Lutron’s Caseta wireless lighting system allows you to automate the task of turning on and off lights and other devices in your house with their mobile app. The Caseta system is composed of a base station and remote modules. The base station plugs into your ethernet network and interfaces between the Caseta wireless devices and the internet. Using a Lutron mobile app for iOS and Android devices, you can turn lights on and off, including dimming them. The system also has modules for talking to certain Honeywell thermostats, and even automatic windows shade openers.
Unlike many other smart-home product lines, Lutron is one of the dominant manufacturers of electrical fixtures, switches, and dimmers for your home. Countless vendors produce lamp plugs but Lutron also makes in-wall dimmer switches to control your permanently installed light fixtures (ceiling lights, kitchen lights, front porch lights, etc). By replacing your existing wall switch or dimmer with a Lutron Caseta in-wall light dimmer, you can automatically turn your porch lights on and off, or use an app to dim the lights in your family room.
Another advantage of the Caseta system is that many of the wall dimmer kits come with a small remote control. Generally, home automation switches like these are not compatible with 3-way and 4-way wiring setups where you have multiple switches that can control the same ceiling light. Lutron’s Pico remote control can be mounted at the other switch, providing 3-way switch functionality by having the 2nd switch location communicate back to the main switch wirelessly. If you aren’t familiar with installing wall-switches, Lutron’s website includes installation videos to guide you
The Lutron Caseta wireless app can be used to create “scenes” or sets of lighting preferences. With the touch of a button, it can enable the “I’m watching TV” scene, the “I’m not home” scene, or the “lights I leave on at night” scene. The app also lets you set up set schedules to turn lights on and off at particular times.
The Caseta home automation system can also be used with Logitech Harmony Hub products. So for example, when you push the activity button “watch movie” on your Logitech Remote, you could have it lower the shades and dim the lights. Unfortunately, neither product can mute fellow viewers!
The Caseta system is also HomeKit enabled, allowing it to interface with Apple’s home automation tools, including the Apple watch. For those who already have home automation systems or hubs, the Lutron Caseta is compatible with If-This-Then-That (IFTT), This allows for integration with your home alarm system, Z-wave controllers, WeMo, Amazon Echo, Nest thermostat, and countless other products and services.
The Caseta products are available in the electrical department at both Home Depot and Lowes, and even orderable from Amazon, Staples and Target. You can purchase the hub for about $80 and various models of switches and dimmers cost between $45 and $60.
I received Caseta from Lutron for testing purposes. No compensation was received for this post and all opinions are my own. Amazon Affiliate links are included in this post.
