier to install: https://www.amazon.com/Switch-protects-lights-circuits-accidentally/dp/B06XP9M2FT/ref=sr_1_9?s=lamps-light&ie=UTF8&qid=1536608373&sr=1-9&keywords=switch+cover.

https://www.amazon.com/Switch-Protects-Lights-Circuits-Accidentally/dp/B06XP9M2FT
https://www.amazon.com/slp/switch-guard/sog5o5kwrvya7hq
https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:69806
https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:134995
https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:1308378

Anddddddd I think I just found the solution.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06XP9M2FT/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_22-yDb5MV2TNP

I had a buddy 3D Print a handful of these for me.

https://www.amazon.com/Switch-Protects-Lights-Circuits-Accidentally/dp/B06XP9M2FT

Mostly a gimmick. A fun gimmick, but a gimmick nonetheless. It really depends on what your budget is. Is approx $20/bulb worth it for a novelty? For me, it was in a few places, but I probably wouldn't do it again. The temperature thing is now a must after having the color and the ambient. I hope to never go back to a single temp bulb again. That's worth $15 premium of the ambient over the cheap white ones.

Get the dimmer switches. 100% worth the money. Then put these guards over your current switches.

This is what I used: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B06XP9M2FT/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I'd recommend https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B06XP9M2FT?psc=1&ref=yo_pop_mb_yo_pop_mb_pd_t2

It's what we use over our switch that controls the 1 exterior smart bulb. You CA quickly and easily take it off with nothing but a butter knife.

Duct tape will probably leave adhesive residue.

I've done this same thing and love it.

A couple of small issues:

1. There is a slight delay before the light comes on. In truth, the light probably comes on quicker than it would if I reached for the light switch. But since I'm opening the door expecting the light to be on, the delay is noticeable.
   
   
2. I found myself reflexively turning the light off when leaving the closet. I bought some of these switch covers and that has solved that problem.
   
   Even with those issues, I just love this feature.

I just installed one of these in my front porch light fixture yesterday! Powers a v2 no problem at all. Note that this device is fairly wide so may not fit in every light fixture. It’s pretty tight in mine, to the point that I’m going to install a right angle USB adapter. Also, it obviously adds some to the height of the bulb so it may not work well in shorter fixtures.

Had to get a little creative routing the USB cable but overall I’m pleased with the setup. I leave the wall switch on 24x7x375 and use a dusk to dawn bulb. If you’re worried about accidentally turning off the switch, you can install little covers like these - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06XP9M2FT

Just get one of these

It's nice to be able to change a light bulb without having a live socket. A functioning switch is better than a breaker for doing that.

As to what you are trying, what you said you did should have worked. My gut says you pulled something loose in the box. Are there any other wire nuts with pigtails in the box? Getting a voltage tester would help you see what wires are actually hot.

A switch guard is the easiest way:

https://www.amazon.com/Switch-protects-lights-circuits-accidentally/dp/B06XP9M2FT

Not to state the obvious but this pretty much the main selling point of smart switches instead of smart bulbs.

If you’re renting or otherwise can’t modify the wiring for some reason, some physical “childproof” cover should work - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06XP9M2FT/

You could get some of these:https://www.amazon.com/Switch-Protects-Lights-Circuits-Accidentally/dp/B06XP9M2FT/ref=pd_bxgy_60_img_2?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B06XP9M2FT&pd_rd_r=28848c2c-dd1f-11e8-a3d1-552a6c0f9979&pd_rd_w=ChFCN&pd_rd_wg=FVCwE&pf_rd_i=desktop-dp-sims&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_p=6725dbd6-9917-451d-beba-16af7874e407&pf_rd_r=1W59ZG85B8TV0NDGQE0N&pf_rd_s=desktop-dp-sims&pf_rd_t=40701&psc=1&refRID=1W59ZG85B8TV0NDGQE0N

https://www.amazon.com/Switch-protects-lights-circuits-accidentally/dp/B06XP9M2FT/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1517699357&sr=8-1&keywords=light+switch+blocker