GE CYNC Smart Light Switch On/Off Paddle Style, Neutral Wire Required, Bluetooth and 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi 4-Wire Switch, Works with Alexa and Google Home, White (1 Pack)

I was installing this to control our porch lights. I had wanted smart switches to replace a number of existing switches in our older home. However, all of the ones I had previously reviewed required the neutral wire, which we do not have. So, I was very happy to find the GE Cync which does not need it.Installation was straightforward. Only took about 15 minutes after I figured out how the existing switch was originally wired. The switch is controlling 3 LED lights on the porch. I had no issues installing, the app worked immediately, the device was added to Google Home, and I was able to control the lights by voice, through the app, through Google Home, and of course manually flipping the switch. There are other traditional non-GE Cync switches on the circuit, and everything seems to play nicely with each other.I'm very happy at this point.Update 1/9/23:I've installed the second switch controlling an outside light above our garage. Initially it had a 60 watt LED and using only 5 watts, was below the 15 watt required minimum and so it was flickering. I swapped for a 300 watt equivalent, 33 watt actual, and it worked fine.I set up a scene/routine to turn the porch and outside garage lights on 30 minutes after sunset, and off a few hours later. Works with no issues whatsoever.Having seen these work, becoming more familiar and comfortable with them, understanding the benefits, I ordered another 12 GE Cync switches of various flavors and will probably add more over time. Our 1960s home has many of the original switches, and it's wonderful that we can bring it in to the modern age without much effort, even with the old wiring.Update 1/17/23I now have 12 switches installed and working well, and more received and waiting to be installed. Since I'm doing so many of these, I thought I'd pass along lessons learned that may help others.3-way works just fine. As another comment/reply mentioned, travelers aren't needed. By default, all lights within the same grouping will be switched on/off when any of the switches in the group is toggled. Just wire each independently and handle the 3-way functionality within the app and/or Google Home.In one bedroom, we have track lighting, where there is a power adapter/injector at one end that plugs into a wall outlet controlled by a switch. The GE Cync switch works in this configuration. Don't plug anything else in to the outlet controlled by the switch. We originally had six 60 watt equivalent LEDs in the track lighting (8.5 watt each) and the switch did not like the configuration at all through the wall outlet. I swapped out one of the LEDs for a traditional 60 watt incandescent, and it now works fine. The incandescent and five LEDs are all 60 watt soft white and you cannot tell any difference between them at all.If you have multiple switches in one room, by default, without changing any settings, using any of them manually by hand will control all of them. If you want them to be independent, then put each in its own group within the app. Within the app, all the switches in a single room can be controlled as a group (flipping the on/off toggle) or individually (click into the room and then flip the individual light). This is the same within Google Home.If you run into trouble with flickering, try using more powerful bulbs. I believe folks are seeing this so frequently because they are using LEDs and there's really no guarantee what they are drawing, no matter what the info/spec says on the product page - most are cheap Chinese. If you're using the switch on a single LED bulb, be aware that it's going to need to be 150 watt equivalent if not more to get you above the 15 watts minimum. If more powerful LEDs don't do it for you, then fall back to a lower power incandescent. If you have one switch controlling a bunch of LEDs and have issues, then change just one of the LEDs for an incandescent and it will resolve. I did this with the track lighting previously discussed as well as another location where there were only LEDs in a string.In our kitchen, we have two switches (dual gang) which are about 4 or 5 feet from the microwave. When the microwave is used, both switches lose network connectivity.If you purchased used/like new switches, the person who returned it likely tried setting up already. Out of the box, it will likely not be in setup mode when you put power on it. Hold the button or switch in the on position for at least 10 seconds and then let go, the indicator light should then flash blue for setup mode.I have found QA to be iffy. I've successfully installed 12 so far. I've returned 3. Two were "Used Very Good" and were defective. This was no fault of Amazons since these were from third-party sellers on the site. The third that was returned was new out of the box and electrically would not power the lights. So, keep this in mind, as there are lots of used ones and this should alert you to the fact that folks are returning many of these for one reason or another. Also, factor this in when you purchase - depending on the price differential, for a few extra dollars it may save hassles and headaches if you just buy new.DW ordered some Kasa smart plugs. I told her to give them to friends or family, I'll buy the GEs so we can have it integrated with the GE app.We continue to be very happy with all of it thus far.Update 1/25/23We now have over 20 devices installed and doing well. For those asking if the switches work with fluorescent bulbs - yes, for me it is. In my garage, we have four sets of four four foot fluorescent tube bulbs - ceiling mounted shop lamps. I was unsure if the GE Cync switch would work, but I decided to try. One thing to be aware of - depending on the ballast, it may or may not work well. On three of our four sets, the switch worked fine. However on the fourth set it was making some percolating sounds and kind of flickering. I realized that a few years ago on the three working sets I had replaced the 40 year old magnetic ballasts with newer GE electronic ballasts. The fourth set still had the old magnetic ballasts. I had the replacements, just never got around to replacing. So, I took 30 minutes, replaced the old heavyweight magnetic ballasts and then all four sets work fine together on the one paddle switch. Additionally, with the fourth set, the bulbs appeared to be dim and kind of burned out. It's now nearly impossible to get fluorescent tube bulbs. My local hardware store had LED drop in replacements, so I gave them a try, and they worked great in the shop lamps with the new ballasts as well as with the switch. No problems.

