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Lutron Introduces the Diva Smart Dimmer and Claro Smart Switch

Lutron has announced a new dimmer switch with a more traditional look. It also announced a new smart switch, both part of the Caséta family. See the press release below for more info.

Coopersburg, PA (Monday, September 12, 2022) – Today, Lutron Electronics, the trusted leader in lighting control and automated shading solutions, is introducing the Diva smart dimmer and the Claro smart switch to its Caséta portfolio. The Diva smart dimmer combines the distinctive look and simple user experience of the DIVA design with the Caséta portfolio, the industry’s most connected smart lighting control system.

“Lutron’s Diva dimmer has been a favorite of homeowners and electrical professionals for over 30 years,” said Matt Swatsky, Vice-President, Residential Connected Home Business at Lutron. “We are excited to give our customers a new product that uses the DIVA design, wires virtually the same, and has the same quality that they have come to expect with the original Diva dimmer, but now, has a wireless option and connects to their smart home”.

(Pictured Diva smart dimmer (left) and Claro smart switch (right))

(Pictured Diva smart dimmer (left) and Claro smart switch (right))

The Diva smart dimmer offers simplicity, style, and customization.
This new product gives electrical professionals and homeowners another option to deliver the best lighting experience while complementing the existing paddle switches already in the home. The intuitive paddle design adds precise dimming control with a soft-glow light bar and preset functionality to set the perfect mood.

The Diva smart dimmer adds flexibility to complete any job.
Like the original Diva dimmer, the new Diva smart dimmer works with the home’s existing wiring and doesn’t require a neutral wire. Added wireless connectivity offers electrical professionals and homeowners the ability to add a second “switch” almost anywhere by simply pairing the Diva smart dimmer with a Pico smart remote- saving time and money without running wires or cutting holes in walls. The Diva smart dimmer also offers additional flexibility. It can be installed in a wired 3-way application using either an existing mechanical switch or wired accessory switch.

Diva smart dimmer


Add the Lutron Smart Hub to unlock control, comfort, and peace of mind
As with all Caséta products, homeowners can use the Lutron smart hub to unlock powerful smart features. Easily create customized scenes and schedules, like “Welcome Home” to ensure family members always return at sunset to a well-lit house; and “Movie time” that dims multiple lights and even closes the shades with a single button press to set the scene.

Caséta smart lighting controls provide flexibility and control beyond the wall switch, so you can set and manage your lights from virtually anywhere using the wireless remote, app, or even your voice. The Smart Hub uses its own ultra-fast, reliable network that doesn’t rely on Wi-Fi – so your lights and custom schedules will still work, even if your Wi-Fi goes down.

The Diva smart dimmer and the Claro smart switch will be available starting September 12, 2022 on homedepot.com as well as at select Home Depot stores and Electrical Distributors.

Electrical Professionals can learn more here

Homeowners can learn more here


About Lutron Electronics (www.lutron.com)
Founded in 1961, Lutron Electronics is headquartered in Coopersburg, Pennsylvania. From dimmers for the home, to lighting management systems for entire buildings, the company offers more than 15,000 energy-saving products, sold in more than 100 countries. In the US alone, Lutron products save an estimated 10 billion kWh of electricity, or approximately $1 billion in utility costs per year. The company’s early inventions – including the first solid-state electronic dimmer invented by Lutron’s founder, Joel Spira – are now at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History in Washington, DC.
 

PCS confirms commitment to UPB in HAI environment

I know there has been some talk about UPB/HAI recently, so I thought I'd share this newsletter PCS just sent out.

PCS is continues to provide UPB products and support HAI UPB lighting control devices. PCS makes all the UPB products necessary for any OMNI installation and used to manufacture the HAI/Leviton versions of the PCS SPR and TPR repeaters, wall switch dimmers, and the new modern looking keypads.
To help the OMNI installers maintain their existing installations we have the following suggestions...
1. It has always been possible to use PulseWorx products with the OMNI. It has always been a simple matter to use PulseWorx devices with the OMNI and we have several technical notes on this: #200, #201, #202, and #203.

2. If you have an installation that uses UPB devices in HLC mode, a tool that modifies a PulseWorx device in a way that allows the OMNI software to recognize it and program it in HLC mode. HAIme - it is free for download from here.

3. UPB devices have many more capabilities than the OMNI exposed. We are continuing to provide technical notes, and improvements to UPStart - the UPB configuration program (Software download page).

4. We have an online web-store for purchasing PulseWorx devices and HAI compatible devices. This gives you a quick way to get the products you need. It's available 24/7, and for orders placed during working hours, shipment is typically made the same day or next business day.
 
