Lutron Caseta Original Smart Dimmer Switch Starter Kit with Pico Remote Wall Plate and Smart Hub Works with

The Caseta system works very well, especially in comparison to older home automation systems. Out of the box all the pieces set up easily and integrated well. Lutron has done a good job on the software and hardware integration for the pieces to work together seamlessly. Directions are straightforward in pairing the devices to the Smart Hub as well as the individual Pico remotes. Integration with the Amazon Echo/Alexa system is also straightforward and works well with one simple exception. When choosing names for the different devices and scenes choose names Alexa can easily recognize. This may take some back and forth but once arrived at a good combination voice commands work well. One odd thing is in my case Alexa has a hard time discerning between "light, lights, lamp and lamps." Perhaps it's in my midwestern accent? Once an agreeable (if "agreeable" is the correct terminology between a person and a soft AI) set of names are chosen it's all good. One thing to remember when setting scenes is that the scene is executed without modifiers like "off" and "on." So, if you want the settings for a scene to be turned off you need to create another scene which does just that. That is unless I missed something in the directions. Not a big deal. I really liked not having to venture into the advanced settings of my WiFi router (Apple Extreme) and open ports and the like. Having had different home applications that require this, I have not met with consistency in operation which may be due to many factors. One word of warning, though. Getting the Caseta System up and running you immediately want it to control all the lighting especially if you initially thought about that bedroom light switch on the other wall from the bed. Kind of you can't eat one potato chip! Would be interesting to watch follow up orders for more wall controllers, lamp controllers and Pico remotes. Pieces are somewhat pricey but they integrate well which is worth the price. What could the Caseta System do better. Maybe read my mind? Guess my intentions? One future option that would really be cool is to have the system know your location and analyse your intent so you wouldn't have to name room by room items. But until then the Caseta System works well and proof is how easily it becomes part of your routine. *** May 2, 2017 update *** Caseta system working well, however, troublesome finding verbal commands for Alexa that are consistently followed correctly. Amazon needs some work on voice recognition. *** August 2021 Update *** Caseta system still working great. Impressive after ~ 4 years of continuous operation the dimmers, software and bridge are working perfectly. Excellent system. Read more

I'm very happy so far with this product although like all new HomeKit products I have purchased recently the support documentation is just not there yet. I am using this to control 3 led porch lights that flickered and shut off randomly on the old dimmer switch. This new switch works perfectly and although I might like to dim them a little more than preset, I have not attempted to adjust the lower cutoff since it is working so well now. The LED lights are now completely stable. Installation and set up was simple although a bit of a tight fit in our box where wires entered from the side... had to switch the position of the two switches to make room. Luton provides excellent instructions for the DIYer. HomeKit works perfectly and I can turn the lights on easily from my app as I approach the home. Supposedly you can use geofencing to have the lights turn on automatically as you approach but here is where the lack of documentation fails, since there are no specific instructions on how to set up the geofenced scene and I haven't figured it out on my own yet. So I am still using the app. Another disappointment was that I am interested in also using home kit controlled window shades and curtains and the selection that is available from Lutron to work with this controller is very small at this time. No curtains at all that work with this product and no skylight shades. There is a different "pro" controller that will also control Lutrons other curtain and shade products and although it is available here on Amazon it is supposedly only to be sold through a Lutron approved installer. I have a feeling the ecosystem for the DIY products will mature over time. It's nice that you can use the included Pico remote to effectively add another switch in another location without any new wiring. I think we're going to mount it out on the porch itself so you can control the lights without having to reach inside (or use the app). You can purchase a mounting kit to make the Pico remote look like a regular wall switch. The only other criticisms I could offer is that the smart bridge is extremely light so it gets pulled around by the weight of the cables. But then again why add unnecessary weight to something? That wouldn't be very "green" either. Read more

I use the Lutron Castea system in conjunction with Apple HomeKit. They integrate seamlessly and easily while the combination allows a multitude of features. In addition, the Casseta Homebase network frees-up bandwidth on the 2.4Ghz band of my WiFi mesh network that would otherwise be taken-up by smart switches from any of the other vendors such as Kasa. Our four-story 3000sq.ft. townhouse functions nicely with a single Homebase connected via Ethernet to a Deco mesh node on the second floor. At first, I glossed over such features as adding remote switches and programming scenes via the Caseta app. Now I find they add tremendously to my home. For example, I have a Pico on the dining room table that adjusts all the lighting in and near the dining room for an evening meal with one touch. Same for the home theater; same for our primary bedroom at bedtime. I added a pico in the hallway using just a double gang faceplate on an existing single gang switch without any wiring at all. Now I can initiate the primary bedroom evening lighting scene - or turn on all the bedroom lights full strength - before I enter the room. There is even a pico with a built-in nightlight. If you have outdoor temporary lights, perhaps for the holidays, there are weatherproof outdoor switches you can program. All our permanent outdoor lighting is on the Caseta network for security and, of course, you can program switches for when a room is occupied via HomeKit. We also use the system for electrostatic air cleaners that help to keep our home dust and allergen free, turning them off when people are around and running them in vacant areas at night and when no one is home. As a bonus, energy bills have diminished a bit despite living in data center land. Take that AI. Read more