I bought this to control outside lights on my home and driveway. This was initially difficult to get working properly, because GE's Amazon description said it worked with incandescent, LED, and Compact florescent bulbs. After several calls to their support team, one of their members found a technical document that stated CF bulbs were incompatible! So finally it worked OK for a year or so, but then I noticed it was not adjusting the ON time automatically when it was set to turn on at sunset.I "chatted" with tech support and they said: "Currently, ever since we switched to the new Cync App, we have removed the Sunrise / Sunset feature as it's no longer apart of the scenes / schedules and the times would have to be manually update. "These are important safety features they've removed without notice. My lights were going on at a fixed time, which is a clear signal that no one is home, but GE and their vendor did not see fit to tell anyone ever! And there is no plan to restore that function. Their only response (see the complete text of the chat below) was to see if I wanted to put a request in to add it back in. Which they have never done. Nor will they accept a return or refund my purchase.Avoid all GE/Cync products as they do not care about your security or safety.Full text of the chat with GE support:Phillip S (10/23/2021, 3:32:18 PM): Hi, this is Phillip. How can I help you?Bob (10/23/2021, 3:34:36 PM): Hi, I have the C by GE 3-Wire On/Off Paddle Style Smart Switch that I purchased in October 2020. I have noticed that it does NOT adjust the sunset time, but instead uses the "on" time I to sunset of the day I set up the settings for 'on". How do we get the app or switch to automatically adjust the sunset time?Phillip S (10/23/2021, 3:37:15 PM): Hey Bob, thank you for reaching out to us over here at the Cync Support Team. I would be more than happy to help with this.Currently, ever since we switched to the new Cync App, we have removed the Sunrise / Sunset feature as it's no longer apart of the scenes / schedules and the times would have to be manually update.This is a highly re-requested feature and I'd be more than happy to pass the feedback along to our team. How does that sound?Bob (10/23/2021, 3:39:23 PM): Does not sound good. The old electro/mechanical timer switch I used automatically adjusted the sunset time, but your "smart" switch removed that feature? That makes it a dumb switch. How can I get my money back?Phillip S (10/23/2021, 3:41:04 PM): The feature was recently removed when we transitioned from C by GE to Cync earlier this year. I know that this has been a highly requested feature to return in the Cync app but there is no ETA on when or if it will be added back into the Cync App.We do not handle refunds directly as they are only handled where the item was purchased.Bob (10/23/2021, 3:41:39 PM): I bought it on Amazon.Phillip S (10/23/2021, 3:44:41 PM): Then Amazon would be the ones to handle the refund. In regards to your schedules and timers for the device, I can forward you the information that we currently have for Scenes / Schedules for the Cync app that can show you all the ins and outs of the currently Scenes functionality in the Cync App.I can also pass along the information about the request for Sunrise and Sunset automation for Scenes in the Cync app to the team. Would that be ok?Bob (10/23/2021, 3:49:17 PM): Amazon has no process for refunding of this as I purchased it a year ago and it is now worthless as it cannot properly control my outside lights due to your removal of this critical feature. Cync shoud refund the money since you are the ones that removed the feature without notice or compensation. This is now a warranty claim. How do you process that?Phillip S (10/23/2021, 3:51:14 PM): If this device is no longer working, I'd be more than happy to troubleshoot the device further with you. Are we able to control the device from the Cync App?Bob (10/23/2021, 3:52:32 PM): Yes, but as you stated, Cync removed the feature that makes this switch inoperable.Phillip S (10/23/2021, 3:54:59 PM): If we are able to control the Switch within the Cync App as well as set up schedules through our Scenes function, then I will not be able process any kind of warranty request as it would involve us replacing the switch for a defective product.Bob (10/23/2021, 3:57:31 