FabianEvery now and then I receive e-mails about the Philips Hue outdoor series. On the one hand with beautifully staged outdoor areas, on the other hand with problem reports again and again. A classic, for example, are defects around the outdoor connectors. But what Hueblog reader Karl has now described to me is indeed beastly.
Several calla in his garden have already failed and had to be replaced. In the meantime, he has gone in search of clues, dismantled a still functioning calla and scored a direct hit: A huge load of soil in the lower part of the base light.
But how could this have happened? Here are Karl's findings in detail:
I took off the bottom part. Underneath there are three rectangular openings at the edge, through which ants (!) crawl in and transport soil. They use them to completely fill the calla lanterns below the plate that contains the electronics with soil. Over time, the soil becomes damp – the result is anyone's guess. Why ants? They always look for dry, warm areas to build their nests. Calla luminaires – just like traditional polder luminaires – are not protected against this. An optimal environment for ants to build their nests.
The openings in the lower part of the calla make perfect sense, because this way a climate balance takes place. Among other things, this is to prevent the formation of condensation. If this is exactly what happens to you – which is not really an uncommon problem – these small openings could already be blocked.
The solution to the problem would be a foil that lets air and moisture through, but not the small uninvited guests or simply dirt and soil.
To what extent Philips Hue has adapted the construction of the Hue Calla in the meantime is not yet known to me. However, if you are experiencing problems or have more ants in your garden, then take a closer look at your socket lights.
