Buy Now...

click image to enlarge

Security can come in many different forms.  In the case of Sengled, a company that is best known as an internationally active manufacturer and supplier of innovative lighting solutions, you could say that light was being directed at the problem of home security.  This solution is known as the Sengled Snap which combines an LED light with an integrated IP wireless HD camera.

Designed for use either indoors or in a garden environment, the Snap bulb is of the large bulbous type with dimensions of 148 mm height and a 121 mm diameter.  Apple white in colour, the Snap bulb is of the E27 type which means it features a screw type connection.  An appropriate adapter will be required if a bayonet type connection is the only one available.  Due to the weight of the Snap, approximately 604g, some care needs to be taken with the connection socket being used.

The bulbous end of the Sengled Snap features a centrally positioned a 14W LED with a luminous flux of 850 lumen,  A pair of infrared LEDs are situated above the central LED while a microphone, light sensor and indicator light, speaker and camera unit are arranged beneath the LED.  The camera is a 140º wide angle lens 1080p HD model.  A reset button is located on the outer rim of the bulb.  The supplied instructions for inserting the Snap device into a connection socket make it clear that the camera element should sit at the six o’clock position.

See also: Home products

more

In order to get the full benefit out of the functionality available from the Snap, you need to download and install the appropriate app from the App or Play Store on to a mobile device.  The app’s first task will involve the creation of a password protected account based on an email address.  A series of single step instructions are provided by the app for the setting process required by the Snap.

An important aspect of the setting up process involves the appearance of a Green or Red light on the front of the Snap to indicate whether the Sengled device is ready to proceed or not.  However, as the Snap needs to be powered on, you will have to cope with the rather overwhelming power of the beam of the device’s main LED light.  I found that I really struggled to pick out whether there was a Green or Red light giving me the go ahead or reset sign.

Once I had worked my way around this blinding obstacle, I was able to proceed through the process of connecting to the Snap’s WiFi signal and then link it to my LAN WiFi signal that would give me access to the Internet.  The Snap was automatically configured, a process which can take several minutes.  It does help if the individual elements of the Snap, router and mobile device are positioned close together during the process.  Later the Snap can be repositioned in a more convenient location with specific instructions being provides for carrying out this task.

The Snap’s operating environment can be customised from the Gear icon which forms part of the app.  The settings are divided into sections designated as Subscription, Camera, Security and Discover.  Following an initial 30-day free trial, you can opt for one of the three paid monthly subscriptions available.  At the lowest level is the subscription that stores videos for a single day and costs the monthly fee of 3.50 Euros.  Provided 7-days of storage is the next subscription which is priced at 6.50 Euros.  For even longer storage of 30-days costing Euros 18.50 is available.

Amongst other features you can turn on / off night vision as you wish.  The capture video will include audio unless you turn off this particular feature.  You can also adjust the resolution with a choice of 360, 720 (default) or 1080p.  Motion detection can be instigated with a choice of designated zones and notification features.

With the customisation concluded you can sit back and watch live video with or without accompanying audio.  An option is available to record selected video captures.  There is also an option to replay selected time slots.  If more than a single device is in operation then you can easily switch between them by using the app.

In performance the Sengled Snap offered a capable service.  Its size is such that it can not be easily concealed and could be a target for illegal removal when set up outside.  Setting up the device was a little fiddly.  Currently the Sengled Snap is listed at £139.99 on Amazon.

https://eu.sengled.com/en/products/security/snap/index.html