PM): I'm not sure what that means, as the switch is now a defective product. Where do I send the switch and get a refund for it.Phillip S (10/23/2021, 4:01:10 PM): The product itself defective as you are able to control the device within the Cync App.The Sunrise/Sunset feature that was provided was an application implementation previously. As I mentioned before, we've received requests to get this feature added back into the Cync App. This is something that I believe we are working on, on the backend but I do not have an ETA on if or when it will be released.Again, we do not handle any refund requests as this is handled by the Point of purchase. However, if the product is not turning on or off with the app control or physical control, I would be more than happy to troubleshoot that further for you.Bob (10/23/2021, 4:03:12 PM): Please proviced me the name and address of the CEO for CbyGE.Phillip S (10/23/2021, 4:04:14 PM): We are no longer C by GE and we are Cync and apart of the Savant Team.I would be more than happy to escalate your case but the soonest the someone could be in touch would be Monday.Bob (10/23/2021, 4:05:14 PM): OK, please provide the name and address of the CEO Of Savant or Cync.Phillip S (10/23/2021, 4:05:37 PM): I do not have access to that information. The best that I can do for you is escalate your case to the next level of support.Bob (10/23/2021, 4:06:05 PM): Who is the parent company, Cync or Savant?Phillip S (10/23/2021, 4:06:37 PM): Cync is apart of the Savant team.Bob (10/23/2021, 4:07:25 PM): I don't understand what that means. Is Savant the controlling business?Phillip S (10/23/2021, 4:08:19 PM): Savant is the primary company while Cync is just apart of the company.Phillip S (10/23/2021, 4:08:48 PM): Would you like for me to escalate your case to the next level of support?Bob (10/23/2021, 4:12:25 PM): If they can restore the sunset function, then yes. Is Savant the manufacturer of the switch? If not, who is?Phillip S (10/23/2021, 4:13:19 PM): The next level of support would not be able to restore the Sunset Functionality. This is worked on by a team of developers who I would be able to pass your feedback along to but they wouldn't' be able to provide you with a immediate Sunset Functionality nor could I provide you a direct line to them.I am not sure about the manufacturer of the switch but this has nothing to do with the app implementation of the Sunrise/Sunset feature as that is all App side functionality.Bob (10/23/2021, 4:15:57 PM): Please advise your team that the removal of the sunset feature without notice or compensation has destroyed the key functionally that I (and others) purchased the switch for, ie, controlling outside lights to turn on at sunset. And have them contact me with the schedule for returning that critical function to the app.Phillip S (10/23/2021, 4:18:05 PM): I can provide that feedback to the team but they will not be able to reach out to you. You can use the Scenes function in our app to set a time for your lights to turn on or off at a scheduled time and on certain days of the week.I'd be more than happy to provide you with that information through our support links so you can review what features and functionality the Scenes feature has in the Cync App.Bob (10/23/2021, 4:25:36 PM): I know how to manually set the app. But that does not solve the failure of the switch to perform the function that it formerly did.Bob (10/23/2021, 4:25:59 PM): And that it was sold as capable of .Phillip S (10/23/2021, 4:28:48 PM): The Sunrise and Sunset functionality is a feature of the old C By GE application itself and not the switch. At this current time, I am providing the feedback you've provided to me to the appropriate team. Currently there is no ETA of when or if this functionality will be restored with the Cync App but I would definitely recommend keeping an eye out for updates that we push out in the future.Phillip S (10/23/2021, 4:29:16 PM): At this current point in time, is there anything else that I can assist you with in regards to getting your switch to work within the Cync App.Bob (10/23/2021, 4:30:14 PM): Goodbye.Phillip S (10/23/2021, 4:30:47 PM): I hope that you have a wonderful rest of your night. If you run into any issues with your C by GE or Cync products in the future, please feel free to reach out to us again.