Lutron’s Caséta family is our favorite smart in-wall lighting control, and today the company announced a specialized dimmer designed for low-voltage applications such as undercabinet, track, accent, and tape lighting.
This new model is based on Lutron’s Diva design aesthetic, which means it has a paddle-style on/off switch with a slider on the right-hand side for dimming.
This news story is part of TechHive’s in-depth coverage of the best smart dimmers and switches.
The “plus” at the end of the Diva Smart Dimmer ELV+’s brand name indicates it can control electronic low-voltage (ELV), magnetic low-voltage (MLV), halogen, LED, incandescent, and other types lighting loads.
Dimmers work by reducing the voltage to the bulb(s) they control, changing the shape of the 60Hz sine wave of alternating current (AC), chopping off either the wave’s leading edge (aka forward phase) or trailing edge (aka reverse phase). The more of the sine wave that is chopped, the less voltage that is sent to the bulb and the dimmer the bulb will glow.
Lutron’s Pico Paddle Remote Controls can be operated handheld, on a tabletop pedastal, or mounted to a wall inside a wall plate. They deliver the convenience of 3-way control without needing any new wiring.
Lutron
Dimming ELV lighting requires reverse-phase dimming, while MLV lighting depends on forward phase dimming, so the new switch is phase-selectable, meaning the installer can program the switch accordingly using either the Lutron app or at the device itself.
While the Diva Smart Dimmer ELV+ is principally designed for custom installers and will be sold at brick-and-mortar resellers that cater to the trades, it will also be available to for consumers to purchase online ($129.95) at Home Depot and Lowe’s.
In addition to its new in-wall product, Lutron also announced that its Pico Paddle Remote controls will be available in five new colors, in addition to white: black, brown, light almond, gray, and ivory.
The Pico Paddle Remote can be used as a second switch to control the same load as the dimmer while held in the hand, on a tabletop pedestal, or mounted to the wall inside a wall plate without the need to pull wire to that location.
The remote comes with a 10-year battery and doesn’t require Wi-Fi or a hub, although adding Lutron’s Caséta Smart Bridge adds a host of benefits for more sophisticated smart homes.
The Lutron Diva Smart Dimmer ELV+ is available now for $129.95, as are the five new versions of the Pico Paddle Remote ($39.95 each).
Author: Michael Brown, Executive Editor, TechHive
Michael is TechHive's lead editor, with 30+ years of experience covering smart homes, home networking, and home audio/home theater. He holds a BA in Multimedia Journalism, authored the book Desktop Video Production, and was awarded Best Online Review by the Computer Press Association. Michael built a smart home in 2007 and used it as a real-world product-testing lab. Now living in the Pacific Northwest, he is converting his 1890 Victorian bungalow into a modern smart home. Michael has worked at CNET, PCWorld, Electronic Musician, and Maximum PC. As a freelancer, he contributed to New Media, Camcorder, MacWeek, and more.