Hue Sunrise Effects Without Bridge: CT vs RGB Pitfalls and Working Patterns

Avoid unreliable sunrise effects on Hue lights by understanding CT vs RGB mode switching. Learn working patterns with color_name, proper sequencing, and alternatives.

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Hue Sunrise Effects Without Bridge: CT vs RGB Pitfalls and Working Patterns

Creating smooth sunrise effects with Hue lights often fails due to hidden mode switching between color temperature (CT) and RGB. Here’s how to avoid the bugs and create reliable transitions.

The problem: CT vs RGB mode switching

Hue lights operate in two distinct modes:

Color Temperature (CT): Warm to cool white (2700K-6500K)
RGB: Full color spectrum

When you alternate between these modes in quick succession, lights pause to switch modes, ruining smooth transitions.

Working pattern 1: Force RGB with color_name

Use color_name instead of CT values for sunrise effects:

sequence:
  - service: light.turn_on
    target:
      entity_id: light.bedroom
    data:
      rgb_color: [255, 95, 35]  # Deep orange-red
      brightness_pct: 1
      transition: 2
  - delay: "00:00:03"
  - service: light.turn_on
    target:
      entity_id: light.bedroom
    data:
      color_name: "orange"
      brightness_pct: 10
      transition: 3
  - delay: "00:00:04"
  - service: light.turn_on
    target:
      entity_id: light.bedroom
    data:
      color_name: "yellow"
      brightness_pct: 30
      transition: 4
  - delay: "00:00:05"
  - service: light.turn_on
    target:
      entity_id: light.bedroom
    data:
      color_name: "white"
      brightness_pct: 80
      transition: 6

Working pattern 2: Use Zigbee groups

Control multiple lights as a group to reduce command overhead:

sequence:
  - service: light.turn_on
    target:
      entity_id: light.bedroom_group  # Pre-defined Zigbee group
    data:
      rgb_color: [255, 95, 35]
      brightness_pct: 1
      transition: 2

Working pattern 3: Single RGB transition

For simplicity, use one long RGB transition:

service: light.turn_on
target:
  entity_id: light.bedroom
data:
  rgb_color: [255, 200, 150]  # Warm sunrise color
  brightness_pct: 80
  transition: 900  # 15 minutes

What to avoid

Don’t do this - mode switching:

# This will cause jarring transitions
- service: light.turn_on
  data: {color_temp: 2000, transition: 5}
- service: light.turn_on
  data: {rgb_color: [255, 100, 0], transition: 5}