New Construction / Lutron RadioRa2 / Lighting suggestions needed

7 years ago

Hello, we are having our home built by CalAtlantic homes and we have our low/high voltage meeting this weekend. I would like to be well prepared for the meeting and have a solid pre-wiring plan.

I intend to have a decent amount of home automation done ie controlling some lights, alarms, thermostat, garage, front door lock etc. After a lot of research on this forum and elsewhere, Ive decided to go with the Lutron Radiora2.

Why? 1) Very reliable, they've been in the business for many years 2) Decent integration with some 3rd parties and 3) HomeKit compatible, so I can contol the loads via siri/ipad/apple tv etc.

I havent fully understood whats needed for setting up a radiora2 system. Heres what I know

1) I need a repeater that has a 30' range in each direction. I need to hook this up to my network via ethernet (so I can control using homekit)

2) I need dimmers and other wireless switches that will be controlled by the repeater . Each load (or set of loads) would need to be controlled by a switch. Below Ive tried to show the basic lighting loads . Each of the loads with the same color will be controlled by one switch.

What I don’t know

How do I get it prewired. I can ask the electrical company to prefer it the way I want (with some additional cost of course ). Do I ask them to just give me separate switches for each of the color coded groups and then I could have them replaced with Lutron switches?
Do I need to prewire for data cables, to control those lights?
Do I need to wire for dimmers as well cause Im definitely going to add Lutron dimmers for those light groups.

Also any kind of feedback and suggestions are always welcome. Ive just started reading up on home automation and my home might get completed around April 2017. I’ve also registered for the online Lutron courses so that will give me some more details.

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Comments (5)

freeoscar
7 years ago
last modified: 7 years ago
I'm about 6 months ahead of you and on a similar path, so hopefully I can be of help. 1st of all, Radio Ra2 is NOT homekit compatible. The Caseta family is, but much to the consternation of Radio Ra2 users, the recently released hub has no Homekit (nor Alexa) integration. They do have pretty good apps, though, so if that's all you are looking for then you are good, but you won't be able to use voice controls. Lutron has yet to give a definitive answer as to when/if they will have Homekit integration for RadioRa2.

The coursework is great - whether you go with RadioRa2 or not it is pretty informative for understanding smart lighting systems.

No, you don't need any data wiring (aside from connecting the main repeater to a router). All of the keypads/switches/dimmers are connected on your normal lighting circuits, and communicate through radio waves.

No, there is no different wiring for dimmers vs. switches. However different lighting loads require different types of switches/dimmers - you'll learn the difference during the course.

After taking the course you'll be armed with the knowledge to map out your system. Think carefully about where you'd like keypads, and make sure the electrician wires a gang box for those as he does the house. I worked with my electrician to just have him install the dimmers/switches/keypads when he does the house so I don't have to go around replacing everything, plus he knocked a little off the price as the initial contract stated he would provide regular, non-smart switches. I laid everything out and will do the programming (house not finished yet).

Feel free to fire away with more questions - happy to help if I can.
Ronald thanked freeoscar
Ronald
Original Author
7 years ago
Thank you freeoscar! I never knew RadioRa2 wasnt homekit compatible, I guess I just assumed it would be. But after a little digging, it seems like Lutron is going to bring homekit compatibility to RadioRa2 via the connect bridge. Il try to convince the electric company to use the switches/dimmers I provide , so I dont have to hook them up on my own. Yeah I went through some initial basic courses and got an idea about the load types etc. Will update this post with more questions and progress...thanks!
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freeoscar
7 years ago
Unfortunately the one they came out with already will not be upgradeable because Homekit would require new hardware. I'm not sure what the holdup is, but I'm holding out getting one until they announce definitively one way or another. And to be honest, I'm not really sure what the use case is for controlling lights remotely, though I'm sure I'd come up with a reason to use it if I had it. I do think Alexa would be useful - just being able to yell out "Alexa, turn on the family room lights" as opposed to getting off my butt or asking my kids to do it :)
freeoscar
7 years ago
Lutron just announced that Radio Ra2 will start working with Alexa. Still nothing about Homekit, however. They also recently announced integration with Sonos (which itself announced upcoming integration with Alexa), so it will make a nice little ecosystem - especially with the just announced Echo Dot's.
Ronald
Original Author
7 years ago
Thanks for the update freeoscar. Yeah I'm looking into the sonos sound systems. I was originally planning on getting the game room, master bath and patio pre-wired for speakers but it was quite expensive. Figured I'd go for wireless speaker system like sonos. Hope Lurton announces HomeKit integration soon

New Construction / Lutron RadioRa2 / Lighting suggestions needed

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New Construction / Lutron RadioRa2 / Lighting suggestions needed

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