The hardware on your eaves is only half of a permanent lighting system. The other half is the controls: the app, the schedules and the voice assistant that turns everything on at sunset without anyone thinking about it. This guide explains how JellyFish control works, how to set it up so the whole household can use it, and how to keep it secure on your home network. Keywest Lights & Electric (KWLE), a woman-owned Florida electrical contractor (EC13014717) in Seminole, installs JellyFish and sets up the controls with you before we leave.
Request a quote
Tell us what you need and where you are. A licensed electrician will call or text you back to set a time. For an emergency, call (727) 476-7079, 24/7.
Ask us about setup: (727) 476-7079.
The pieces that make it work
- The controller: a small unit mounted in the garage, plugged into an existing outlet. It drives the lights over a low-voltage cable and joins your home Wi-Fi.
- The JellyFish app: where you choose colors, patterns, brightness and schedules.
- Voice and whole-home control: JellyFish works with Alexa, Google Home and Control4.
- The lights: mounted beneath the soffit along the eaves and up the gable rakes, never on the roof.
What you can do in the app
| Feature | What it’s for |
|---|---|
| Patterns | Pick from categories such as holidays, sports and everyday looks, then adjust color, speed and effect |
| Brightness | Soften the lights late at night or brighten them for a party |
| Schedules | Sunset start, fixed off time, and dates for each season |
| Zones | Run the front and back separately, with the extra KWLE two-zone option |
| Saved favorites | One-tap scenes for movie night, game day or a birthday |
Voice commands people actually use
Once JellyFish is linked to Alexa or Google Home, simple commands cover most days: turn the house lights on, turn them off, or dim them. Many households fold the lights into an existing routine. A “good night” command can lock the doors, turn off indoor lights and switch the eaves to a low warm white. Control4 owners can add the lights to whole-home scenes alongside shades, audio and other lighting.
Set it once: a year of schedules
- Everyday: warm white from sunset to 10 p.m.
- Seasons: place permanent Christmas lights from Thanksgiving weekend to New Year’s, and add Halloween, the Fourth and other dates.
- Exceptions: save one-off scenes, such as a birthday, to run when you choose.
- Overrides: any scene can be changed for one night, and the calendar resumes the next evening.
We build your first calendar with you at installation, so every permanent holiday light scene is ready before you need it.
Sharing control with the household
Decide early who can change the lights. A typical setup:
- Both adults with full access.
- Teens, if you’re comfortable with them choosing scenes.
- A relative or house-sitter while you travel.
- A property manager, for a rental or seasonal home.
If you’d rather never touch an app, set the calendar once and let voice commands or a family member handle the rest.
Wi-Fi in the garage
The controller lives in the garage, which is often the weakest Wi-Fi spot in a house. Concrete block walls, a water heater, a freezer and metal doors all weaken the signal. Before installation, check your signal strength where the controller will mount. If it’s weak, a mesh node or access point closer to the garage usually solves it. A weak signal can make app changes slow or unreliable.
Keeping smart lights secure
Any internet-connected device on your network should be set up with basic security. The federal Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) recommends:
- Changing the router’s default admin username and password.
- Using a Wi-Fi passphrase of five to seven unrelated words, at least 16 characters long, that you don’t use anywhere else.
- Keeping router firmware up to date, automatically if possible.
- Using WPA3 encryption, which CISA calls the strongest currently available.
- Giving guests a separate guest network.
Those steps protect everything on your network, including the lighting controller.
What we do, and what we don’t
We’re electricians. We install the controller, test the garage outlet, set up the JellyFish app with you, connect the controller to your Wi-Fi and build your first schedule. We don’t manage your router or internet service. If your garage needs better Wi-Fi coverage, your internet provider or a network installer can help.
Routines that make the lights useful
The best setups tie the lights to things you already do. A few ideas we see often:
- Arriving home: a routine that brightens the eaves when you say you’re on your way.
- Bedtime: one command that dims the eaves and turns off everything inside.
- Vacation: an everyday schedule that keeps running while you’re away, so the house looks occupied.
- Movie night: a soft color on the back zone while the front stays plain.
- Game day: your team’s colors on a saved favorite, ready for kickoff.
Voice assistants differ in how they name devices and build routines. When we set things up, we give the light zones clear, short names, like “front lights” and “back lights,” so commands are easy to remember.
Installation day walkthrough
Before we leave, we go through the app with you on your own phone. We connect the controller to Wi-Fi, name the zones, set your everyday schedule, place the next holiday on the calendar, and invite anyone else who should have access. If you use a voice assistant, we can link it while we’re there, so the first voice command works before the truck pulls away.
Spacing, colors and whites
Controls are only as good as what they control. JellyFish lights come at 6-, 9- or 16-inch spacing, with whites from 2700K to 5000K and millions of colors, all adjustable from the same app.
Updates over time
The JellyFish controller receives updates that add features over time. Keep the app updated on your phone, and the controller stays current through its connection.
Electrical first
Smart controls only work when the power behind them is solid. Before connecting, we check the garage receptacle for grounding and GFCI protection and look at what else shares the circuit. A freezer or opener on an overloaded circuit can trip the breaker and knock the controller offline. If repairs are needed, they’re quoted separately.
If the app can’t find the controller
Most connection problems come from the network, not the lights. Check that the garage still has Wi-Fi signal, that your router hasn’t changed networks or passwords, and that the controller’s outlet and breaker are on. If a router replacement or a new internet plan changed your network name or password, the controller needs to be reconnected. Call us if you’d like help, or if the breaker keeps tripping.
Warranty
JellyFish covers controllers, power supplies and lights under a 5-year parts warranty. KWLE covers installation under a 2-year workmanship warranty, or five years for Member Care Plan members.
App and smart-home FAQ
Do the lights need Wi-Fi to follow a schedule? The controller connects to your Wi-Fi so the app can make changes. A strong signal at the controller keeps things responsive.
Can I control the lights while I’m away? Yes, through the app, as long as the controller is online.
Does it work with Apple HomeKit? We list Alexa, Google Home and Control4. Ask at the estimate about anything else.
Is KWLE woman-owned? Yes. KWLE is woman-owned, with no certification claimed.
Sources: Home network guidance from CISA (cisa.gov, Securing Your Home Wi-Fi; cisa.gov, Securing Wireless Networks).
Related: game-day and holiday color schedules, year-round color ideas and our free design preview. See every city we serve on the JellyFish lighting page, or call (727) 476-7079 for an estimate.