Leviton has been probably the most dependable names in Wi-Fi good plugs, and for years I relied on one in every of its first-generation Wi-Fi plugs to energy my living-room lights. With this second technology, Leviton brings a streamlined setup course of and HomeKit help to the occasion.
Leviton’s mannequin D215P is a three-prong on/off change; mannequin D23LP is a two-prong mannequin with a dimmer function. Let’s begin with the specs, which needs to be unsurprising. The D215P seems equivalent to the first-generation Wi-Fi plug, with the acquainted horizontal brick design and a single three-prong outlet on the face. It’s slim sufficient in order that two plugs can be utilized in a single receptacle. A lighted energy button (which could be disabled) is obtainable to the left. The unit is rated to help 15 amps/1500 watts.
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The D23LP dimmer seems equivalent to the D215P besides that it provides solely a two-prong receptacle. It’s rated to manage 100 watts of LED lighting or 300 watts of incandescent/halogen lights. The facility button is barely an on/off change and may’t be used to dim and brighten by holding it down; that every one should be carried out by way of Leviton’s app. The excellent news is {that a} bevy of superior choices can be found within the app to manage dimming operations, together with tweaking minimal and most brightness and setting fade-up and -down charges.
LevitonHomeKit is the large addition to Leviton’s second-generation plug-in dimmer.
Setup for each models works the identical method within the My Leviton app. In my testing, the app carried out as promised, rapidly discovering each gadgets after I plugged them in, then including them with ease to my Wi-Fi community (though solely 2.4GHz networks are supported–a curious step again from the primary technology, which help each 2.4- and 5GHz networks). The app hasn’t modified considerably in latest months; it’s nonetheless a reasonably no-frills affair that offers you entry to guide management of your lights, rooms, scenes, and scheduling. Navigating the app is straightforward, however there’s actually not a lot to it (and that’s a superb factor). One minor twist: A “house” and “away” mode within the app offers you quick access to your mostly used settings for those who journey steadily.
Christopher Null / IDGLeviton provides quick access to all gadgets on its house display.
However what about that extremely coveted new function: HomeKit help? Properly, the large draw was at first a little bit of a bust. I spent days making an attempt to configure HomeKit on each gadgets, each earlier than connecting to them by way of the My Leviton app and afterwards. (Each strategies are alleged to work.) Solely after having them put in for almost every week did HomeKit abruptly start to work, and I used to be in a position so as to add the plugs to the iOS house app efficiently.
Fortuitously, I had no such points with Amazon Alexa, which linked seamlessly to the gadgets from the outset and allowed me voice management over the duo. Google House can be supported. I’m unsure if the HomeKit challenge is a brief bug associated to those being new merchandise or an indication of a extra vital drawback, but it surely’s a possible drawback value being conscious of.
At $25 for the change and $30 for the dimmer, Leviton’s merchandise are barely dearer than the sector, although their common stability is healthier than most. For now, they’re a cautious advice; work the kinks out of the HomeKit system and so they’ll positively benefit a full endorsement.