lutron homeworks vs homeworks qs

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RA2 vs Homeworks QS

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Thread: RA2 vs Homeworks QS

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I was told that RA2 is good for homes up to 5,000 sq ft or so. Is this a good rule of thumb to decide when to use RA2 vs Homeworks QS? Homeworks QS is about 2x to 3x the cost than RA2? Thanks in advance

It depends on the size of the system not the size of the house. RRA2 is good for up to 200 devices (2 main repeaters). And I believe 4 aux repeaters per main repeater. Depending on the size and shape of course but that could be a pretty huge house. We have a system we are installing in a 8,000 square ft house. Only in common areas and master suite. 1 main and 2 aux repeaters. It's only something like 50 devices. HW would be total over kill.

Thanks a lot Lukeetal. Is each seeTouch/seeTemp keypad, fan control, dimmer, occupancy sensor considered a device? How about the individual switches per circuit hidden in the closet? Would like to be able to estimate the number of devices needed. Sorry for the fundamental questions. I will take the RRA2 training soon.

Yes, you don't have to include rd-rd or rd-rs so I am not sure if they count if included. Everything else with a part number rd- counts to ward count.

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RadioRA 2 or HomeWorks: Which Lutron Control System Is Best?

Let’s Look at the Differences Between These Two Smart Lighting Control Systems Tweet

Lutron is an industry leader in residential lighting control, with solutions for virtually any home. From single smart dimmers to whole-home light management systems, Lutron delivers best-in-class products to help homeowners in Los Angeles, CA, and beyond improve everyday comfort and convenience.

Two notable  smart lighting control  systems offered by Lutron are Radio RA 2 and HomeWorks. Beyond lights, these systems can control your window shades and thermostats, too! So, how do these systems differ? Which one should you consider for your unique home? Let’s answer these questions below.

SEE ALSO: 4 Creative Ways to Use Smart Lighting Control This Holiday Season

RadioRA 2: Great for Retrofits

RadioRA 2 is Lutron’s comprehensive and entirely wireless control system. It’s ideal for retrofits since there’s no need to open walls for rewiring. Instead, wall switches are replaced with wireless smart switches, dimmers, and keypads. Plus, integrate  motorized shades , thermostats, and sensors, too!

While RadioRA 2 isn’t Lutron’s only wireless control system, it’s the best option for larger homes. Not only does it support up to 200 devices and coverage for up to 7,500 square feet, but it also presents homeowners with a wide selection of wall controls. Lutron’s Grafik T and SeeTouch wall controls are highly configurable and come in various colors and finishes to match your décor.

With a RadioRA 2 control system, you can also conveniently operate lights and climate using the Lutron Connect app, which offers easy remote management of your devices, scene creation, and more. Or for hands-free control, add voice control capability through popular voice assistants like Amazon Alexa!

HomeWorks: Great for New Builds

HomeWorks is considered Lutron’s most high-end and customizable home control system. Capable of wireless and wired system communication, HomeWorks is ideal for new builds where homeowners may want to wire their load control devices to one centralized location, like a basement or closet.

Because a centralized system design eliminates the need for local control devices in every space, homeowners can  reduce cluttered wall switches  that distract from their interior design (often called "wall acne") and select the best wall keypad locations for convenient control of lights and climate.

HomeWorks supports up to 10,000 devices and coverage for up to 50,000 square feet! It also offers the widest range of elegant wall controls, which provides for much more complex and customized home designs. Additionally, HomeWorks is compatible with  Ketra tunable  LEDs  so homeowners can take advantage of tunable white and colored light to energize and beautify their spaces.

Like RadioRA 2, homeowners can also control their lights, shades, and thermostats using the Lutron Connect app, voice control, one-tap scenes, and automated schedules.

Our Lutron Dealers Can Help You Decide

Let the Lutron dealers at Vision and Sound help you select the right lighting control system for your budget and home. We’d love to talk to you about your project! Book a free consultation by  contacting us here  or messaging us in the live chat box below.

You can also view our suite of  Lutron video tutorials  to explore what’s possible with the Lutron Connect app. Learn basic navigation tips, how to create lighting and temperature schedules, and more!

READ NEXT: 3 Ideas to Make the Most of Tunable Lighting Control at Home

on Friday, 29 October 2021. Posted in Smart Lighting Control Los Angeles, CA , Smart Lighting Control

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Upgrading to Lutron Homeworks QS or QSX

Why upgrade your homeworks interactive or illumination lighting control system.

Lutron Homeworks Interactive was launched in the year 2000, and Homeworks Illumination in 2005.  These systems were designed to control the light sources used at that time: incandescent, halogen, low voltage tungsten halogen, low voltage Xenon, Cold cathode.  Many of these light sources are no longer in use due to obsolescence and newer more efficient LED technology taking its place.

To reduce energy consumption the UK Government have prohibited the manufacture of halogen lamps.   When compared to LED technology, halogen bulbs are inefficient, use more energy and reach high temperatures. Although replacing halogen lamps with LED lamps may seem like a simple task, using LED lamps on a lighting control system that is designed for dimming halogen light lamps, can cause a multitude of problems, such as flicker and not being able to turn lights off reliably.

The reason why your Lutron Homeworks Interactive or Illumination (or other brand of control system) for example, may not work with LED light fixtures, is because the phase dimmers used on older lighting control systems are different to the ones used in newer lighting control systems such as Lutron Homeworks QS and Lutron Homeworks QSX .