Source
PCS continues to support for HAI compatible UPB devices

VoiceUPB Bridge

According to the latest PCS newsletter, the company behind VoiceUPB Bridge is looking for beta testers for the latest version of their product.
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For several years one of the companies that PCS works with has fielded a product called the “Voice UPB Bridge”. A new version of their product has been developed and passed alpha testing. They are currently looking for beta sites to try the new solution.

If you are interested in using Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant to control your UPB devices and scenes, please drop them an email to see what it takes to participate in this beta test. They can be reached by email at [email protected].

Happy to see development is still ongoing!
 

TheSmartestHouse.com Labor Day Sale (this is NOT a sponsored post) (DEAL EXPIRED)

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TheSmartestHouse.com is running their Labor Day sale. which is a great time to get your hands on some Z-Wave hardware at an affordable cost.

Their customer service is top notch (reminding me of the Automated Outlet days).

Note: the 700 series USB stick IS compatible with Home Assistant in case you're wondering.

They're not sponsoring this post, I'm just a big fan. The same team is also responsible for the Zooz Z-Wave hardware lineup.

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Source
TheSmartestHouse.com Newsletter
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Zooz makes firmware directly available to customers

Zooz recently announced via twitter customers can now download firmware updates for the Zooz Z-Wave hardware. While this isn't a friction-less process (I'd love to see the registration requirement go away), it's a major step in the right direction.

Get direct access to firmware files, extended warranty & expedited support when you join our Product Registration Portal - no need to reach out to support!

As of right now, the following devices can be registered:


  • ZAC36 Titan Water Valve
  • ZEN04 Smart Plug
  • ZEN05 Outdoor Plug
  • ZEN06 Smart Plug
  • ZEN14 Double Outdoor Plug
  • ZEN15 Power Switch
  • ZEN16 MultiRelay
  • ZEN17 Universal Relay
  • ZEN20 Power Strip
  • ZEN21 On/Off Switch (500 series)
  • ZEN22 Dimmer (500 series)
  • ZEN23 Toggle Switch (500 series)
  • ZEN24 Toggle Dimmer (500 series)
  • ZEN25 Double Plug
  • ZEN26 S2 On/Off Switch (500 series)
  • ZEN27 S2 Dimmer (500 series)
  • ZEN30 Double Switch
  • ZEN31 RGBW Dimmer
  • ZEN32 Scene Controller
  • ZEN34 Remote Switch
  • ZEN51 Dry Contact Relay
  • ZEN52 Double Relay
  • ZEN71 On/Off Switch (700 series)
  • ZEN72 Dimmer (700 series)
  • ZEN73 Toggle Switch (700 series)
  • ZEN74 Toggle Dimmer (700 series)
  • ZEN76 S2 On/Off Switch (700 series)
  • ZEN77 S2 Dimmer (700 series)
  • ZSE11 Q Sensor
  • ZSE18 S2 Motion Sensor
  • ZSE19 MultiSiren
  • ZSE29 Outdoor Motion Sensor
  • ZSE40 4-in-1 Sensor (500 series)
  • ZSE40 700 4-in-1 Sensor (700 series)
  • ZSE41 Open Close XS Sensor
  • ZSE42 Water Leak XS Sensor
  • ZSE43 Tilt Shock XS Sensor
  • ZSE44 Temperature Humidity XS Sensor
  • ZST10 Z-Wave Stick (500 series)
  • ZST10 700 Z-Wave Stick (700 series)

Jasco recently announced a similar decision, after Linus Tech Tips unveiled their struggles with Jasco hardware, which highlighted the issue of not being able to download firmware. This created enough pressure for Jasco to post the firmware on GitHub.




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Amazon addresses vulnerability in Ring app for Android

Amazon has posted an update for its Ring for Android app due to a vulnerability discovered by the Checkmarx company, which specializes in application code scanning. The vulnerability was exploiting an exposed deeplink/intent within the Ring application, allowing a bad actor to access recordings.

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Looking at a vulnerability, with the potential of getting an attacker more videos than they can investigate, the researchers decided to take it one step further by using a computer vision technology that is capable of video analysis. We could have used Google Vision, Azure Computer Vision, or any other service, but we decided to go with the excellent Amazon Rekognition service. Rekognition can be used to automate the analysis of these recordings and extract information that could be useful for malicious actors.Rekognition can scan an unlimited number of videos and detect objects, text, faces, and public figures, among other things.


To further demonstrate the impact of this vulnerability, the researchers showed how this service could be used to read sensitive information from computer screens and documents visible to the Ring cameras and to track people’s movements in and out of a room.


More details can be found on the Checkmarx website.
 
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