PSA/Maestro Dimmer Switches...Lutron is Replacing Them for Free

9 years ago

last modified: 9 years ago

In 2007 we installed several (8) of the Maestro dimmer switches in our remodel. So far, half of them have failed and the other half are starting to show the same symptoms. The on/off toggle plate gets loose/floppy and won't turn on the light. The only way to turn the light on is to use the little horizontal switch below the toggle plate and then you can use the side switches to dim or brighten. It's a defect and Lutron is replacing them at no cost. Ours were not CFL or LED compatible. The replacements will be. I happen to have the receipts but so far Lutron hasn't asked for a copy. They've only asked for the model number. You have to remove the switch to find the model number on the side of the light switch. We also have several Diva units but no problem with them.
Monica

edit: here is part of a review on Amazon concerning the defective switches. It's an email reply from Lutron...

"Thank you for contacting us. We did have a higher than anticipated
rate failure in certain date code for Maestro Dimmers. The good news is
that the design for this switch has been changed and the problem have
been fixed. We do offer a standard one year warranty for all wall box
products, but for this product defect we do offer to replace all
Maestro Dimmers in your house at no charge. Please e-mail us back or
call us with a list of the Maestro dimmer models and colors. Upon
receiving this list we will send new replacement dimmers with prepaid
return shipping label to send back the old ones. We apologize for
inconvenience this may have caused.

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (3)

Errant_gw
9 years ago
Thanks for letting us know, Monica. I do have a few of those switches that have started acting wonky. Do I need to actually pull the switch from the wall to get the numbers, or can I find it just by removing the plate? I don't really want to take them out to get the numbers, then put them back again while waiting on replacements. Electrical stuff always freaks me out :o
0
monicakm_gw
Original Author
9 years ago
I don't know exactly how far out they need to come to see the model numbers. I pulled the plate last night and couldn't see the model numbers. I called Lutron and they said I'd have to remove the switch. My brother is on his way over to do this for me so I'll be able to let you know in a couple hours what he needed to do. My husband is going to call Lutron and try to get all 8 of them replaced at once since they (Lutron) KNOW they're going to go bad. He thinks it could be a fire hazard (he's just basing that assumption on anything electrical not working properly could cause short/fire/etc). Electrical stuff freaks DH out too! That's why he's going to insist they replace all of them now. He said I should have told them they were all wonky :o
0
Related Discussions
under cabinet lighting?
Q
Comments (29)
Wow! I spent all evening reading and measuring. I knew nothing a few short hours ago. I do have an electrician coming, and a general contractor, but I'm trying to avoid their 'canned' options (hot halogen pucks mounted center and semi-flushed into plywood)and save some money by figuring this out myself and having the parts here so there are no delay excuses. Here's what I typed up before I saw that you responded: I need to purchase my UCL and would like to try out lightbars from ebay and then get misc parts from environmental lights and HD. I need task lighting over the sink and ambient lighting for the rest of the UCL. The sink light will be on its own dimmer and all the others will be connected to a second dimmer power supply. These will be mounted with flat brackets right behind the front cab rail. Here is the list of cabinets I have for my uppers with the LED lengths IÂm planning next to each: 18" cab Â 11.8" (30cm) LED 36" cab over sink 23.6" (90cm) LED x 2 18" Â 11.8" LED 18" Â 11.8" LED 12" Â 5.9" (15cm) ? ItÂs on a blind corner so I could do the 11.8 and put some light into the corner. 15" - Â 11.8" LED IÂll need the lights, mounting brackets, connectors, enough cable to connect the lights to each other and power supplies and switches, a jumper for the double sink lights, 2 dimming power supplies, 2 magentic dimmer switches. WeÂll put the power supplies in the attic near our exhaust fan ductwork so it can cool off. Is that it? Am I on the right track? Should I go with 15cm instead of 30cm for the ambient lighting to save money? Can I use the same dimming power supply and just have two dimmers? I designed our basement low-voltage halogens (we need the heat down there!) and remember the math project of figuring out wattage, length from transformers, wire gauge, install patterns and lighting zones, and my electrician was impressed and only supplied a better dimming system. This seems easier than that, but I'm rushing this (early June install), so I'm very thankful for the assistance. I thought posting my plan here might help someone else, but feel free to email jem199@hotmail.com if you think that's more appropriate. Sorry to hijack this thread! Janet Here is a link that might be useful:
...See More
Creamy White and Stainless Reveal
Q
Comments (50)
Thank you all for the validation :) The full height splash was a decision I worried over. Many of the darker granites that I have seen used as a slab backsplash really darkened the kitchen. I spent a small fortune on tile samples but none were right. The fabricator warned me that even if I had all the colors perfect, the added pattern from any other material may be too busy. The full height splash makes me smile every time I see it. Keeping the stainless splash for function also helps break up that much stone. MrsPete- I considered adding a pendant over the baking center since the wiring was there already, but it was slightly off center and I have a tendency toward OCD for things matching up. That was also one of the areas I retrained myself from adding too many details. Renov8r- here is a quick iPad photo of my hardware. One of the big benefits of working with a custom cabinet maker is he had to rout out the trim for the handles to fit in the narrow drawers.
...See More
Talk to Me About LED Light Bulbs Please
Q
Comments (15)
Bought the Philips 60w "Warm Glow" LEDs at HD yesterday (under $10/ea). On full power they aren't as bright as an incandescent 60w bulb. They DO have the softer, warmer glow that an incandescent bulb does and warms even more as it dims. Still doesn't dim as low as a "real" light bulb. I do like how LEDs don't produces as much heat. Looks like there is going to have to be some compromising. As "cave like" as DH's bathroom is (and he wanted it that way), 180 total watts probably isn't going to be enough light. The 300w (dimmable) was plenty light but it was so white and messed with his bathroom color palette...does he care? NO! But I do :) What to do. Call Philips and ask them to make a 100w "warm glow" LED that will dim lower. That's it! I'm sure they'll get right on that! <g> I considered buying a set of the Crees too but I'm really not liking the whiteness of the LEDs. I'm sure it's OK in some applications. Oh, the Philips don't visibly flicker or hum when turned down.
...See More
Kitchen Reveal
Q
Comments (166)
Thank you so much Cheryl. The floor plans are very helpful. Our kitchen is 13’3” wide as well, but only 14’5.5” long so we are hoping to put full depth cabinets on 3 sides with a 30”x 72” island. That would give us 39.5” wide isles. Do you think that will be fine? I am so used to living with an L kitchen without an island so this is new for us, but we want to better utilize the space we have. We have been testing out the layout with a banquet table that size and it seems like we have plenty of room, but I worry once we have all the cabinets installed it will feel/look more crowded.
...See More
monicakm_gw
Original Author
9 years ago
That didn't go quite as smoothly as I'd been led to believe but in the end I have all (7 not 8) switches being sent to me.

