3 way Dimmer switch?

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3 way Dimmer switch?

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Re:3 way Dimmer switch?
2021-12-01 17:44:43

@Carl I recently installed the KS230 kit, and have the problem described as "Both main and satellite units physical buttons will not work.  WiFi LED is solid amber and the unit cannot be reset." If I press/hold reset, nothing happens. If i press restart, the light physically turns off, but when I release the button it turns back on. Oddly, my switch was working fine, but then entered this scenario today when the light was turned on...and couldn't be turned off.

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#600
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Re:3 way Dimmer switch?
2021-12-02 00:17:32

@idamaster 

 

This is one of the concerns they are working on.  I'll forward your email address to the engineering team for a followup. 

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#601
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Re:3 way Dimmer switch?
2021-12-02 23:43:28

 

DEcosse wrote

 I just purchased what I thought was a 2-pack of the KITS on Amazon - that had sure better be a pack of TWO complete kits when they show up today. 

I was a Beta Tester and actually very happy with the product once they fixed the initial issues; but there is NO WAY I would pay $50 for ONE switch (kit/set). 

If it's ONE kit only, it will be going back along with some scathing feedback. 

 

I could do an HS200 and an HS220 for $28 (for both together!) and link them through Smart Control to do the exact same thing. 

 

Update - it arrived today and is indeed a SINGLE Kit 

I would not go so far as to say that is deliberately deceptive, but the Amazon listing should definitely be addressed - it very much reads that this is a 2-pack and as @connu points out, it clearly stated $25 per item, which reinforces the perception that it is indeed two kits. 

It's going back 

I reported this to the Beta Team (not perhaps their exact remit but I had another question for them so mentioned in the same e-mail) 

They agreed and will remove the '2-pack' reference in the Amazon Listing 

Now ........... if they could only do something about the price! 

Honestly, I think it's a really good kit - but at $50 it's a non-starter

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#602
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Re:3 way Dimmer switch?
2021-12-03 01:47:36

Hi @DEcosse,

 

I agree that $50 is a bit much unless you really want to be able to dim on either end of the circuit.  $50 wasn't a non-starter for me, but I would prefer a $25 price tag or less on a smart dimmer that works with a mechanical switch on the other end and forgoes the satellite dimmer... especially since the satellite doesn't work very well and required that other features be eliminated in recent firmware just to get the kit working at all.

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#603
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Re:3 way Dimmer switch?
2021-12-03 03:46:00

@Connu I think $25 (or $50 for 2) is a very good price for a BF/CM sale (which is what I thought I was buying at); but $25 as a regular price is probably under-valued  - in fairness, I would probably pay $35 for a kit and think that's where they need to be.  

I honestly rarely ever use the physical switches and especially the physical dimmer control (whether single pole or 3-way) - I virtually always use verbal commands and maybe occasionally the convenience to turn on or off only if I'm walking directly past it. 
Take my stair light application - I have it come on at sunset via smart control at 20% (that is a 'routine' in Alexa, rather than Kasa App) - 20% is good for a nice subdued light and to leave on in the evening at that level; I only increase it to 100% if I'm actually doing something that requires full illumination in that area;and if I did require that I would use a verbal command to adjust it. Then when going to bed, the upper level (main) switch is right by the bedroom door, so I either turn them off as I walk directly by it, or let the 'off' automated timer take care of it. My remote switch is at the bottom of the stair and other than testing, I have not used the Physical on/off OR the Dimmer buttons. (I have checked it periodically when I see reports from others, but they do work as advertised in my case, even I don't utilize them regularly) 

I think I talked myself out of getting any more - an HS200 and HS220 together will give me that exact same functionality. I just described (and IS collectively ~ $25) 

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#604
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Re:3 way Dimmer switch?
2021-12-03 13:18:45 - last edited 2021-12-03 13:24:27

@DEcosse 

 

I agree 100%.  We almost never touch the switches so leaving the old mechanical switches in the circuit is fine for us.  We have inside lights come on at 40% an hour before sunset and outside lights at sunset.  Alexa routines turn them off at different times between 11 and 1.  The only time we touch a switch is to very quickly turn the lights to full bright and back, especially when Alexa is playing music over our home sound system.  That's why losing the double-click feature in the KS230 was a bit of a bummer. The only other issue is the extremely bright nightlight on the remote that can't be turned off and doesn't work as an indicator light like other Kasa switches.  That's not a big deal inside where you can see the lights you're controlling, but it's not great with outside lights you can't see from the switch.

