In there a guide for Caseta setup and phone app control for low-votage lighting?

I am kind of lost right now. I am setting up 3 zones (with their own transformers) of low-voltage landscape lighting in the fornt and back of my home. I am trying to figure out what I need to set this up via Lutron Caseta to operate/dim each of these zones with my iPhone. In there a guide for Caseta setup and phone app control for low-voltage lighting? What exactly do I need to have hard-wired vs. connected via Wifi? Does the iPhone app use Wifi or Bluetooth? I'm hoping I won't actually need line-of-sight when all is done, similar to how my firepit antenna works with its iPhone app.

That should be "*Is* there a guide. I can't edit the thread title though.

Hi. I've got two transformers controlling two sets of landscape lights in my yard. I used a PD-5ANS switch to control the outlets that the transformers plug into. My Smartbridge is about 75 feet away inside my house. The transformers are outside my house attached to the garage. I had no issues getting the switches to communicate with the Smartbridge. Yes. I believe you are talking to the Smartbridge with wifi.What specifically is going wrong?

Here's how the Caseta system works: The Lutron dimmers communicate with the Lutron SmartBridge, which connects to your WiFi router via Ethernet. The SmartBridge and the dimmer communicate via Lutron's proprietary ClearConnect RF technology. The phone app connects to your system via WiFi, and also works remotely. The range of the devices is about 30 feet, but this is a conservative estimate.

All you need to get up and running is the necessary dimmer (PD-6CL, PD-10NXD or PD-5NE for in-wall dimming, or PD-3PCL for plug-in lamp dimming) and the Lutron SmartBridge (L-BDG2). You can also buy a Pico remote (many model numbers) to control lights wirelessly from another location. They are small (size of a light switch) and battery-powered, with a battery life of 10 years.

Hope this helps!

Thank you for the replies. I am not clear on how the suggested setup works with my existing transformer. Does it replace it? Or work in conjunction with it? https://i.imgur.com/F9DQhpE.jpg?1 I have 3 more zones to set up, so if I'm trying to figure out if I should return this transformer to my contractor, or buy 3 more and then add on the Caseta stuff after.

What you need is to connect that transformer to an outlet controlled by a Caseta switch. Lutron doesn’t make a transformer to replace a landscape lighting transformer.

I see, that is very helpful. Thanks! So now when I go to set up the next 3 or so transformers, do I need a separate Caseta switch for each one?

Also can these be hard-wired? Or do I need to plug into the 'Caseta Smart Home Plug-in Lamp Dimmer Switch'? That would work, but hard-wired would be cleaner setup.

Most landscape transformers use a 3-prong plug. The 3PCL is a 2-prong (no ground) device. Make sure your transformer has 2-prongs if you decide to use the 3PCL.

Most landscape transformers plug-in. You could cut the cord and wire it directly to a dimmer. You could make it a 2-gang with the dimmer controlling an adjacent receptacle. By code, you are not allowed to dim a receptacle unless you jump through a lot of hoops. There is also the risk of damage if someone plugs something else in. In either case, I would use a neutral based dimmer like the PD-10NXD.

Because of the issues Randy brought up and the fact most integrated LED landscape lights don’t dim well (at all) I would recommend using a switch like PD-6ANS instead of a dimmer.

Hmmm...so there's no good way to dim these lights? https://www.homedepot.com/p/Home-Dec...-LED/301227455 This was the lowest wattage they had and there's still too bright on my palms.

According to the link you provided, they are not dimmable. The only dimmable landscape lights I have heard if are the FXLuminaire Luxor line (big $$$).

If you are just looking to adjust the brightness if the fixture once, and infrequently adjust it on a per-fixture basis, look at Kichler VLO. It allows you to adjust the brightness of each landscape lighting head individually.

If you want to dim, prepare to spend a lot more money than the stuff you get from Home Depot. There are other durability/warranty benefits to going high-end but Kichler integrated LED heads with VLO are well over $100 each. I have no experience with FX but it definitely won’t be cheaper. They are known to be the highest end, best landscape lighting system in the business.

It sounds expensive because it is.

Sorry this probably wasn’t the answer you were looking for, but I hope this helps.

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Originally Posted by evankirkhart

According to the link you provided, they are not dimmable. The only dimmable landscape lights I have heard if are the FXLuminaire Luxor line (big $$$). If you are just looking to adjust the brightness if the fixture once, and infrequently adjust it on a per-fixture basis, look at Kichler VLO. It allows you to adjust the brightness of each landscape lighting head individually. If you want to dim, prepare to spend a lot more money than the stuff you get from Home Depot. There are other durability/warranty benefits to going high-end but Kichler integrated LED heads with VLO are well over $100 each. I have no experience with FX but it definitely won’t be cheaper. They are known to be the highest end, best landscape lighting system in the business. It sounds expensive because it is. Sorry this probably wasn’t the answer you were looking for, but I hope this helps.

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Thank you for this info. I wouldn't need to adjust frequently - I was just looking for a way to set a dim level once and leave it. I am a bit surprised that there's no way to use a dimmer between the transformer and these bulbs, but I guess that's what I get for purchasing these bulbs prior to researching. I suppose I can still set them up with the Caseta, but for dimming my only option now looks to be tinted film over the bulb glass itself...

You also need to verify if you can bypass/disable the automatic features of that transformer. The photocell and the timeclock would be between the switch and the transformer so the switch would never see the load. There might be an issue with the clock being powered off by a switch. If you turn the system off at midnight, then on again at 6pm, the clock might still think it is midnight. Not an issue if you can bypass the clock though.

Well this transformer is only for 1 of about 4 zones I have to setup. Still need to buy 3 more. Is there a recommended transformer to use with the Caseta setup?

The transformer is the issue. It's NOT dimmable. I would recommend http://www.semperfipowersupply.com