I've had about 6 people tell me all I needed to do was get the model number from the switches and let them know which ones I needed. I was also told that the model that works with CL and LED would be the replacement.

My brother pulled the light switches. You don't have take them totally out of the wall.
I called Lutron with the model numbers and was told they needed the date code too. It's in a different location and not visible in the pictures I took. That's the first I've heard of that! We already had the switches back in and covers reattached. That was a bit of an argument but the tech finally agreed that they didn't have to have the date code.

Then I mentioned that I'd been told the replacements would be CL and LED compatible. "No, they will be like for like" :o Another minor argument with me suggesting they listen to the previous recorded conversations. OK, they're sending the CL models. BUT, CL model doesn't come in a 1000w version. I ask what am I going to do since incandescent bulbs have gone the way of the coo-coo bird. I have to buy new recessed lighting? Tech says "you can still buy incandescent bulbs. They aren't going to stop making them". Now I'm confused. I've heard for 1`0 years they are being phased out. Wasn't that completed last Dec? I stocked up on light bulbs so I haven't even looked in the last several months. He said manufacturers have to make incandescents that (for example 100w bulbs) only use 72w for a 100w of light. Now I'm really confused. I have no other option but to order the MA-1000 like I have since they don't make it in a CFL compatible. Does anyone know if this is true? Are incandescent light bulbs still being made but they just use less wattage to give the same amt of light?

TS said the date code they need is on the metal plate at the bottom of the switch. None of my pictures show this letter/number code.

And one last thing. I guess it's not a deal breaker but in 2007 I paid nearly 2x the price of 2 of these switches to get blue lighting vs the green led indicator lights. Only one place carried them. I forgot all about that. I'm going to call back on Monday to see if I can get the blue indicator lights :)
0

PSA/Maestro Dimmer Switches...Lutron is Replacing Them for Free

Comments (3)

Errant_gw

monicakm_gw
Original Author

Related Discussions

monicakm_gw
Original Author

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

PSA/Maestro Dimmer Switches...Lutron is Replacing Them for Free

Comments (3)

Errant_gw

monicakm_gwOriginal Author

Related Discussions

monicakm_gwOriginal Author

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

monicakm_gw
Original Author

monicakm_gw
Original Author