There are two types of phase dimmers commonly used:

• Leading edge - traditionally used to dim halogen lamps
• Trailing edge – now used to dim LED’s

Typical Homeworks Interactive/Illumination lighting control panels (with covers removed)

Older lighting control systems such as Lutron Homeworks Interactive and Illumination used leading edge dimming modules such as HW-RPM-4U-230-CE, HW-RPM-4A-230-CE, HWI-WPM-6D-230CE which are not compatible with LED fittings and lamps. LED’s require trailing edge dimming modules which are designed for lower power lighting loads.

The Lutron Homeworks QS and Lutron Homeworks QSX systems have been designed to control LED with trailing edge dimming, so if you are considering replacing halogen light fittings with LED, to reduce energy consumption and improve performance, you will find that an upgrade will be needed.

Beside the issue with incompatibility, there can also be difficulties with supporting Homeworks Interactive and Illumination. For example, if your Lutron Homeworks Interactive or Illumination Processor fails, there is no way to extract the data from it. These processors are obsolete and so an emergency upgrade to Homeworks QS or QSX would be needed.

To avoid these situations, we highly recommend, being aware of the solutions in advance and factor this in with your timescale and budget when considering a Lutron upgrade. It may be that only certain components require upgrading, if you would like to keep your keypads that you are already familiar with. We can also carry out a phased upgrade plan, if you have ongoing refurbishment plans for example. Upgrading your Lutron system will run a lot smoother and simpler if we are able to extract the code from the existing processor.  

Benefits of upgrading:

Upgrading to the latest generation of Lutron lighting control will provide excellent performance and reliability and advanced range of integration opportunities.

Performance

The Lutron Homeworks QS or QSX system will allow you dim LEDs to their optimum performance using the 4A5 Pro LED+ Phase Adaptive Dimmer Modules . For enhanced performance, dimming protocols such as 0-10V and DALI can be used which can offer superior dimming of LED’s and allow colour tunable / tunable white (via DALI Type 6 (DT6) or DALI Type 8 (DT8)) LED’s to be used.  For areas where colour changing, or dynamic control is needed, the DMX protocol can be used.

Keypad Flexibility

Lutron have a wide range of elegant keypads including Allisse and Palladiom , International See touch and wireless Pico in a variety of finishes to match your aesthetic as well as an option for you keep your existing keypads.

Automated Blinds

Control the brilliant range of motorised blind options from Lutron including Roller Blinds , Wood Blinds , Honeycomb Blinds and Horizontal Sheer Blinds . Ultra-quiet and battery powered are suited to fit a variety of window treatments. Existing Lutron QED and third party curtains and blinds can also be incorporated into an upgraded system.

Control from anywhere

With the Lutron App you can control lights, shades, from anywhere in the world. You can also make changes to pre-set lighting scenes to your requirements eliminating the need to call out an engineer when you want to make changes.

Integration

The Lutron Homeworks QS and QSX allows you to integrate Amazon Alexa, Apple HomeKit, Google Assistant and Sonos seamlessly, a great solution for people who require the advantages of technology assisted living. Integration via Telnet to legacy third party systems is possible with Homeworks QS .  LEAP Integration is available with Homeworks QSX .

Our process to upgrade would include:

• A preliminary discussion to discuss the project, your priorities, phasing and timescale.
• A detailed survey to record the lighting circuits, extract the system code if the processor is still online and take note of the keypad functionality.
• Provide a proposal with cost options for a full or partial upgrade including dimming modules and keypads.
• After confirmation on the project proposal we will produce a lighting control schematic, we will proceed with ordering the equipment and preparing and testing as such as possible offsite. This will minimise downtime and disruption whilst the system is changed over.
• If there are new keypads, we would discuss and agree on any engraving with you.
• Once we have built and prepared the new equipment, we will arrange for a delivery date. All items are packed logical order for ease of installation on site.
• We would arrange a convenient time where the system can be taken off line whilst the new one is installed.
• Once completed and programmed, we will check everything works as intended, and introduce you to the Lutron app, showing you how to make simple adjustments.

There are many benefits in upgrading to a Lutron Homeworks QSX system, so if you find yourselves in a similar position where you would like to change from Halogen to LED or if you are concerned that your system may need upgrading in the near future, please do not hesitate to contact us.

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Savant Adds Lutron’s HomeWorks QS System

Savant Systems has added complete control compatibility with Lutron ’s new HomeWorks QS system, as part of Savant’s Excellence In AV initiative — an effort to achieve global compatibility between Savant’s control systems and a diverse group of manufacturers.   “We are pleased to be part of Savant’s Excellence in A

By RS Staff

Savant Systems has added complete control compatibility with Lutron ’s new HomeWorks QS system, as part of Savant’s Excellence In AV initiative — an effort to achieve global compatibility between Savant’s control systems and a diverse group of manufacturers.

“We are pleased to be part of Savant’s Excellence in AV program, making integration efficient and intuitive for installers and providing the most elegant solution to end users,” said Rich Black, residential product development manager at Lutron.

Participation in Savant’s Excellence In AV cooperative program will facilitate the seamless integration of Lutron’s HomeWorks QS device protocol within the Savant system environment.

“Maintaining compatibility with all of the latest product introductions from our Excellence in AV participants is the core mission of the program and critical to our dealer/installers,” said Savant’s director of business development, Bob Ross. “We are pleased to be able to work directly with Lutron in order to profile new products in a timely fashion and provide field support bringing real value to our dealer/installers.”

The core of Savant’s technology is an open programmable platform built upon the Mac OS X operating system supporting various communication protocols and offering high speed AV switching, scaling and processing.

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