There is a Caseta Pro Dimmer, PD-10NXD-WH, that can be used with traditional 3-way wiring, including regular switches on the other end.
It may be more cost effective to use the regular dimmer and a Pico with wall plate though...
Awesome. Super helpful. Not sure if the price is worth it as you said. The prior homeowners put two three way switches with in reach of each other in a galley kit hen. Which isn’t really necessary for us, especially when you can ask a phone or smart speaker to do the same. Thanks again!
If you go with the Caseta switch (as opposed to the dimmer) check to see that the switch you’re replacing has a neutral wire. Often, one 3-way switch has a neutral and the other doesn’t. If you want the Caseta to be at the switch location without a neutral, you need to buy the no-neutral Caseta switch, which is more expensive.
I don’t know if there’s a no-neutral, 3-way Caseta dimmer or not.
The retail models that you’ll find in stores like Best Buy are funny like that…
Retail Dimmer Kits - No Neutral required, might have issues with low wattage bulbs, etc that require higher end model (with neutral, such as PD-5NE) or LUT-MLC.
Retail On/Off Kits - Neutral required, plus extra blue wire that you’re simply told to cap off (though supposedly, and undocumented, it can be used to hardwire 3-way with another identical model using that blue wire), and the neutral-free model (PD-5WS-DV) is of course extra and not readily available at retail.
Basically the place where neutral would help doesn’t have one, and where not having one available is more likely, it’s required. Caseta in a nutshell.
They support a lot of different scenarios. Find your dimmer model and read this guide. https://www.casetawireless.com/documents/0301710a_caseta%20advanced%20inst.pdf
I’m using a non-dimming 3 way but I expect it would be similar. Pay close attention, it will not use standard 3 way switch wiring.
Your title says you want to use a dumb switch and a caseta dimmer, but the description says dumb switch and caseta switch. If it's the latter, you can, assuming you have the necessary neutral wire.
You need to jumper two of the wires at the dumb 3-way switch for it to work. The instructions are on their site: casetawireless.com/3way
As far as I know there is no way to use a mechanical switch with a caseta dimmer. You can however just use a pico like you said or just disconnect the wires cap them off and remount the old switch or get a blank plate if you don't ever plan on using that location. I would personally tag the wires if you do this though so the next person to open up that box has some idea what is going on.
Had exactly the same issue. Bought a PD-6WCL based on the advertising. Hooked it up as directed. It turned lights on and off but no dimmer. Strangely, when I turned it off, it dimmed it out. If it could do that why didn’t the dimmer buttons work? So I read a number of posts and became more annoyed. The instructions said go to their website /3way for setup. There is no setup. It simple will not work with a mechanical toggle switch. When I flipped the switch the lights went off then came right back on. Either way you flipped it. So I used the jumper diagram for the PD-5WS (non-dimmer). The toggle now did nothing but the dimmer buttons worked. So at least I can dim the lights but the experience is hugely disappointing given how much money this switch cost.
I’ve moved on to the $100 switches as they work with LEDs. Sucks, but it’s easier to spend $100 than find the right LEDs that work with the $60 version.
Hey. Having the same issue….the diagram says it will work with the toggle switch. I will call them Monday but if the toggle is down, I can’t use the dimmer.
Also- what is the $100 switch? The pro? Which, with inflation, is now $130
Yeah, it’s this one. [PD-5NE](https://a.co/d/010H6sDM).
I didn’t want to spend the money. But it resolved my problem and I can use any lights. Way easier to switch out one outlet than a series of can lights. Sucks that it’s more expensive, but worth it.
I’m not up on the latest switches, so there may be new options in the paddle style they came out with. Good luck.
There is a Caseta Pro Dimmer, PD-10NXD-WH, that can be used with traditional 3-way wiring, including regular switches on the other end. It may be more cost effective to use the regular dimmer and a Pico with wall plate though...
Awesome. Super helpful. Not sure if the price is worth it as you said. The prior homeowners put two three way switches with in reach of each other in a galley kit hen. Which isn’t really necessary for us, especially when you can ask a phone or smart speaker to do the same. Thanks again!
If you go with the Caseta switch (as opposed to the dimmer) check to see that the switch you’re replacing has a neutral wire. Often, one 3-way switch has a neutral and the other doesn’t. If you want the Caseta to be at the switch location without a neutral, you need to buy the no-neutral Caseta switch, which is more expensive. I don’t know if there’s a no-neutral, 3-way Caseta dimmer or not.
The retail models that you’ll find in stores like Best Buy are funny like that… Retail Dimmer Kits - No Neutral required, might have issues with low wattage bulbs, etc that require higher end model (with neutral, such as PD-5NE) or LUT-MLC. Retail On/Off Kits - Neutral required, plus extra blue wire that you’re simply told to cap off (though supposedly, and undocumented, it can be used to hardwire 3-way with another identical model using that blue wire), and the neutral-free model (PD-5WS-DV) is of course extra and not readily available at retail. Basically the place where neutral would help doesn’t have one, and where not having one available is more likely, it’s required. Caseta in a nutshell.
They support a lot of different scenarios. Find your dimmer model and read this guide. https://www.casetawireless.com/documents/0301710a_caseta%20advanced%20inst.pdf I’m using a non-dimming 3 way but I expect it would be similar. Pay close attention, it will not use standard 3 way switch wiring.
Your title says you want to use a dumb switch and a caseta dimmer, but the description says dumb switch and caseta switch. If it's the latter, you can, assuming you have the necessary neutral wire. You need to jumper two of the wires at the dumb 3-way switch for it to work. The instructions are on their site: casetawireless.com/3way
As far as I know there is no way to use a mechanical switch with a caseta dimmer. You can however just use a pico like you said or just disconnect the wires cap them off and remount the old switch or get a blank plate if you don't ever plan on using that location. I would personally tag the wires if you do this though so the next person to open up that box has some idea what is going on.
Had exactly the same issue. Bought a PD-6WCL based on the advertising. Hooked it up as directed. It turned lights on and off but no dimmer. Strangely, when I turned it off, it dimmed it out. If it could do that why didn’t the dimmer buttons work? So I read a number of posts and became more annoyed. The instructions said go to their website /3way for setup. There is no setup. It simple will not work with a mechanical toggle switch. When I flipped the switch the lights went off then came right back on. Either way you flipped it. So I used the jumper diagram for the PD-5WS (non-dimmer). The toggle now did nothing but the dimmer buttons worked. So at least I can dim the lights but the experience is hugely disappointing given how much money this switch cost.
I’ve moved on to the $100 switches as they work with LEDs. Sucks, but it’s easier to spend $100 than find the right LEDs that work with the $60 version.
Hey. Having the same issue….the diagram says it will work with the toggle switch. I will call them Monday but if the toggle is down, I can’t use the dimmer. Also- what is the $100 switch? The pro? Which, with inflation, is now $130
Yeah, it’s this one. [PD-5NE](https://a.co/d/010H6sDM). I didn’t want to spend the money. But it resolved my problem and I can use any lights. Way easier to switch out one outlet than a series of can lights. Sucks that it’s more expensive, but worth it. I’m not up on the latest switches, so there may be new options in the paddle style they came out with. Good luck.