stangconv
Well-known member
I want to put the Lutron Caseta 3 way smart switch into my garage where I can turn on and off the lights from both sides of my garage. Do I need to switch both switches out or can just one be the smart switch?
3 way swtiches changing to smart switch
- Thread starter stangconv
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Jazzman442
Well-known member
Maybe I'm misunderstanding you. I thought that you have two switches now, both controlling the same lights, which would make them 3-way switches.
If that's correct, then you can change just one of them to the Caseta and the other can stay in place and it will work normally.
Do you intend to run the lights via the Caseta app?
CD
Shiftless
Well-known member
Maybe I’m just another old guy yelling at clouds, but if you already have 2 switches to control the lights in the garage, why do you need to change switches so you can control lights from either side of the garage?
Click it’s on. Click it’s off. What’s the problem?
Do you NEED to control it from your phone? Do you want to automate the on off cycles to simulate being in there working?
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I guess it would be cool to walk into your garage and give a shout out to Siri saying turn on garage lights. Maybe I’m missing something. Sorry.
BTW, Here’s my set up for turning on the garage lights or opening the garage door.
All the cables on the left of the EMT go to automated irrigation. So I’m not a complete Luddite.
Click it’s on. Click it’s off. What’s the problem?
Do you NEED to control it from your phone? Do you want to automate the on off cycles to simulate being in there working?
:I guess it would be cool to walk into your garage and give a shout out to Siri saying turn on garage lights. Maybe I’m missing something. Sorry.
BTW, Here’s my set up for turning on the garage lights or opening the garage door.
All the cables on the left of the EMT go to automated irrigation. So I’m not a complete Luddite.
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OK. Sorry, then... you dont need the Pico (obviously). But they're not very expensive and will work when the wifi is down. Handy to have around.
CD
Maybe I’m just another old guy yelling at clouds, but if you already have 2 switches to control the lights in the garage, why do you need to change switches so you can control lights from either side of the garage?
Click it’s on. Click it’s off. What’s the problem?
Do you NEED to control it from your phone? Do you want to automate the on off cycles to simulate being in there working?
I guess it would be cool to walk into your garage and give a shout out to Siri saying turn on garage lights. Maybe I’m missing something. Sorry.
BTW, Here’s my set up for turning on the garage lights or opening the garage door.
All the cables on the left of the EMT go to automated irrigation. So I’m not a complete Luddite.
I am building my garage right now. So I am at the stage where I am deciding what to do, Right now I do have 3 way switches in the spots. But I do want it to be automated a bit. I like being able to watch my security cameras from my phone, as well as being able to shut off my wifes hair straightner when she leaves it on. My garage doors will let my phone know if they are open or closed. Lights would be nice too. I am not a fan of the Caseta styling so want to keep the "normal " rocker in the main spot, but it will be nice to be able to make sure everything is shut down properly.
And heck yes it will be cool to tell Siri "Power up the Garage"
terabitdan
Well-known member
- Joined
- Jul 16, 2016
- Messages
- 152
The Lurton work very well, but if you’re thinking of going into home automation than I would look at zwave or zigbee compatible switch’s.
GE/Jasco switches work with all zwave controllers, look and act as regular 3 way but can also be controlled through a number of zwave controllers. You would need a main switch and an auxiliary or remote switch.
It does require a neutral wire, and is wired slightly differently than a standard 3 way. Read the instructions and you’ll be fine.
Zwave and Zigbee are the two dominant wireless home automation protocols, just do an amazon search for either and you’ll see what I mean.
To connect the Caseta to a standard home automation system requires a Lutron bridge, I think it’s about $79, for $99 you can buy the Samsung SmartThings controller that works with both zwave and zigbee and works with most of the available devices. Others are similarly priced.
Sent from my iPhone using The Garage Journal mobile app
GE/Jasco switches work with all zwave controllers, look and act as regular 3 way but can also be controlled through a number of zwave controllers. You would need a main switch and an auxiliary or remote switch.
It does require a neutral wire, and is wired slightly differently than a standard 3 way. Read the instructions and you’ll be fine.
Zwave and Zigbee are the two dominant wireless home automation protocols, just do an amazon search for either and you’ll see what I mean.
To connect the Caseta to a standard home automation system requires a Lutron bridge, I think it’s about $79, for $99 you can buy the Samsung SmartThings controller that works with both zwave and zigbee and works with most of the available devices. Others are similarly priced.
Sent from my iPhone using The Garage Journal mobile app
Zwave or Zigbee allows everything to be controlled by a hub, which means everything runs from one app, and they all talk to each other.
I heard Apple was going out of business.
If you buy into any system by one company then you have to be consider if they have everything you will ever need. For a simple system, they might. But there's so much connectable and IoT stuff available that you may, at some point, decide that you want to add to your system. Will you be able to?
CD
Platonic Solid
Well-known member
Please tell me all this high tech gadgetry isn’t being used to control $20 Cosco shop lights.
I'll take quality lighting over snazzy switches any day.
I'll take quality lighting over snazzy switches any day.
ard
Well-known member
I heard Apple was going out of business.
If you buy into any system by one company then you have to be consider if they have everything you will ever need. For a simple system, they might. But there's so much connectable and IoT stuff available that you may, at some point, decide that you want to add to your system. Will you be able to?
CD
That's why I went with X10......
^ YES
I'm in the crowd of, "click" lights go on, "click" lights go off. It's simple cheap and works, Period.
terabitdan
Well-known member
- Joined
- Jul 16, 2016
- Messages
- 152
That’s the beauty of the GE/Jasco switches, regular light switches that do not need a controller to operate them. But if you want/need to turn on a light remotely you can. They are more expensive than standard 3 way, but about the same as the Caseta switches the OP was originally looking for.
The SmartThings app will run on your iPhone, and can be controlled by Alexa and Google. Not sure about Siri.
I use those switches for our garage, 4 upstairs and 4 down, outside lights automatically come on at sunset and off at sunrise. Entry door light comes on when you open the door. It works really well.
Sent from my iPhone using The Garage Journal mobile app
The SmartThings app will run on your iPhone, and can be controlled by Alexa and Google. Not sure about Siri.
I use those switches for our garage, 4 upstairs and 4 down, outside lights automatically come on at sunset and off at sunrise. Entry door light comes on when you open the door. It works really well.
Sent from my iPhone using The Garage Journal mobile app
Shiftless
Well-known member
^ YES
I'm in the crowd of, "click" lights go on, "click" lights go off. It's simple cheap and works, Period.
to that!I have one switch remaining that is original to the house which turns 70 y.o. this year. Sure, it isn’t clicked very often but it stands as testimony to Bert’s comment above. I wonder what common SPST switches retailed for in 1949?
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another thought...
Why not automate the garage door opener so you can say “Siri...open the pod bay doors” ?
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I have one switch remaining that is original to the house which turns 70 y.o. this year. Sure, it isn’t clicked very often but it stands as testimony to Bert’s comment above. I wonder what common SPST switches retailed for in 1949?
.
.
.
another thought...
Why not automate the garage door opener so you can say “Siri...open the pod bay doors” ?
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I think my garage doors will do that.
Not sure what fixtures I should have that will allow me to turn them off if I forget and I’m in town?