[dgacmu]

Strongly concur. We're remodeling right now, and I just had a conversation with my electrician about this. I purchased eight z-wave dimmers and four slave switches for the house, and he raved to me about how easily the install had gone. He says he normally has to spend about $300 on a high-end Lutron model to get the equivalent functionality. I think I've got a convert here. :)

Smart switches have been a godsend when dealing with an old house with old wiring. We had no lights in our living room -- but there were two small ones controlled by a switch on the second floor. Two bookshelf lights, one smart outlet plug, and a smart switch for the second floor + one controller == turn on the living room lights from the entryway, as FSM intended, without running any new wiring.

I've been a little grumpy about trying to be clever with the smartthings hub, but turning all the lights off at bedtime works, and I won't complain much.

[jondiggsit]

These are good alternatives until you are building a large house, where you have, say 300 switch legs, 90 dimmers, 75 keypads, etc. You start to realize Lutron is your friend.

[dgacmu]

I'd believe it. Do you have pointers to anything more with experience about this? What falls down?

(That said, I don't see needing to go there. My house has, from a quick mental count, about 52 total switches. I'm probably missing a few, but that's the right ballpark. A 300 switch house sounds like a monster.)

[jondiggsit]

Lutron RA2 systems are very reliable. I centrally (home-run) wire all of the switches for future upgradeability, but I have very little issue with their systems. They can run wirelessly, but if its new construction, must also wire.

Unless the application is a Star Wars level system, I recommend RA2, otherwise Lutron Homeworks can be your best friend.