Otherwise, the Meross app gives you complete control through your mobile device, including timers, on/off schedules, and scenes to coordinate with other Meross smart gadgets.Īfter the single-pole switch, 3-way wall switches are the next most common type of switch in homes.
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No additional hub is needed, though controlling it remotely through HomeKit requires an iPad, HomePod, or Apple TV set up as your home hub. The switch looks like a rocker- or paddle-style switch, but it's only a lower-half button with a small LED light. Existing neutral wiring is required to keep them constantly powered, which is common with smart switches.
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You can install the single-pole switch within 15 minutes. The Meross Smart Wi-Fi Wall Switch is conveniently compatible with all of the above while being a reliable, easy-to-use, and attractively priced product at the same time. Most smart switches support Amazon Alexa and Google Home by default, but those hoping to use Apple's HomeKit smart platform to control devices with iPhones and iPads and the Siri voice assistant are often out of luck.
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It's capped at three Smart Actions, though, which can be limiting if your home is full of smart devices that you want to control all at once. If you have other Kasa Smart products, the switch can also use Smart Actions to turn those devices on or off simultaneously. You can control the brightness from anywhere with the user-friendly Kasa Smart app or voice commands through Alexa or Google Assistant (but not Apple's Siri).Īdvanced settings in the app include a "gentle off" feature to fade the lights at a speed of your choosing and customizable actions for when you double-tap or long-press the button.
The switch includes an on/off button and a pair of up/down dimmer buttons. Installation is relatively simple, with the common smart-switch requirement of a neutral wire, generally present in homes built after the 1980s. Many basic smart home products on the market can get the job done, but Kasa Smart's Wi-Fi Light Switch with dimming is among the lowest-priced smart switches and can easily be more cost-effective than a set of smart light bulbs. It can even integrate with Ring, Google Nest, Samsung SmartThings, and many other smart home devices, opening up nearly endless possibilities for automation. Like most smart switches, it supports voice commands through Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant and boasts rarer compatibility with Apple HomeKit and Siri.
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Once you set up your hardware, the free Lutron app gives you the usual array of smart controls-remote dimming, timers and scheduling, location-based settings, and more. Purchasing and pairing additional smart remotes can give you more points of control in the room or around the house. The kit also comes with a Pico remote control that can be mounted to the wall with a mounting bracket (sold separately) to serve as a 3-way switch that controls your lights from a second location. Setting up the Smart Bridge is straightforward, as is installing the in-wall dimmer switch that doesn't require neutral wiring, unlike most smart switches. The included Caseta Smart Bridge hooks up to your Wi-Fi router and serves as the hub for any Caseta Wireless products you own. While it costs more than the typical individual smart switch, Lutron's Caseta Smart Dimmer Starter Kit provides an ideal entry point for homeowners upgrading to smart lighting. Our favorite is the Lutron Caseta Wireless Smart Dimmer Starter Kit, an excellent starting point for many homes because it comes with its own smart hub, is easily expandable with additional switches, and is compatible with most smart platforms. Keeping that in mind, we researched the most reliable, cost-effective, and easy-to-install options. Before you get in too deep, start with a couple locations, like your porch light or back door or garage." "I can't tell you how many people I've talked out of spending $20,000 on a smart lighting system. "We tell our customers to start small," he says. Replacing a wall switch with a smart model calls for a bit of installation and electrical work, but it's one of the simplest ways to enjoy the convenience and potential energy savings of smart home living.įor Justin Landeen, a smart home installation manager at Penco Electric, the ideal approach is for new users to sample the technology gradually.