That’s a good point about e-waste—never really thought about it like that, but it makes sense. I’ve swapped out a few bulbs over the years and always felt a little guilty tossing the “smart” ones that stopped playing nice. Have you noticed any issues with smart switches and older wiring, though? I ran into some headaches in my last place with neutral wires. Also, do you find switches handle weather swings better outside, or is it more about the WiFi coverage?
Have you noticed any issues with smart switches and older wiring, though? I ran into some headaches in my last place with neutral wires.
Totally get where you’re coming from—my house is from the 1920s and neutral wires are hit or miss. I ended up using a few Lutron Caseta switches since they don’t need a neutral, and they’ve been solid. For outdoor stuff, I’ve found weatherproof boxes help more than anything, but WiFi range is still the main headache. Sometimes I have to move the router just to get the backyard lights to cooperate... kind of a balancing act.
I hear you on the WiFi range headaches. I’ve had to play “router shuffle” in a couple of my rentals just to get the smart switches to behave outside. It’s always the backyard that’s a pain, right? I’ve even tried those mesh WiFi extenders, but sometimes it feels like I’m just moving the dead spot around.
“my house is from the 1920s and neutral wires are hit or miss. I ended up using a few Lutron Caseta switches since they don’t need a neutral, and they’ve been solid.”
That’s been my experience too, especially in older properties. I’ve got a duplex from the 1940s, and it’s a total mixed bag—one room has a neutral, the next doesn’t. Lutron Caseta’s been a lifesaver, but I’ll admit, I’m not wild about being locked into their ecosystem. I tried some of those “no-neutral required” Zigbee switches, but the reliability wasn’t quite there for me.
Funny thing, I actually started leaning more toward smart bulbs for outdoor fixtures, just because the wiring was such a mess. The downside is, if someone flips the physical switch, the whole automation goes out the window. Tenants love to do that, too. I guess it’s a tradeoff—either you deal with the wiring headaches or you risk someone killing the power to your “smart” setup.
One thing I’ve noticed: weatherproof boxes help, but condensation is still a problem in the winter. I had a switch short out last year after a big freeze. Ended up swapping it for a simple dusk-to-dawn sensor instead of another smart switch. Not as fancy, but way less hassle.
Curious if anyone’s had better luck with those battery-powered outdoor switches or remotes? I keep seeing them pop up, but haven’t tried them yet. Sometimes I wonder if we’re just making things more complicated than they need to be... but then again, I do like being able to turn on the patio lights from my phone when I get home late.
I’ve stared at those battery-powered remotes a dozen times, but I keep picturing them migrating to the bottom of the junk drawer or getting left out in the rain. Has anyone found one that actually survives a winter? I’d almost rather brave the wiring than keep replacing batteries every few months. Maybe I’m just old-fashioned, but sometimes a plain old timer starts looking pretty appealing...
I hear you on the battery-powered remotes—mine always seem to vanish right when I need them, or the batteries are dead from the cold. Last winter, I tried one of those “weatherproof” models, but after a couple of snowstorms, it was toast. Honestly, I ended up running a smart switch inside the garage and just using my phone. Not as “hands-on” as a timer, but at least I’m not hunting for remotes in the snow. Sometimes old-school is just less hassle, but I do like being able to tweak things from the couch.
