User Manual Insteon 2477D Smart Dimmer Wall Switch

Insteon switches do NOT need a hub. Using a hub lets you control these via Echo, Google, or, your smartphone.

Also, you can link many of these Insteon switches together, making an infinite amount of 3-4, 4-way, 5-way... switches, without any special wiring between switches. You can do this with the switches themselves (one time setup) - no need to use a hub and your smartphone to setup.

Z-Wave and Zigbee can also make 3-way, 4-way... using SmartThings, but you need to have the hub and make multiple rules for each switch - which works, but, can be complex. If the hub is shutdown or stops working, or rules breaks, the extra switches stop working. The nice thing about Insteon is that switches are linked together by using the switches, nothing external.

One other point about Insteon vs other smart switches... Insteon is the only smart devices that uses 2 forms of communication. It's own 915MHz Rf, AND, PowerLine thru the house wiring that it is connected too! If an Insteon has difficulty communicating via PowerLine, it will use RF (like Z-Wave & Zigbee) using a mesh network.

It will depend on the bulb, but it works fine with my CREE CR6 recessed lights and CREE E26 replacement bulbs. One thing to consider, is that while LED bulbs consume much less average power, they have a large inrush current. (Do a Google search on this) A 70w equivalent CR6 can easily draw 70w for a brief time while starting. If you are using many LED bulbs on a single switch, you will need to ensure the switch rating is high enough for the total inrush current. This switch is 600W, but Insteon also makes a 1000w variant. Also take note of the de-rating guidelines for the switch, if you use multiple switches side by side, you will not have the full 600w (though for inrush current, it does not matter as much since it is brief and there is not enough time for heat buildup).

A definitive NO. This version of the switch does Not require a neutral wire in the box. It is specifically designed not to need one. It must, however, be used with a bulb with a filament (incandescent) to work.