Question

Why is it so hard to find a BLACK smart dimmer switch that works with smartthings? It's almost like you can get any color but black and if you do find a black one its double the money. Anyone know a reasonably priced switch that comes in the color black? Thanks

Answer 1

Because black is a terrible option for indoor coloring apparently.  

Comments

@trainload hey thanks chad! Appreciate your opinion but white is the common one that everyone has. The kitchen is gray marble and the switches were black when I moved in.  

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@trainload tell that to the guy who is currently painting the mancave black lol

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@trainload the pictured doesnt do much justice but its matte black, along with black carpet  

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My response made it sound like I don’t like black. I love black interior colors! But I’m always in the minority it seems with that look, so I imagine manufacturers find what sells best and try to match that.  

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I now have three smart switches in the basement and two in the attic. Wired into the romex that used to go to the wall switches. Nothing in the exterior walls. I’d like to get rid of all of the wall switches tbh. I’m throwing that out there in case you have not considered that visible switches are optional.  

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@trainload not at all just throwing out there though lol  you should se the face on ppls face when i tell them i got black accent walls in a couple of rooms in the house.  

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@smoko wow! How hard was that to do? You're controlling solely because app and verbal communication right?  

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@transposition actually just app, and in my case not that difficult to get to the wiring because I’m dealing with 100+ year old construction that has been retrofitted countless times (the original building didn’t have electricity I don’t think, or not much if it did). No voice, using Lutron hub and smart things hub as of now. May add voice eventually but only app controlled currently. The lighting I also attached to a Lutron pico remote for other people to use if they want.  

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PS if you find the romex going to the switch it’s elementary to drop the smart switch into the line. You’ll want to branch it off the main line and set it up like a proper switch but your wall switch plate typically is just a romex termination point anyway.  

Answer 2

The new Inovelli switches and dimmers (LZW30/31 and the -SN variants) have replaceable paddles, with black being one option. I don't think the air gap switch is replaceable, though, so you'll still have a tiny bit of white. GE/Jasco have also long had replaceable paddles, but they can be expensive unless they're on sale.  

Comments

@transposition Morris I purchased the wifi ones that are black but wont connect to smartthings so I have to get the z wave which is double the cost and the older model

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Inovelli doesn't make Wi-Fi switches, so I'm assuming you mean GE? Then yeah, lots of Wi-Fi switches aren't compatible--not nearly as standardized beyond the protocol level. Their Z-Wave ones aren't cheap but can sometimes be found on sale. Inovelli tends to be a lot less, and if you don't want a manual and fancy box they have an "unboxed" model on sale for less than normal right now. :) Zooz has really cheap switches/dimmers but only come in white, but maybe some day.  

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What's the difference between red series and black series?  

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@transposition red series support scenes black series do not

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The Red Series has more features: multi taps (Z-Wave Central Scenes, technically) and the ability to do "notifications" (effects) on the LED bar.  

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@transposition Morris smart things website doesnt have inovelli as compatible. They are though right?  

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They're not officially so but work with Inovelli's custom DTH (for full functionality; I'm sure you'll get the basics with a stock DTH if you'd rather have that, maybe for local execution eligibility).  

Answer 3

I have the Lutron Black.  

Answer 4

They all do. I have about 15 of them for my kitchen. The white paddle pops off and the black clicks on.  

Answer 5

Insteon has black switches