Leviton DW15A-1BW Decora Smart Wi-Fi Plug-in Outlet, Works with Amazon Alexa, No Hub Required

This device is great. Programmable with smartphone app

With the free leviton app, this unit is awesome. I use it to control some exterior lighting that i have automatically turn on 15 minutes after sunset and turn off at midnight. Really, really slick and easy to use. Great unit

Ive been doing home automation for more than 20 years and Ive finally decided to take the plunge to wireless. Ive had x10 tech in my house and am slowly migration to these new units. Ive done my homework and have read some negative comments about these product, but my experience has been nothing but positive. Quality and reliable.

Great product - easy to use.

Easy to install, as well as easy app to use .

Hard to program and when I moved to anothet lamp, it wouldnt work AGAIN!

Works as expected. Great for applications such as turning your yard lights on in the morning before walking to the (external) garage, turning them off when you leave. Security for the family without any re-wiring. Keep in mind that you need a constant link to the WiFi for it to work correctly, and for that reason it will siphon off some power constantly, worse if it has a weak signal (so for this reason it may not work if your external garage is too far away). I like wired, tried-and-true technologies and applications best for around the house, but this definitely adds some versatility for the non-electrically minded. And even for an (electrical) Engineer, its great for temporary applications while I decide what to make permanent. You know, turning lights on while away, Christmas lights, etc. Good product. Glad to not need a hub.

I purchased the Leviton DW15A-18W plug in module along with a DW6HD-1BZ Wall Dimmer module, which I will review separately. I am a big fan of the Leviton product line, almost every switch in my home is a Leviton switch so I was excited to find these little modules that can be controlled by my Alexa unit. I have purchased a number of other similar controlled devices for my home but this little beauty was super easy to get online and working. I was up and running and integrated with my Amazon Echo in minutes. The real difference maker with this device is that it does not require a centralized hub like so many others, which will add price and complexity to your smart home design. The DW15A-18W runs on my existing Wifi as opposed to using it own network like so many other similar products. You can also control all the device from a separate app the Leviton provides for free. Following the provided instructions in the box I was able to quickly get the module on my Wireless network and after installing a simple skill for the Amazon Echo I was able to control it via voice command. I particularly enjoy the portability of the module as I am able to move it around my house quickly and easily for whatever purpose I need at the time. I can’t recommend this item enough if you plan building your own smart home network of devices.

Needed to control the Christmas Lights that were plugged in at an awkward location. The hardest part was getting to the outlet. Setting up the switch with the MyLeviton app was a piece of cake! Also, since the cord plugs in on the bottom instead of the front it fits nicely behind furniture. Will definitely be getting more.

I was an early adopter of Leviton Decora WiFi switch solution, and its been about four years since I originally installed this product to realize the promise of a smart home. By extension, I think my experience offers a unique, valuable perspective: • While the Gen 1 products had an extremely high failure rate that was very frustrating at times, Leviton has consistently stood by its warranty commitment to replace failed units. • Over the years, Ive noted continued investments to improve product stability, security, and app experience. • I’m really liking the installation / setup improvements that were incorporated in the Gen 2 products, which replace the now discontinued Gen 1 products under warranty repairs. • If lessons were learned and the quality / reliability of the Gen 2 products have similarly improved, this presumes to be a really solid solution. I will update this review as my experience with Gen 2 products unfold. --- Original experience: To realize the promise of a smart home, I invested heavily in Leviton Decora Wi-Fi switches, buying [16] of the regular variety (DW15S-1BZ), [8] of the dimmer variety (DW1KD-1BZ), [4] of three-way switch remotes (DD0SR-DLZ), and some of the plug-in (DW15A-1BW) units between July and December of 2017. To be fair, Ill say that contrary to other reports the Wi-Fi has been very reliable, and switch responsiveness to Wi-Fi commands has always been timely, but like others I had trouble after power outages, a need to reset breakers to restore connectivity, etc. Also, twice I had the system go haywire with lights turning on and off on their own, which was quite scary. I first thought it was hackers, but Leviton assured me it was an issue with their cloud platform - still, very unnerving. The mobile application user interface can be difficult to navigate, but I got used to it and can live with that. The real issue has been the extremely high failure rate - upwards of 50%, maybe 75% of those I purchased have failed since they were installed, even while my house is newer (built 2007) with high quality wiring, required neutral wire, and fairly stable, reliable power. Leviton has thus far honored their warranty, but not always as quickly as Id like, and this is still a hassle. Consider, you have the cost of the device itself and the further time and effort for installation (or electrician cost if youre not installing yourself) which is multiplied by the high failure rate to account for replacements, along with being unable to turn lights on and off during a failure (sometimes even manually) until the unit is replaced. In my calculus, over the life so far those have greatly outweighed any gains from the convenience of the smart features. It may be that engineering has improved on newer models to be reliable, but if not, once these are out of warranty, I couldnt imagine having switch replacements becoming some new lifetime budgetary cost and household repair task. All that to say, in my opinion the concept is great, but execution - tied to the expectation of always being able to reliably turn your lights on and off - needs work.