Lutron Caseta Dimmer Installation for a Beginner

In this video, I replace an old triac dimmer with a modern Lutron Caseta dimmer, for LED and CFL bulbs. I also walk through pairing my Lutron Caseta dimmer with my Wink Hub for home automation. This allows me to control the dimmer from my iphone.
I talk a lot about DIY electrical wiring and my personal preferences. I'm not an electrician. This video is provided for informational purposes ONLY. Follow this advice at your own risk! If you burn your house down, electrocute yourself, or somehow get teleported into a dimension dominated solely by pink fluffy bunnies, you agree to hold Jesse and CreateThis harmless by watching this video.
If you don't feel comfortable with electrical wiring, please don't try this at home. Hire an electrician.
If you're interested in purchasing a Lutron Caseta dimmer or any of the other parts or tools in the video, please use the link below. If you buy using the link below I get a small commission, but it doesn't cost you a dime! Using the link below to make your purchase helps me continue to make great content for this channel.
Lutron Caseta Dimmer: [amazon affiliate] amzn.to/1KKywYC
Circuit Tester: [amazon affiliate] amzn.to/1O7snaz
Wink Hub: [amazon affiliate] amzn.to/1PN2E4q
158 piece wire nut assortment: [amazon affiliate] amzn.to/1JC74Ge
2 Gang Old Work Box: [amazon affiliate] amzn.to/1PN3ePN
Single Gang Old Work Box: [amazon affiliate] amzn.to/1PN3hLt
Leviton Decora Wallplate: [amazon affiliate] amzn.to/1O7tvL3
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[@richardfcps61]

Watched this and 5 others. First time Ive done anything electrical related. Thank you for posting.

[@createthisdotcom]

That’s why I made it. I was in your shoes once. Hope it was helpful.

[@KevinPerezTheElectrician]

I recommend the screwless wall plate looks a whole lot better

[@shane5400]

Thank you for this video, electricity scares the sh*t outta me!. I changed 2 dimmer switches after one arced in the button and wouldnt turn off. Got it done no problem, thank God for youtube :) Is it just me or did i just stumble upon something that actually has gotten bigger despite technology. The new dimmer switches were huge in the back!

[@patriciaterranova1074]

NICE, up until you unscrewed the screws to make the switch flush. I would have added a shim, since pressing on the switch would probably loosen the switch from the wall and plate. I would have liked more explanation on how this new switch works.

[@phungki7150]

always twist wires prior to installing the wire nut. electrical tape isn't necessary if the wire nut is properly installed.

[@phungki7150]

Most definitely going to disagree with that. I know a few certified electricians, all of which I have worked on jobs with. Each and everyone has twisted the wires before putting the nuts on.

[@okaythen001]

for single pole wiring, does it matter which wire (from the wall) goes to which wire in the switch (other than ground wire of course)

[@somesinger1575]

Dealing with a lot of electricians, they all seem to do things differently and I could certainly say just because they all do it the same way, it may not be the correct way :) But it certainly may work.

[@distortedfocus7698]

you dont need to twist them If You're dealing with a larger wire gauge twisting is very difficult anyway.

[@js4653]

The ground wire is required on all these electronic controls. It isn't just for "safety". The ground wire is used to complete the circuit for power for the device. While you really aren't supposed to use the grounding wire as part of a circuit, all of these new generation controls (dimmers, motion switches, timers) that don't use the neutral wire get their power for the internal micro computer from the hot leg and ground. If you neglect to connect the ground wire, the device won't work.

[@everythinghomerepair1747]

That is true!

[@doogiemd9911]

The ground (green) wire is connected to the chassis on the switch. It is used as a place to divert a surge or short-circuit. It is *not* used as a source of voltage drop to power the microcontroller. Dimmers whose circuitry do require that always have a neutral in addition to the ground. The 2-wire Lutron dimmers actually draw their power just from the hot and switched-hot leads (this is why for some LEDs, the tiny amount of leakage current is enough to keep the LED on even when switched off). The ground really is just a ground in this case.

[@markstratmann9516]

Not in this or any other case actually...currently homes require AFCI breakers...anything using a ground wire as the neutral will trip them because there isn't supposed to be anything actually using a ground for neutral.

[@thomasarsisto5121]

questions please: I have a black and white on the wall outlet, the dimmer switch has black, white and green (ground) where do I connect the green.

[@roadogre]

Electricity is not a hobby!

[@pedrotenn2007]

I watched this and I did it!! Thanks for doing this video.

[@createthisdotcom]

You're welcome!

[@rosepicciariello8236]

createthis Thank for the best for supper and the new year

[@Killmonize]

I put this switch in. And now the lights flicker once in awhile .I have dimmerable leds.

[@barbararastelli968]

My old wires are like yours that are in the wall (2 solid black wires) BUT the new dimmer has two red wires, one black wire and one green wire. Can i use the new dimmer and how do i know which wire goes where. Thanks to anyone who can help.

[@okaythen001]

The 4 black wires, does it not matter which one goes to which?

[@doogiemd9911]

Neat video! As a tip, you can set the low-end dim level on the dimmers to ensure that the lowest dim setting (called low-end trim) still turns the lights on for any dimmable LED you buy. This is detailed in the manual here: www.lutron.com/TechnicalDocumentLibrary/0301710a_Caseta%20Advanced%20Instructions.pdf (I have done it myself for every LED fixture I have controlled by a Lutron dimmer). You can also try that if an LED does not dim as low as you want it to out of the box, although LEDs tend not to dim nearly as low as incandescent bulbs.

