Lutron Caseta Wireless Smart Bridge & Amazon Alexa

[phillihp23]

The Lutron Caseta Wireless Smart Bridge works on its own independent network called clear connect to control and manage your Lutron Wireless switches. The Lutron Smart Bridge can be added to the Harmony Hub for integration of light control in your activities, and/or Alexa App for control through Amazon Echo or Echo Dot V2.


I used the Lutron Claro wall plates on my switch installs. I installed Dimmer switches everywhere except for areas that the switch controlled an outlet or a fan (bathroom fans). Install should not be difficult but can become somewhat confusing depending on the configuration in which the original wiring was run. If there are more than one switch controlling a light you will want to mark these in advance, rather than turning your fuses off and on to try and determine this during install (as always you should shut off power at the fuse box while working on electrical). In situations were more than one switch controls a light you only hardwire one dimmer, the others will be Pico Remotes which pair with the hardwired switch.
My Install
(1) Lutron Caseta Wireless Smart Bridge $80 ($80 Ea.) L-BDG2-WH
(20) Lutron Caseta Wireless Dimmers $1100 ($55 Ea.) PD-6WCL-WH
(8) Lutron Caseta Wireless Switch $440 ($55 Ea.) PD-6ANS-WH
(1) Lutron Caseta Lamp Dimmer $60 ($60 Ea.) P-PKG1P-WH-R
(5) Lutron Caseta Pico's $90 ($18 Ea.) PJ2-2BRL-GWH-L01
(5) Pico Mounts $35 ($7 Ea.) PICO-WBX-ADAPT

The Lutron Caseta Smart Bridge (can fit in the palm of your hand almost).




The Lutron Caseta Switch & Dimmer side by side



The Lutron Caseta Pico Remote & Dimmer side by side (the only noticeable difference between these pico remotes and the regular dimmer switch is on the bottom of the wired switch has a pull out tab to kill the switch if working on it. The pico's are battery operated, last like ten years then just swap out the watch type battery)



The Lutron Caseta Lamp Dimmer and Remote (can control two lamps, plug on each side).

 

[phillihp23]

Made a little step by step video on install to Lutron Smart Bridge and Amazon Alexa App.

 

[tripplej]

Cool. Thanks for sharing. Good info.

 

[Sonnie]

Any regrets here... or anything you'd do differently?

I'm thinking about setting this up throughout our home to be able to turn on a lamp, hallway light and all our outside lights if we don't get home on time. Or maybe even set the outside lights to come on at sunset automatically (if that can be done). Of course, if we go with the Lutron Serena shades, it will control them, too.

 

[phillihp23]

Any regrets here... or anything you'd do differently?

I'm thinking about setting this up throughout our home to be able to turn on a lamp, hallway light and all our outside lights if we don't get home on time. Or maybe even set the outside lights to come on at sunset automatically (if that can be done). Of course, if we go with the Lutron Serena shades, it will control them, too.

As for my Lutron dimmers and switches…stellar. Never an issue.
As far as what automation system you chose to use I couldn’t say other than I use Alexa to voice control all the lights in my house without issue. Also the phone app if away from home.

 

[Sonnie]

I like the idea of setting up the remote switches that don't have to be wired. We can mount a 3 gang switch plate with all remotes on the opposite wall of our great room to handle the shades, lights, and fan in the great room and don't have to wire anything up; just pair each switch with the corresponding wired switch on the existing switch wall. How neat is that? Lazy switches, huh?

We can also swap out our fan toggle switch and use the Caseta fan controller switch to adjust the fan speed.

I think we'll love all the options and flexibility. The Lutron app looks pretty good, but I'm also considering the Control 4 app and possibly one of their Halo remotes. We've been using the URC 890 for a while now and the Control 4 remotes look like they can add the lights and shades along with the TV and satellite control, all from the LAZY-man recliner... lol.

I can already tell this is going to cause me to gain weight from lack of excercise.

 

[phillihp23]

You know you can buy dusk dawn switches for outside lights. Basically replaces the switch in the house. They turn lights on and off based on farmers almanac. I never mess with porch light, back door and garage since I installed.
I forget who makes them. But not expensive.

 

[Sonnie]

Yeah, but my wife turns some of the outside lights off when she comes to bed, which varies. However, setting them to automatically come on at sunset/dusk would be great. Then be able to manually turn them off if wanted.