Smart and automated lighting in Austin, TX
Automated lighting is about control: lights that turn on when you walk in, dim to a scene, run on a schedule and answer to an app or your voice. We install smart switches, dimmers and sensors that do this reliably and keep working when your internet does not.
Smart and automated lighting replaces standard switches and dimmers with devices you can control by app, voice, schedule or motion, and groups them into scenes like 'Evening' or 'Away' that set several rooms at once. Done right, the wiring is clean, the switch still works by hand when the app is down, and the automations are set up to your actual routine. We work across the common smart brands, so this is the mixed-brand page. For a single integrated Lutron system, see our Lutron page.
This is the right call if:
- You want lights to turn on by themselves when you enter a room and shut off when it is empty.
- You want one button or one phrase to set several lights at once, like a movie scene or a bedtime scene.
- You travel or own a second home on the lake and want to run lights remotely so the place looks lived in.
- You are tired of lights left on all day in a big house and want schedules that cut summer energy waste.
- You bought smart switches and found out your boxes have no neutral wire, so they will not work.
- You are wiring a new build and want the switches, scenes and sensors planned in before the walls close.
Automated lighting options
Smart switches and dimmers
We swap standard switches and dimmers for smart versions that keep the physical paddle working while adding app, voice and schedule control. For dimming we match the device to your bulbs so LEDs dim smoothly without flicker or buzz. A simple non-smart dimmer swap is covered on our switches and dimmers page.
Scenes, schedules and timers
A scene sets several lights to chosen levels with one tap, so 'Evening' can dim the living room and warm the kitchen at once. Schedules and timers run lights by time or by sunrise and sunset, which is handy for a Texas summer when you want lamps off during peak afternoon hours.
Occupancy and vacancy sensors
Occupancy sensors turn lights on when you walk in and off when the room empties, which suits closets, pantries, laundry rooms and hallways. Vacancy sensors leave the on switch to you but handle the off automatically, so a room is never lit for an empty house.
App and voice control
We connect your switches to an app and, if you want it, to a voice assistant so you can say 'lights off' from the couch. We set up rooms and groups that make sense, and we keep manual control at the wall so nothing depends on the cloud to turn a light on.
Whole-home automation basics
For a larger hill-country home we tie the lighting together on one hub and program away modes, good-night routines and remote access from your phone. We keep it understandable so you or a house sitter can run it without a manual.
Our process
- 01
Walkthrough and goals
We walk the home, note which rooms you want automated, and check each switch box for a neutral wire and enough room for a smart device. Telling us your routine up front lets us design scenes around how you actually live.
- 02
Flat-rate plan
You get a clear written price covering the devices, any wiring needed for a neutral, the hub if one is required, and the scene and automation setup, all approved before we start.
- 03
Install and wiring
We install the switches, dimmers and sensors, run a neutral where a box lacks one, and make sure dimmers are matched to your bulbs so they behave.
- 04
Scene and automation setup
We build your scenes, schedules and sensor rules, connect the app and voice control, and name rooms and groups so everything is easy to find.
- 05
Walkthrough and verification
We test every automation, show you how to adjust a scene or schedule yourself, and confirm each switch still works by hand with the internet off.
What is included
Every automated lighting job from Magnify Electric includes the same standards, start to finish.
- A box-by-box check for a neutral wire before we commit to any device.
- Smart switches and dimmers matched to your bulbs so LEDs dim without flicker.
- Scenes, schedules and sensor rules built around your daily routine.
- App and optional voice control set up with clearly named rooms and groups.
- Manual wall control preserved so lights work when the internet is down.
- A complimentary 54-point safety inspection of the circuits and controls tied into your automation.
- A walkthrough so you can edit a scene or schedule on your own.
Cost factors
We give you a flat-rate price after we see the job. These are the things that move that number up or down.
Number of switches and sensors
Cost tracks the count of locations you want automated and whether a spot needs a sensor, a dimmer or a simple on/off smart switch. We price it room by room so you can stage the project.
Neutral wiring
If a switch box has no neutral wire, running one or choosing a device that works without it changes the labor per location. We check every box first so there are no surprises.
Hub and system complexity
A few smart switches on an app is a smaller job than a whole-home setup with a hub, away modes and remote access. The number of scenes and automations you want drives the setup time.
We set up automated lighting for new builds in Leander, Liberty Hill and Hutto where it is easy to plan scenes and sensors before the walls close, for larger hill-country homes around Lakeway, Bee Cave and Spicewood with many rooms to coordinate, and for vacation and lake homes on Lake Travis and the Highland Lakes that owners want to run remotely so the place looks lived in while they are away.
Rated by Central Texas homeowners
Real reviews from our Google Business Profile, in our customers' own words.
