HomeKit Philip Hues / Options on replacing 6 can lights

[GIZBUG]

Brand new, new construction house. Have a bonus room upstairs with 4 can lights. The light switch is either On or Off. Would like to be able to dim the lights in the room.

What are my options when it comes to Home Kit / Control with my IOS devices?

I am wondering if instead of spending $30/can to replace with the Philip Hues bulbs / recessed light, if I could buy a Dimmer ( https://www2.meethue.com/en-us/p/hue-dimmer-switch/046677458140 ) and use that to control / dim the lights with my IOS Home App.

Would it need to be hard wired in place of the old light switch? Or would no install be required? I currently have a Philip Hue Bridge running about 8 bulbs in my house.

 

[dotme]

Hue dimmer switches won't control regular dimmable LEDs. They're built to work with Hue bulbs/hub etc. A Lutron Caseta switch might be the answer, although cost-wise I'm not sure there's much in it - especially if you already have hue running for other rooms in the house. At that point, hue bulbs in those cans may be the way to go.

 

[bbednarz]

It all just depends on what you want to spend. I think the Lutron switches are roughly $50 which like the poster mentioned above would allow you the functionality you are looking for. If you want to stay in the Hue eco system you could get the bulbs/dimmer switch and just close off that switch and place the dimmer switch over the hole in the wall where the switch was. Both things can be controlled in the Home App so really it just depends on which route you choose to go. If you don't care about color changing then the Lutron is probably much more cost effective in both the short and long term.

 

[Q-Dog]

The Lutron Caseta will do what you want, provided the bulbs in your can lights are dimmable. Lutron has a couple of starter kits with either one or two dimmer switches, one or two remotes and a bridge to make it all work with your wifi network. The Caseta switches do not need any special wiring and are as easy to install as any normal dimmer switch. They can also work with a 3-way wiring setup (2 switches that control one light).

 

[AJS-Mac]

As you have a new construction home, I would definitely recommend using Leviton HomeKit switches and dimmers. I have more than 10 installed controlling around 25 can lights (mixture of halogen and LED), and 6 setup in a 3-way configuration. I also have more than 30 Hue bulbs but cannot justify the cost of replacing can lights with Hue bulbs. Instead I use 1 Leviton dimmer ($50) instead of 6 Hue bulbs ($$$) for each room.

Initially, I started to use Lutron Caseta switches, but their 3-way setup (using a remote for the second switch) did not work well for me. It was during the install of the Caseta switches that I discovered my entire house is cabled with neutral wires in every outlet (15 year old house). I switched to using Leviton switches and they have been rock solid.

 

[GIZBUG]

Ill looking those switches, thanks!

 

[GIZBUG]

The Lutron Caseta will do what you want, provided the bulbs in your can lights are dimmable. Lutron has a couple of starter kits with either one or two dimmer switches, one or two remotes and a bridge to make it all work with your wifi network. The Caseta switches do not need any special wiring and are as easy to install as any normal dimmer switch. They can also work with a 3-way wiring setup (2 switches that control one light).

Not sure if the bulbs are dimmable or not in the cans. I guess I buy the switch, and Ill find out?
It looks like I would also need to purchase the Caseta Smart Bridge for it to work with HomeKit?