Roger Fingas
The Caséta by Lutron Fan Speed Control with HomeKit support has just been made available, letting people upgrade their ceiling fans without having to pay hundreds of dollars for a new model.
The accessory replaces an existing wall switch. Owners can't change fan direction, and have to buy a separate Lutron control for any attached lighting, but they can turn a fan on and off and choose from four different speeds.
Automation requires owning Lutron's Smart Bridge, which enables not just HomeKit but Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, Nest, and Lutron's iOS app. Connected fans can be integrated into scenes and automations, for example turning on when a thermostat detects a high room temperature.
Lutron originally said that HomeKit would debut sometime after Alexa and Google Assistant, but all three options are ready to go.
AppleInsider went hands-on with the Lutron Smart Fan Controller during CES 2019 and found it easy to use though there is no light integration which would require a separate switch of its own.
The Caséta by Lutron Fan Speed Control costs $59.95 on its own. A Pico remote is an additional $29.95, and a matching wallplate is $3.96.
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12 Comments
What’s this? A HomeKit product released soon after being announced? Bravo Lutron! Take note MIA Ring.
mmm... I am interested in this. I'd like to see this all done automatically and talking to the ecobee to give maximum efficiency between the AC system and the fans such as when to suck and when to blow (the fan direction).
Finally. Had switched to Lutron Caseta a while ago, it works really well with HomeKit, and have been wanting something to control my fans for as long as I've used the Caseta system.
It’s taken awhile but HomeKit compatibility is becoming a de facto feature requirement for smart devices.
Lutron HomeKit accessories are by far the buggiest and most unreliable out of any HomeKit accessory. I wouldn’t install this even if it was free.