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#605
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Re:3 way Dimmer switch?
2021-12-03 17:06:59 - last edited 2021-12-06 18:50:47

@DEcosse

 

By the way, I wasn't suggesting the kit was overpriced or that it should be sold for as little as $25.  I don't like the idea of a "kit" at all.  I think it's a bad design and could have been implemented as a single 3-way switch that could be used alone, with a mechanical switch, or with an identical smart switch (not a requited "dumb" satellite) on both ends.  This is how Amazon's new Basics 3-way smart dimmer switches work and they were less than $19 each.  Even if you installed two of them you'd still come in $12 less than the KS230 kit and have full smart dimmers on both ends.  Lutron goes a step further and allows up to 10 much less expensive remote switches in 3-way and 4-way circuits.  Of course, the Amazon switch doesn't have as many features (no double-click and doesn't work with Google Home or Apple); and the Lutron remote switches are proprietary and cost more than the Kasa or Amazon switches.  I really like TP-Link's products, but I hope the v2 3-way dimmer hardware will be installable like below.  Maybe the engineers could toss in 4-way support while they're at it like the Lutron dimmers.

 

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#606
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Re:3 way Dimmer switch?
2021-12-04 14:51:50

I personally don't think $40-50 for a kit is a bad price at all.  I was previously using the Leviton smart dimmers and they are $50 MSRP for ONE single dimmer.  You then add on their universal slave paddle for another $25.  I wouldn't want to use a regular 3-way switch at one end and a smart dimmer at the other.  Then you are stuck with whatever dim level you set on the main switch when you toggle the dumb switch.  Doesn't make sense to me.  These TPLink devices are substantially less expensive than most and I feel they are much more attractive than the Amazon house brand.  Plus, I can use them with Hubitat.  

 

I'll also say that I just finally installed my KS230Kit.  It was all goofy on initial install but after the firmware update, I've had no problems.  I can see that the remote switch light is always on, unless being triggered.  It's not a huge deal for me in my situation though.  

 

It works for now but what I would like to see is a 3-way dimmer sold single or in a pack and the additional slave paddles sold separately.  Then we also need 4-way capability to expand to multiple locations.  This is preventing me from upgrading several of my Z-Wave devices. 

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#607
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Re:3 way Dimmer switch?
2021-12-05 15:42:30 - last edited 2021-12-05 15:44:30

Hi @AMDPower,

 

All @DEcosse and I were saying is that we almost never touch a switch.   Having to replace both switches in a 3-way circuit as required with the KS230 kit is more time consuming and expensive than it needs to be for our needs.  I very seldom touch either switch, but occasionally it's nice to be able to turn the lights off or back on to the preset dimmer level without having to talk to Alexa (like at night while my wife is sleeping).  I have NEVER had the need to set the dim level from the remote.  We generally find a level we like and have the lights come on and off automatically through Alexa routines.  I lament the fact that we have so many 3-way circuits, and especially 4-way circuits with switches cluttering the walls everywhere.  I don't even think future homes will necessarily need physical switches at all.  All outlets, devices, and bulbs will simply be smart, but Alexa and Siri have a long way to go before then.

 

However, I agree that most stand-alone smart dimmers, with the exception of the new Amazon Basics smart dimmer (which isn't that smart and feels cheap), are $50 or more anyway.  It's kind of embarrassing looking back now, but I installed Lutron RA2 smart switches in my previous home, and they cost nearly $200 a piece in a few cases!  They're still the very best on the market in my opinion, but very hard to justify purchasing versus the Kasa offerings.  That's why I spend so much time in this forum and have become a TP-Link beta tester.  I hope that someday the Kasa line will be anywhere as sophisticated and powerful as the MUCH MORE expensive Lutron Radio Ra 2 line.

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#608
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Re:3 way Dimmer switch?
2021-12-06 01:45:54

@Carl 

 

Hi Carl, 

 

I just tried to install my 230kit switch today and i am experiencing the following you indicated.

 

Both main and satellite units physical buttons will not work.  WiFi LED is solid amber and the unit cannot be reset.

 

Please advise on what I should do! 

 

Thanks,

 

Michael

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#609
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