Lutron
Several years ago, I installed a Lutron dimmer with IR remote in the back bedroom of my house. A few years later, it stopped working. The remote would work it, but the actual physical switch was not responsive. I pulled it, replaced it with a simple switch, and tried to take it apart to see if it was something simple to fix. I discovered that it was fiendishly difficult to get apart. And once I got it apart I discovered that it was not in fact a mechanical failure. I threw it away.
A little while later I found at a surplus store a Lutron remote controlled dimmer, packaged without the remote. "Aha! I already have the remote! These things are like $50 in the regular store, and this is $3! Score!"
This morning I installed it.
The remote would make the the dimming level change, but not actually turn the lights on or off.
I called Lutron. After explaining all of this (including the part where I got the new switch surplus and paid basically nothing for it), here is my result:
The newer switches use a different protocol. only the up/down is the same.
If I had saved the broken switch, they would have happily replaced it; it was warranted for life.
Since I didn't, and since I can't return the new one and get one with a remote for a reasonably similar price (because I got this one so cheaply), they are sending me the correct remote for my new switch, for free.
A little while later I found at a surplus store a Lutron remote controlled dimmer, packaged without the remote. "Aha! I already have the remote! These things are like $50 in the regular store, and this is $3! Score!"
This morning I installed it.
The remote would make the the dimming level change, but not actually turn the lights on or off.
I called Lutron. After explaining all of this (including the part where I got the new switch surplus and paid basically nothing for it), here is my result:
The newer switches use a different protocol. only the up/down is the same.
If I had saved the broken switch, they would have happily replaced it; it was warranted for life.
Since I didn't, and since I can't return the new one and get one with a remote for a reasonably similar price (because I got this one so cheaply), they are sending me the correct remote for my new switch, for free.