Lutron Maestro Companion Multi-Location Dimmer | Not for Standalone Use | MA-R-AL, Almond

Pricey but high quality

The local blue home store sells a combo pack containing an macl-153 Master dimmer with a ma-rr companion dimmer. I had been hoping to use the master and companion along with one mechanical three-way at the end for controlling lights from Three locations. It turns out that the master can be used with a mechanical switch, but only if the light is being controlled from just two locations. Once you want to control from three or more, all of the non Master switches need to be companion switches. The installation instructions listed several compatible companions, including the ma-rr as well as the msc-ad (this one). I followed the wiring diagram from lutron's website, rather than the one from the package, and everything works flawlessly with my LED lights. The combo pack from the big blue home store included face plates that I don't plan on using. I appreciate that this switch is sold without trim. I imagine it helps keep the price down.

I recently moved into a new home that had no dimmers installed on any lights. I visited my local hardware store in search of multi-location dimmer switches. The only true multi-location switch they had was the Lutron Maestro master switch. I bought two of them for one set of lights. Herein lies my first problem. None of the exterior packaging on the master switch said that you had to buy the companion switch for all but one location for the circuit. Unfortunately, none of the local hardware shops in town carried the companion switch because it didn't sell well (presumably because people didn't know they needed it!) Long story short: if you want true multi-location dimming capability, you MUST buy ONE of the Maestro master switches and the rest of the switches on that circuit must be THIS companion switch. ALSO worth mentioning is that this companion switch will work with any lights: incandescent, CFL, or LED, so long as the master switch is compatible with your lights. Now on to the review! I consider myself fairly electrically competent, at least enough to run new outlets and whatnot. Converting my old, 3 way non-dimming switch setup over to these 3-way dimmers was very simple since the package the switch comes in does include instructions for various scenarios. My advice to anyone wiring these switches is to pay attention when removing wires from your old switches so that you get it right on the first try. These switches look very nice and clean. I bought it in white; however they offer a multitude of colors to match your decor. The switch has a satisfying click when you tap the button, and it has a few nice features. For instance, you can double tap the button at any time to instantly raise the lights to max brightness. The switch remembers the last brightness setting you had so that when you turn the lights back on, it goes to that setting. Probably my favorite feature is the way the switch dims the lights on and off; it just looks so classy! Long story shot, I'm very happy with the Lutron Maestro series of switches. Since I moved in, I have replaced all my light switches in the house with the same style Lutron switches and I have had no failures. They all look sharp and have a clean, crisp feel when switching on and off. I would definitely recommend them!

Good quality

Excellent product that I've been installing in homes for over a decade. Just remember to reprogram the main sensor to accept a companion switch after installing it. To program the main dimmer to accept this companion, you need to: 1. Go to the main dimmer switch. 2. Hold down the main paddle and the up button until a single led starts flashing. 3. Press the up button to move the flashing LED to the 4th position. 4. Tap the paddle to exit programming mode. 5. You're done! Test the controls from your companion switch. If the instructions don't work, then try again in case a step was not completed correctly. If that fails, then you might have the wiring wrong. Good luck!

My local big box home center with the orange and black logo carries the 3 way master dimmers and master dimmer pack with companion dimmers. I had bought 2 3 way master dimmers at the store and thought they would work with a standard 3 way switch. They do not. So I went back to the store and by the time I got done explaining to the kid in the electrical department, I had ordered the two companion dimmers from Amazon on from my phone. What is great about the companion dimmers, is that now not only am I able to turn on and off the lights from two separate locations, I can now also dim lights from two separate locations. According to the directions, I can also add several companion dimmers to one master dimmer and therefore Dim from several locations. I don't need to do this, but if you're someone who has a really large room and would like to do this this is the perfect solution for you. I was a little nervous wiring these myself because they are digital technology and I fear if I wired it wrong I could blow either the master dimmer or the companion dimmer or both. But the wiring directions and the color coding on the companion dimmers made it super simple to wire. There is also a little "defeat switch" at the top or the bottom of the dimmer switch that when you pull it out it kills the circuit the whole thing. It's almost like shutting it off at the breaker. The dimmer switch system that Maestro produces is very sophisticated. when you turn the lights on tthe lights fade on and when you go to shut off the system the lights fade off. But honestly, if I would have known how much all of this is going to cost me from the beginning, I would've just used regular analog dimmers. (one regular three-way switch is like four or five dollars an the companion dimmer being 20. The master dimmer was 29 at the store, and a regular dimmer is 19) but it's great technology and In the end I am extremely satisfied.

I have this installed along with 2 other Lutron Switches in my Kitchen as my Kitchen uses a Triple-Switch setup. Most dimmers cannot use more than 2 switches; this one has a little "network" where it actually remembers where you have set your dimmer and each switch has its own dimmer buttons. Truly a great product that is basically a one of a kind. I am really happy with my setup. If the switches fail I will report back but otherwise count me as a happy customer!

Sure. It works 4-way with the master switch. Extremely cheap feeling. Button barely clicks in at all when pressed. A far cry from their stand alone dimmers made 5-6 years ago. It makes me want to go back to plain rockers.