Light Dimmers. The line also includes a Fan Speed Control. After six months of long-term testing, we think the TP-Link Kasa Smart Wi-Fi Light Switch Dimmer HS220 is the best smart light dimmer. However, today’s LED dimmer switches make it possible to turn the lights up or down from the comfort of your couch and that's a convenience you may ultimately want. If you have older switches, you may not have this wire inside the existing box. For years, we‘ve been keeping up with reviews and roundups of in-wall smart dimmers and switches. We tested each switch separately for a minimum of two weeks (most of them much longer—some for years). ", "While some dimmer switches may cause LED bulbs to flicker, this version is compatible with nearly 1,000 popular LED lightbulbs. Her work has appeared in The New York Times, Wired, Men’s Health, USA Today, and others. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Just know that for some of those Automations to work, you will need to grant access to your location. The Legrand Radiant makes a good option if you’re shopping for a CFL-compatible dimmer switch. We plan to test the Eaton WFD30 Wi-Fi Smart Dimmer, a Wi-Fi–enabled light dimmer with Alexa support and the option for single-pole or three-way configurations. Does this device offer tamper alerts in case of theft or power outage. Lutron sells a starter package containing the Smart Bridge, one dimmer, and one remote control, and we think it’s a bargain—it’s cheaper than some of the standalone switches we’ve tested. Scenes are equally simple to set with a few taps, so you can group different devices as well as set dimming levels that you can turn on and off with one touch. The Kasa app is one of the friendliest we’ve tested, with clear controls for Presets, Schedules, and Timers. 77 GPS lat-long is stored locally in device (not shared) for sunrise and sunset time calculations. If you have an older house or aren’t sure if your wiring has a neutral, we recommend our upgrade pick, the Lutron Caséta Wireless In-Wall Smart Dimmer. If you’ve ever dimmed lights using a smart switch and thought they didn’t seem dim enough, or if you’ve experienced flicker, this is how you fix it. The delayed fade-to-off feature gives you 10-60 seconds to leave the room. This model is a safe bet with most LED bulbs; the manufacturer’s compatibility chart lists 991 LED bulbs that work with this switch, including some of the most popular lightbulbs from makers like Cree, Ecosmart, and Philips. Rocker light switches are sleek, stylish and simple. It’s reliable, easy to use, and affordable enough that you could reasonably install smart dimmers all over the house. Wirecutter is reader-supported. Keep in mind that this single pole version is designed for lights controlled by one switch. Leviton Decora Plus 15 Amp Switch, White To turn lights on and off at the switch, just push; a longer press adjusts dimming levels. The app allows you to create automated schedules and to control groups of switches, as well as to program the dimmer to react based on how you touch it—so a long press or a double tap, for example, can instantly turn it on/off, instruct it to fade off, or tell it to go to a preferred preset dimming level. Wire, Cable, and Hose Routing & Protecting. “The behavior of the electronic driver inside the LED lamp is quick and directly responsive to the everyday fluctuations on a home’s electrical supply,” he said. This toggle-style dimmer switch is an easy way to upgrade any light switch in your house and control the brightness of LED, CFL, incandescent, or halogen bulbs. If you’re looking for more customization at the switch and don’t mind doing the tweaking yourself, the HomeSeer HD-WD200+ dimmer switch may be a better fit. It also has a tiny blue LED on the bottom, which you can adjust to be always on, off, or contingent on the status of the switch. If so, is it required? You can adjust dimming levels by going into the app or by calling out to Alexa or Google Assistant (“Alexa, dim the mud room to 25%”). This design features a sillcock (garden hose knob) that you simply turn in order to dim or brighten your lights. Whether you’re looking for a smart dimmer or one that works with a 3-way switch… This setup boasts a more reliable connection because it doesn’t conflict with all of the Wi-Fi devices you may have around your house. The dimmer switches below are made by some of the most well-respected manufacturers of light switches. Shop Build.com's selection of light switches and dimmers. Is a user's identifying data (such as email addresses or Wi-Fi info) encrypted when stored in the cloud? If so, what data, and for what purpose (including location, tracking, marketing, or any other purpose)? On that dimmer page, you’ll also find the Schedules option. If you’re in search of a smart dimmer switch for a single-pole set-up (a light controlled by just one switch), check out the affordable Kasa Smart Dimmer Switch. Once installed, a rocker switch turns the light on or off, while side-by-side buttons make it easy to adjust the brightness up or down. We tested the HS220 at a variety of dimming levels, with both the Android and iOS apps, Amazon Alexa, and Google Assistant. However, during our testing, the touch-sensitive button on the front sometimes wouldn’t respond to the first touch. The lights will then brighten from the lowest setting to the brightest. Hyperikon LED Dimmer Switch 3 Way Wall Switch/Single Pole Rocker and Slide Dimmer Light Switch, 150W=700W, White, UL - Wallplate Not Included, 3 Pack 4.1 out of 5 stars 68 CDN$ 54.60 CDN$ 54 . Wireless Light Switches. The TP-Link Kasa Smart HS220 is our pick, and the Monoprice Stitch, GE Enbrighten, and Lutron Caséta dimmer switches are alternative picks. Also, the device made a loud click when we flipped it on and off, whether we did so by touch, through the app, or via voice commands. It also connects directly to Wi-Fi without the need for a hub, and it works with Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, and IFTTT. Rocker Light Switches. The Contour dimmer features a smooth slide, captive knob to adjust your light to any activity. Legrand Radiant Single-Pole/3-Way Illuminated Light Dimmer, Best Plug-in: Upon installation, you can also adjust the ideal dimming range. This reliable, affordable dimmer switch uses Wi-Fi so it doesn’t need a hub, and it works with Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, and IFTTT. It also responded quickly in our tests, and it allows you to group a switch with other Kasa devices (such as smart plugs and smart bulbs) and to set up integration with Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, and IFTTT. A dimmer switch is used to vary the brightness of compatible dimmable bulbs, allowing a desired level of illumination to be achieved often with the purpose of creating mood lighting. Loosen the screw that holds the grounding wire to the switch and remove the dimmer switch from the switch box. All of them allow you to turn lights on and off remotely, as well as to set schedules using each device’s respective smartphone app. The actual switch delivers a nice snap and allows you to dim the lighting with a long press. The leds are nice, but just a bit too bright at times. Next, using a pair of needle-nose pliers, wrap the bare ground wire around the green screw at the bottom of the new standard switch. Unscrew and remove the switch plate; then use a voltage tester to make sure that the circuit is dead. Make turning on the lights fun! GE Slide Dimmer Rocker Wall Switch, Single Pole, Best Smart: Leviton Decora 15 Amp Single Pole Rocker AC Quiet Light Switch, White (10-Pack) (662) Model# M32-05601-2WM $ 15 98 /package ($ 1.60 /unit) Buy 10 or more $ 13.58. This model is interesting because it’s one of the few switches we’ve tested that don’t require a neutral. Rocker switch with slender dimmer control slide bar Integrated linear full-range slide control for easy, precise operation Separate ON/OFF switch that preserves the selected brightness setting Provides single pole (one location) or 3-way (two location) lighting control when paired with a 3-way switch However, you can add Away Mode to the HS220 via Alexa Guard. We found the HomeSeer HS-WD200+ to be best suited for smart-home enthusiasts who love to tweak. Best Smart Dimmer Starter Kit: Lutron Caseta Wireless Smart Lighting Starter Kit. This traditional rocker dimmer is reliable and inexpensive. That makes installation a little easier, and it’s great if you have an older home or older switches, as many homes don’t have the extra wire inside their existing boxes. Treatlife offers several inexpensive switch and dimmer options for single- and three-way configurations. However, in our tests it constantly asked us to connect to Bluetooth and had a handful of connection issues, and we found the app more confusing than it needed to be. But several Wirecutter editors use this Caséta in-wall dimmer and report that they haven’t experienced any range problems. The Etekcity Smart WiFi Light Switch is easy to operate, with scheduling, an Away Mode, support for Alexa and Google Assistant, and the option to turn off all indicator lights. That means it won’t get new or improved features or security fixes should any be needed. Yes; the app will work on a home network, even without an internet connection. Flip the switch to turn the light on or off and use the small sliding lever to adjust the brightness. Leviton 300-Watt Tabletop Dimmer, The 8 Best Light Bulbs for Bathrooms in 2021, How to Install an Electronic Dimmer Switch, 9 Reasons Why Light Bulbs Burn Out Too Quickly, How to Fix a Hot or Buzzing Dimmer Switch, How to Install a Single-Pole Dimmer Light Switch, Advantages and Disadvantages of Using CFLs. Except for two dimmers, each in-wall model we reviewed this round requires a neutral wire. Yes, some automation features require location, such as geofencing. If you opt for a multi-room option, you’ll need compatible dimmer switches in several rooms—and the electrical setup can be a little trickier—but you can set the mood in an instant or bring the lights to full brightness easily. This dimmer switch for LED bulbs does not require a neutral wire and can be used with both single-pole or 3-way switch locations. Sometimes I tap them on the top section after they are is the on position, and this works too. Most smart switches are an easy swap (although you should hire an electrician if you aren’t comfortable with turning off the power and poking around inside the wall). To test remote functionality and features, we used apps on an iPhone 7, an iPad, and a Nokia 3.1 running Android 9 Pie. Use the rocker dimmer to adjust lights manually. It requires the use of a Z-Wave smart-home hub and is compatible with many of the most popular hub models, including those from SmartThings, Ring, Wink, Vivint, Honeywell, and HomeSeer. It also features an opening for a rocker or decora switch. The Caséta switch also has a strip of LEDs along the side to indicate the brightness level. The iDevices Instinct doesn’t dim, feels a little cheap for the money, and doesn’t use the same app as other iDevices products. Take note that no neutral wire is required when installing this dimmer switch. The switch is compatible with both single-pole or 3-way installation options and features a rocker panel to turn the light on or off. Free ground shipping on orders over $49! review process here. You can do the same in Alexa or Google Assistant; using both, we frequently barked out orders to turn the switch on and change the dimming level, and the switch responded accordingly. Open the setting and drag your finger on the dimming strip to find the minimum level at which the bulbs will light up. My husband, a licensed electrician, installed each model. Lutron offers hundreds of choices in stand-alone dimmers and switches. Smart lighting is easy. Add to Wish List Add to ... MEW-DM620 3-Way / Single Pole Dimmer Light Switch 600W, Indicator Light, LED Compatible, Wall Plate Included, White . That means installing it may be a problem in homes with old electrical wiring (houses built before 2011 weren’t required to have a neutral wire for switches). Bad Rocker Switches that Need Replacing Electrical Question: I am renting a home built in 1987. Single vs. multi-room Many LED dimmer switches are only wired to control the lighting in a single room, but others are equipped to change the lighting in multiple rooms with the press of a button. Designed to work with incandescent, CFL, and LED lights, this dimmer switch utilizes a basic rocker plate and a small slider underneath that controls the brightness of your lighting fixture. It’s also the easiest to use of the Z-Wave models we tested. 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