Chris and Caden did an amazing job installing my EV charger and helped assist me with other electrical questions I had around my house!! Very professional and kind. I highly recommend them!
Chris and Caden did a great job of installing a dedicated circuit and outlet for us. They were very thorough in checking out the existing circuit outlets and also patient with explaining everything before starting. I appreciated especially the quality of their work, their professionalism, and their willingness to throw in extra work where they saw fit at no charge. In short, I couldn’t be happier about the job they did.
Chris and Caden were awesome - they installed an entire new main panel and a new subpanel very effectively. We knew exactly what to expect at every step in the process, and now everything is up to code! If we need any additional electrical work, we will absolutely call Magnify Electric.
Trayvon is such a professional. He answers any and all questions. Does an amazing job in whatever is needed, and you’d never even know he had been here as he tidies up impeccably. He is our family’s electrician. I’d give 10 stars if able!
Felt lucky to have found Magnify Electric. Christian fixed the issue we were having with our hardwired smoke alarms, installed a whole-house surge protector, and fixed a longstanding light switch issue. He did everything with excellence and efficiency. He did a great job of communicating throughout the process. Thanks so much!
Showed as scheduled. Had to coordinate with PEC and everything went very smoothly. Christian was very professional and completed the job quickly. Very satisfied with the results. I would recommend them to do any electrical work in my home.
Automated lighting questions, answered
Why do most smart switches need a neutral wire?
A smart switch has electronics inside that need a small amount of power all the time, even when the light is off, so it can listen for the app or a schedule. It draws that power across the hot and neutral wires. Older homes, especially 1970s and 1980s boxes around Lakeway and Westlake, often ran only the hot wire to the switch, so there is no neutral in the box. We check every box first, and if a neutral is missing we can run one or pick a device designed to work without it.
Will my lights still work if the internet goes down?
Yes. We install switches that keep the physical paddle working, so you can always turn a light on and off by hand. The app, voice control and some automations pause when the internet is out, but the lights themselves do not depend on the cloud to switch on. This matters here when a Texas storm takes out power or service for a while.
Can I control the lights at my lake house while I am in town?
Yes, that is one of the most common reasons owners automate a second home. With a hub and remote access, you can run lights from your phone and set away modes that turn lamps on and off to look lived in. A house sitter or cleaner can be given simple app access without you handing over anything else.
What is the difference between an occupancy sensor and a vacancy sensor?
An occupancy sensor turns the light on when you walk in and off when the room empties, which is handy for a closet or pantry where your hands are full. A vacancy sensor leaves turning the light on to you but handles the off automatically, so a room is never lit for an empty house. We pick whichever fits each room and set the delay so lights do not cut out while you are still there.
Can smart lighting lower my electric bill in the summer?
It can help, mostly by making sure lights are not left on. Schedules and sensors turn off lights in empty rooms, and you can set lamps to stay off during the hot afternoon peak. The savings are modest compared with your air conditioning, but automated off is one less thing wasting power all day in a big house.
Do you set up the scenes and automations, or just install the switches?
We do both. We install the devices and then build your scenes, schedules and sensor rules around your routine, connect the app and any voice control, and name everything clearly. Before we leave we show you how to tweak a scene or schedule yourself, so you are not stuck calling us for a small change.
I only want one dimmer replaced. Is that this service?
If you just want a standard dimmer swapped with no app, scenes or sensors, that falls under our switches and dimmers page and is a quicker job. This page is for smart and automated control: app, voice, schedules and sensors. If you are not sure which you want, we will talk through it and point you to the right fit.
Can you plan smart lighting into a house we are building?
Yes, and a new build is the easiest time to do it. We plan switch locations, neutrals and sensor spots before the walls close, so you are not fishing wire later. We coordinate with your builder on the rooms you want automated and set up the scenes once the fixtures are in.
Licensed, local and upfront
Upfront
Flat-rate repair pricing you approve
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TECL 29321, Master 269417
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Family-owned in Spicewood since 2012
Backed
Work guaranteed and done to code
Serving Austin and the Hill Country
We are based in Spicewood and cover the lake communities, the Hill Country and greater Austin. Find your town below for local details.
Headquarters: 22503 State Highway 71 W, Spicewood, TX 78669
Related services
Lutron lighting control
If you want one integrated system from a single brand, Lutron is the dedicated page.
Learn more →Switches and dimmers
For a plain dimmer or switch swap with no app or automation.
Learn more →Lighting installation
When you also need the fixtures themselves hung or replaced.
Learn more →Recessed lighting
Smart dimmers pair well with recessed cans you want on a scene.
Learn more →Outdoor lighting
For exterior fixtures and timers that light the yard and drive.
Learn more →Ready for automated lighting?
Tell us what you need and we will get back to you within one business day. For anything urgent, call us now and talk to a real person.