Enbrighten 800 Series Z-Wave Paddle Dimmer Review: A Long Range Z-Wave Dimmer That Works With Your Existing 3-Way Switch
The Enbrighten 800 Series Z-Wave Paddle Dimmer is a mid-range in-wall dimmer for homes that already run a Z-Wave hub. It pairs as Z-Wave Long Range or Classic, dims up to 600W of incandescent or 300W of dimmable LED, and works with either a standard 3-way switch or up to four Enbrighten add-on switches. The trade-offs are the usual ones for Z-Wave: it needs a hub for any app or voice control, a neutral wire in the box, and it has no Matter or Apple Home path.
- Z-Wave hub owners
- 3-way light circuits
- Large homes and outbuildings
- Crowded switch boxes
Pros
- Z-Wave Long Range up to 1,300 ft, with Classic inclusion as a fallback
- Dims up to 600W incandescent or 300W dimmable LED and CFL
- Works with a standard 3-way switch or up to four add-on switches
- Shallow 1.18 in housing with auto-detecting line and load terminals
- Adjustable LED indicator with four modes and eight colors
- Five-year limited warranty
Cons
- Requires a Z-Wave hub for app, voice and automation control
- Neutral wire required
- No Matter or Apple Home support
- With a standard 3-way switch the second location only turns the light on and off
- Not for fans, motors or transformers
Who is the Enbrighten 800 Series Z-Wave Paddle Dimmer for?
It suits anyone with a Z-Wave hub such as SmartThings who wants to dim a ceiling or wall light from the hub, a schedule or a voice assistant. Z-Wave Long Range reaches the controller up to 1,300 ft in line of sight without relying on a mesh, which helps in large houses, garages and outbuildings, while Classic inclusion keeps it compatible with older hubs and lets it repeat the mesh. It is a North American 125V device and needs a neutral wire in the box.
What the Enbrighten 800 Series Z-Wave Paddle Dimmer offers
It is a true dimmer: press and release the paddle for on and off, press and hold to raise or lower the brightness, with dimmable LED, CFL, incandescent and halogen bulbs. The QuickFit housing is 1.18 in deep and has no break-off tabs, so it fits crowded boxes, and the SimpleWire terminals detect line and load on their own. A multicolor LED under the paddle works as a locator light, with four modes and eight colors set from the switch itself. Groups, scenes, schedules and single or double press associations run from the Z-Wave controller, and white and light almond paddles come in the box. Jasco covers it with a five-year limited warranty.
How does it handle 3-way and multi-switch setups?
Out of the box it expects Enbrighten add-on switches, up to four of them, which keep full dimming from every location (up to five places in total). It can also be set to work with one standard mechanical 3-way switch, using the air gap and the top paddle; in that mode the second switch only turns the light on and off, it does not dim. A traveler wire is needed in either multi-switch setup.
What to know before you buy
Nothing works without a Z-Wave hub: Alexa and Google Assistant reach it through a certified hub, not directly. There is no Wi-Fi, Zigbee, Thread or Matter radio and no Apple Home support, and it does not measure energy. It must not control fans, motors, fluorescent fixtures, transformers or switched receptacles, and it is rated for indoor use only.
Is the Enbrighten 800 Series Z-Wave Paddle Dimmer worth it?
For a Z-Wave home it is a solid, well-specified dimmer: Long Range, a generous load rating, a shallow housing, a five-year warranty and the choice between add-on switches and an existing 3-way switch. If you do not have a Z-Wave hub, or you want Matter or Apple Home, a Wi-Fi or Matter dimmer is the simpler choice.
Frequently asked questions
Does the Enbrighten 800 Series Z-Wave Paddle Dimmer need a hub?
Yes. It is a Z-Wave device, so it needs a Z-Wave certified controller such as a SmartThings hub for app control, schedules, scenes and voice assistants. Without one it still works as a manual dimmer at the wall.
Does it work with Alexa and Google Home?
Yes, through a Z-Wave hub. Alexa and Google Assistant reach it via a compatible Z-Wave hub, not directly, since smart speakers have no Z-Wave radio.
Can I use it with my existing 3-way switch?
Yes. It works with one standard 3-way switch for on and off at the second location, after switching it to that mode from the paddle. For dimming from every location, use up to four Enbrighten add-on switches instead.
Does it need a neutral wire?
Yes. It needs line, load, neutral and ground connections, plus a traveler wire for 3-way installations.
What bulbs and loads can it dim?
Dimmable LED and CFL bulbs up to 300W, and incandescent or halogen bulbs up to 600W. It must not be used with fans, motors, fluorescent fixtures, transformers or switched receptacles.
Does it support Matter or Apple Home?
No. It uses Z-Wave only, with no Matter, Thread, Zigbee or Wi-Fi radio, and it does not work with Apple Home.










