Lutron Caséta has a few new switches out

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They’re at Home Depot and $60 for the switch, $70 for the dimmer.

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Too expensive. I'd rather a $45 zwave switch with the companion switch or get 2 wifi switches (total $20-30) and have them do a software 3-way config.

I'm torn on what and if I want to do more than I have now. I have some Hue bulbs but mainly in my Den/HT area and just got some of the new thin downlights to try replacing my soffit lights with so I can have color for the holidays. I looked hard at Caseta to control the rest of the regular LEDs/Fans in the house but not sure if I want/need to. Or should I look at lower-tier wifi type switches for that kind of stuff?

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2 of the locations I really only need on/off mechanical switches. I would like to have 1 of the switches be a smart wifi dimmer switch. The more I research smart dimmers though the more I see many do not work in this configuration.

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I'm no electrician, nor do I know about all the smart dimmers and switches out there, but I think most (all?) dimmers require a neutral so a smart dimmer should work just fine.

Edit: just read that the dimmer linked above does not require neutral or that it can be installed in a 3-way config, however I have not read that it can be installed sans-neutral *and* 3-way. I don't think that would work as your dumb switch could completely cut power to it. I guess it could work if all of your -way switches are smart.

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Is this new switch my best option?

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How many other Lutron Caseta switches do you currently have? Seeing you saying you're building, I'm assuming "none"

How many total smart switches/remotes do you want?

Do you like the style of Lutron Caseta (which now basically has two styles)?

Are you looking high-end like Lutron Maestro stuff and RadioRA2 (you probably would have already contacted a dealer, answer is probably "no," but they have like 50 finish options per switch and many more styles)? You can spend a bunch of money and get EXACTLY what you want with a lot of options, but you're probably in the $200/switch range. And most people don't really want that.


What other "smart" stuff are you looking at?


As posted above, there is a lot of z-wave compatible stuff and directly wifi compatible stuff. I would avoid directly wifi/nonhub type stuff. If you like Caseta, it probably has the longest/best reputation with the most support, but there are a host of other options for you (any 3-way compatible z-wave switch with an appropriate hub)


If you're considering Caseta vs the others, it is a bit costlier. But they've been around a long time. If you need more than 75 devices (remotes count but you can get around that), then you probably want something different. You should at least price out the difference

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Edit: just read that the dimmer linked above does not require neutral or that it can be installed in a 3-way config, however I have not read that it can be installed sans-neutral *and* 3-way. I don't think that would work as your dumb switch could completely cut power to it. I guess it could work if all of your -way switches are smart.

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Yeah, they're tricky with words. Neutral isn't REQUIRED for install at a standard switch, but it's required for 3-way if you parse the instructions (or understand a little electricity)

Since I’m building I can make sure my contractor installs the dimmer where it always gets power so maybe it will work with the 2 other switches being dumb.

I don’t mind spending $70 since it’s just 1 location, but if I can get something that works just as well for cheaper and without having to buy a separate hub I would rather that route.

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especially in a 4 way configuration as I believe is what I have

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I misread your first post but just realized what you wrote. This is the 4-way wiring instructions for the new ones (and a few older but more expensive ones that can also work). As above, I sort of locked myself into Lutron Caseta and never really looked elsewhere, so I didn’t want to jump and fanboy and say, “yeah yeah yeah, get this!” I don’t know what z-wave offerings are out there, but this should do what you’re wanting.

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Do these require a hub for controlling them from your phone?

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Yes. The Hub has its own app and works with HomeKit, Google home, Alexa, smart things. The “pro” version will offer some advanced stuff that you probably won’t use (I wish I had bought it- if you pair it with homebridge, you can “uncover” some advanced Pico functions not available directly in the Lutron system, so you can trick them into being useful little remotes for a lot of non-lutron things. Probably TMI here). The nonpro version should be sitting at your local Home Depot and Lowes and should be all you need. You can usually get it in a kit with a switch or two. They’re on eBay. You usually get the “pro” version on Amazon and rarely just the hub which is a bit cheaper.

You can use the switch without the hub.
You can use the Pico remotes without a hub, too, but you’ll generally want a hub for these.

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dealing with a 3-way switch was as easy as pairing the included remote and using a 'blank' at the other location.

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Some crazy people don’t like battery-powered products controlling home functions. So this is a little more about that. A Pico battery will last 10 years they say. I can only imagine the cursing that goes on when I die and my wife can’t make one switch work. Or whoever buys my house when I move out. It’s certainly functional and reliable, but I don’t like it as a permanent solution. I may be a minority, but I’m definitely not the only one.
Higher end Lutron (not Caseta compatible) solved this years ago with hardwired remotes (rd-rd, rd-rs). Some of the top end stuff has 7+ “scene” buttons on a wall switch that will never need batteries changed and can be programmed to control any switch. Cool stuff. Unbelievably expensive and sadly a lot is dealer-only.

So, yes. You could always achieve this function, but a lot of us view your “plus” as a “minus.” Particularly those of us who have neutral wires already run.

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also the 'push button to return to a preset dimmer level' feature of the pico is pretty damn slick too. LUTRON frickS

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It’s actually pretty annoying that they include it on the $15 Pico, not the $50 switch, but the $120 switch.

I like the 5 button layout a lot.



I want to get a pro hub and hook it up to get advanced function from there picos through homebridge. There’s one Pico that is 4-buttons and engraved with on/off switches. It only works with one of the advanced systems as a 4x on/off switch (homeworks I believe). Turns out the Pico sends a lot more sophisticated responses and the hub’s response is what is somewhat limited. So someone has an API that lets you edit each Pico button in homebridge (short press, long press, double click (and I think even more) can be programmed to give different responses. And with automations, it becomes a trigger for tons of non-lighting automations if you want it to).


So, if the goal is to turn lights off where there wasn’t a switch before, picos are great and have been doing this for years. And I don’t know of any product that does it as attractively or as well in its price range (electrician once told me about “Lightning” switches where you place a module in-line at the light and switch is paired with it. It is able to generate its own signal/power without battery, but I don’t think that’s an effective 3-way strategy, it isn’t expandable, and they’re like $100 or more, not “smart” or “programmable” and last I looked probably going out of business)

If the goal is to use the wires in the location they’re in in a permanent fashion with no maintenance, they’re not the best. And now they have thrown us an affordable option in the Caseta line!

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Also does anyone else find annoying how lowd the lutron paddle switches are when you turn them on and off?

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I sort of enjoy the clicky.