Cross posted from The Nerdery

Anyone have experience with Insteon light switches? I've read varying reviews, primarily docking them on reliability and units dying after some time.

They have been around longer than many of the recent entrants into the smart switch/home market, but still seem to be one of the few which offers multi-scene controller switches, like the one below. This is important to me, because we don't have Echo's in our home.

Any experience would be appreciated.

Insteon Smart Dimmer 8-Button Keypad, KeypadLinc In-Wall Controller, 2334-222 (White) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00DMBJAOG/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_iZScEb8EBF7DE

Does this lock you into only Insteon products going forward?

Not entirely sure what you're going for, but if you get a SmartThings hub, you can create scenes that you can then direct from your phone (via the app). Our home is "smart", but we don't use Alexa, Siri, Google Home, or any of the other voice-activated controllers. I have a few simple routines that auto-run to control a few smart switches. From playing with the app, it appears that as long as an item is compatible, you can incorporate it into your scenes/routines.

Main thing I'm going for are physical switches/buttons to control multiple scenes as opposed to having to use a phone or Echo.

Gotcha. Sorry, I'm no help then.

We just finished a new build. Also wanted to control mutliple scenes, but hated the view of the multi button pad like the one you posted. We wanted traditional looking light switches.

Solution?

We went with Leviton smart switches, then use a smart device (Alexa, Siri, etc) to create smart routines.

Ex: Alexa - Goodnight.

The goodnight routine turns off the majority of the inside of the house, turns front porch light on, turns on exterior garage lights, turns kitchen pendants on 25%, etc.

IMO, thats a better way to go than a multi button pad.

Yeah, we just don't like Alexa listening to us all of the time. Tinfoil hats, I know.

A friend indicated Leviton is coming out with a 4 scene switch at some point:

https://www.leviton.com/en/products/brands/decora-smart/leviton-ces-2019

Home Assistant or SmartThings are options that may end up costing less in the long run. More customization available and you can keep local control if you want (i.e. nothing communicating outside the local network). It's probably more work, though.

Might look at Hubitat as well. I ditched Smart Things last year after all of the service outages. Local processing for everything is fantastic. Your "smart" home still works when your internet is down

bco2003 said:

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Yeah, we just don't like Alexa listening to us all of the time. Tinfoil hats, I know.

A friend indicated Leviton is coming out with a 4 scene switch at some point:

https://www.leviton.com/en/products/brands/decora-smart/leviton-ces-2019

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Yeah, my in laws are like this.

Yet they have iPhones. Soooo. I don't get it.

I've got them all over the place with an ISY994 hub for controlling and creating scenes and other functions such as sending me a text when my garage is left open

I've had 3 die in almost 9 years but smarthome is actually pretty good about replacements..

Also use the MobiLinc app to control everything remotely

It requires some tech knowledge to get things set up the way you want it but once done it is an extremely flexible system that allows for tons of different programming scenarios I'f you are using the ISY

Www.smarthome.com usually has some bundle deals

Thanks for the feedback!