[@geosch9956]

The two black wires from the box and switch, does it matter which way it’s connected?

[@williambower3319]

According to instructions it doesn’t matter.

[@dadogntown]

no common wire?

[@TheChavez1976]

Commons don’t get hooked up to switches. Just a switch leg and a hot power wire. Neutrals are always hooked up to the fixture or what ever your powering up. Commons may not be in the box he’s working on but they may be inside the electrical box in the ceiling that the fixture is attached to. If they’re there in the ceiling, than they don’t meet to be near the switch.

[@keithmcphail1152]

2 hots? that dimmer switch came without a White wire for electric IN?

[@easydiyhomeimprovements4942]

Even standard switches only require two hots, it’s power in and power out, both the neutrals from power in, (the power coming from the nearest j-box/circuit) and power out (the wire going to the light) are tied together inside the box and push to the back and one hot from both are tied to either of the black wires from the switch. Creating power in and out.

[@HeyItsAsmus]

I'm assuming you can use this with homekit without the smart bridge? is it possible to just sync this to the app and then use homekit to control it or is some kind of hub required?

[@createthisdotcom]

+HeyItsAsmus sorry, I'm not sure what HomeKit is.

[@doogiemd9911]

No, you can't. Apple's HomeKit talks directly to the SmartBridge when sending commands to the dimmers. If you want to do more than program a Pico remote control to a single dimmer, you will need either the SmartBridge or Wink Hub. And if you want HomeKit, you will need the SmartBridge Pro, specifically.

[@dlg1776]

How deep is that double gang box?

[@sobanosilva8585]

I have 4 wires in my box - two black, one vare and one red. When the power is on, only ONE black wire shows current. the other black wire has no current and the red wire has no current. So...... what;s up with that?

[@createthisdotcom]

Hard to say without knowing what was in the socket previously. Could be the other black is intended to be energized by the switch. Turn off all the breakers, unplug the bulbs and use a wire tester to find continuity and see where it goes.

[@CesarLopezBestNetworksInc]

ground is not the same as neutral... is it? Do I have it wrong. White cables here are neutral, right? You connected the ground to neutral ... did it burned?

[@createthisdotcom]

Ground is the uncoated wire. I connected green to the ground at 6:03. I had to skip around a bit to see it, but I think the neutral (white) wires were connected to themselves using a red wire nut. I didn't change that. You can just see it at 4:27. It did not burn anything down. I'm sitting in the room this was filmed in as I write this and looking across the table at the very dimmer I installed in this video. It's been working fine for about two and a half years now.

[@bhaggen]

They tighten clockwise?.....Wow, what'll they think of next?

[@trinhk]

What if you don't have a ground wire?

[@mueblesdiarte219]

Hi! do you need Lutron L-BDG2-WH Caseta Wireless Smart Bridge? Or you connected directly to the Wink hub? I really looking fordward to buying it. What do you recomend me. I all ready have de Wink Hub. Thank!

[@createthisdotcom]

+Muebles Diarte It connects without the bridge.

[@adelm2877]

Thank you

[@MarcChauhan]

I’ve installed two of these and when they’re powered on there’s a light humming sound. Any reason why?

[@createthisdotcom]

+Marc Chauhan from the bulb or the dimmer? Led bulbs tend to hum or buzz. Some bulbs less than others. I buy special low hum bulbs when they are close enough that I can hear them buzz. I've never noticed the dimmer itself buzz and I have four of them.

[@MarcChauhan]

createthis it seems to be from the dimmer area. I’ll pay attention and see. I don’t have led bulbs in the sockets yet

[@createthisdotcom]

+Marc Chauhan I only use mine with LED bulbs. Maybe that has something to do with it. 1-2" away from the dimmer I can't hear anything. If I place my ear closer than 1" I can hear buzzing. Definitely not loud enough to notice during normal usage.

[@robp2728]

Electricians do not tape connections. If anything, the tape holds the heat in.

[@Dantheman7533]

your ground wire is a non conductor electricity. don't worry by touching it you won't get shocked.

[@TarekFaham]

Strange, no neutral wire?

[@cryptomadic8083]

Vinyl tape doesn't insulate, don't waste your time thinking you're applying it for safety. Knowing this will guide you to use "electrical" tape effectively. Learn to properly use a lineman's pliers and wire stripper when connecting wires. Don't rely on tape

[@KevinPerezTheElectrician]

Where's that nut going to go?

[@beemer9108]

So I take it you've been shocked before...?

[@createthisdotcom]

I've had a few jolts here and there. I used to wire up small transformers to batteries when I was a kid and shock my friends. Not the smartest thing I've ever done. I've never been shocked while working on household AC wiring though. Why do you ask?

[@beemer9108]

+createthis Most electricians I know that are as cautious as you have been shocked before and that's why they're overly cautious, but thats not necessarily a bad thing.

[@eliazardelossantos118]

You should of showed the lights dimmed 😐😐😐

[@wisamyaldo9769]

Spirit Halloween spirit Ninja

[@ransomseabaugh7788]

I hate when people make a 20 minute video on a 5 minute job