Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Smart Home
  3. Legacy Archives

These crowdfunded guidelights automatically turn on when it gets dark

Add as a preferred source on Google

Tired of stumbling down your pitch black hallway, blindly holding onto the nearest wall in hopes of finding the light switch? You could probably use some guide lights, but instead of shelling out big bucks for hardwired ones or clogging your outlets with nightlights, you might want to check out this new project being funded on IndieGoGo.

The product is called the SnapRays Guidelight — it’s essentially a smart, sensor-equipped replacement for standard plug-in night lights and hardwired guide lights. Designed to look just like a standard outlet plate, it’s also lined with LEDs integrated into the bottom, providing illumination when you need it, while also keeping both outlets available.

Recommended Videos

LEDs already don’t consume much juice to begin with, but for increased efficiency, the Guideight also includes a small light sensor. When it detects that the room has gotten dark, it’ll 7622d93b9478c2ac95da4122704dc6a1_largeautomatically flick on the light, and flick it back off when the room gets bright again.

And the best part? Creator Jeremy Smith designed it with a distinct focus on easy installation. Unlike hardwired guidelights that are a hassle to connect, SnapRays can be installed in under a minute thanks to Smith’s patented “Power Extractors” on the back side of the Guidelight. These extractors are designed to slide into the electrical box and around the outlet receptacle, making contact with the sides of the outlet.  This proprietary technology is what enables the device to extract power from the receptacle without having to hardwire, plug into or occupy an outlet.

It’s a pretty brilliant idea, and despite the fact that it only launched a couple weeks ago, it’s already raised well over 1,400 percent of it’s original $12,000 funding goal. So basically, this project is set to become a reality in the very near future. If you back it now you can lock down a single Guidelight for about $12 bucks, a set of three for $36, or a pack of five for $60. Find out more here.

Drew Prindle
Former Senior Editor, Features
Drew Prindle is an award-winning writer, editor, and storyteller who currently serves as Senior Features Editor for Digital…
Beatbot AquaSense X review: The pool cleaner for those that want to be pampered
It's a nothing short of a self-cleaning nirvana for your pool. But as they say, nothing fine comes without a fittingly handsome fee.
Beatbot Aquasense X robot, AstroRinse station and iSkim

view at amazon

Quick take: 

Read more
An unpatched Shark vacuum flaw could put your smart home at risk
The vulnerability affects SharkNinja robot vacuums and stems from a misconfigured cloud security policy rather than a firmware bug.
Shark RV2320S Matrix Self-Emptying Robot Vacuum Featured

Robot vacuums are supposed to clean the house. Turns out this one was mapping it for strangers. Security researchers have disclosed a critical vulnerability affecting SharkNinja's cloud-connected robot vacuums that could allow attackers to remotely access sensitive information, including live camera feeds, home maps, Wi-Fi passwords, and even execute commands on affected devices. More concerningly, the issue reportedly remains unpatched despite being responsibly disclosed to SharkNinja months ago.

How can a vacuum become a spy?

Read more
Google Home Speaker (2026) review: Smarter and punchier, with a subscription pinch
Google's latest smart speaker pairs Gemini with better sound and deeper smart home integration. What's not to love without spending over a $100?
Sphere, Body Part, Finger

View at Amazon

Quick Recap

Read more