Lutron has recently introduced a new system that sits in between their RadioRA 2 and Caséta system. It’s call the RA2 Select. RA2 Select has integrated the best from both systems and put it into a package that is more affordable to customers that seeks the flexibility of RadioRA 2 at lower prices. It also uses the Caséta phone app to do the programming, making it much easier for the end user to play around with their scenes.

RA2 Select uses all the existing RadioRA 2 devices such as the Maestro dimmers and PICO wireless control. However, seeTouch keypads and RF modules and wireless occupancy or daylight sensors are not yet available. It uses a different repeater called the RA2 Select main repeater, which is the equivalent of the main repeater plus the Lutron connect bridge in one module. This helps customers saves money because they no longer need to buy two separate components to do the same thing. It can host 100 devices total in a system and can have up to 4 wireless repeaters to extend the wireless range.

RA2 Select is using the “Lutron Caséta & RA2 Select App” to do all its programmings available to Android or iOS devices. This makes programming a lot easier than RadioRA 2 as that system you will need to have a computer with proper software to program and create/edit scenes of your home.

RA2 Select is also extremely easy to upgrade. If at any point the user decided that they need the seeTouch keypads or any of the sensors that only RadioRA 2 has, all they need to do is the get the RadioRA 2 main repeater and Lutron connect bridge and swap out the RA2 Select main repeater. There will be no extra devices that needs to be replaced therefore saving the home owner a lot of time and money.

5 BENEFITS OF COMMERCIAL BUILDING CONTROL WITH LUTRON VIVE

Lite Rite Controls recently spoke with Chelsea Till, Senior Sales Engineer at Lutron about commercial building control with Lutron Vive. We wanted to find out what set Lutron Vive apart from other commercial building control systems. Here is our recent conversation:

Lite Rite Controls (LRC): Hello Chelsea and thank you for answering a few questions about Lutron Vive. Can you tell us what makes Lutron Vive offering superior to other commercial building control offerings on the market today?

Chelsea Till (CT):  Lutron Vive is a great solution for commercial building control for a number of reasons.  One, most of the products have been available for about 10 years and have been installed in many different scenarios, including historical buildings, medical treatment facilities, government, education, and retail. The system is compatible with many different types of light sources and dimming protocols. Its wireless backbone is Clear Connect, which in my opinion is one of the biggest and most important differentiators of our product on the market.

LRC: Can you tell us a little more about Clear connect and why it’s important for commercial building controls?

CT: Clear Connect technology was developed before Wi-Fi was even available.  434MHz is a channel with specific FCC mandates that limit the total amount of communication time between devices.  Because of these mandates, very few wireless devices use this channel, which means no interference with other systems.  Another reason why 434MHz is the best channel for commercial lighting control communication is the increased distance the signals can travel and the types of materials it can travel through.  Load Controllers have a 30/60 ft. rule and the hub can talk through any construction material within 71ft.

LRC: How long has Lutron been developing and testing Vive technology?

CT: Clear Connect was created sometime around 1997.  Energi TriPak first debuted in 2008.  The Vive hub was in R&D for about two years before the full launch of the product last November (2017).

LRC: So Lutron Vive’s technology has an established track record. That’s great. Is there a challenging job that Vive was used on and will you talk about how Vive worked through those challenges? Applications for Lutron Vive

CT: We had a 100-year-old high school with asbestos and lead all over everything.  The hallways are over 250 ft. long. The school wanted to use sensors to shut off lights when no one was in the hallway. However, running wire is too costly because of the required abatement.  Using wireless load controllers and the Vive hub, we ended up using time clock functionality to save energy.  This solution was the most cost effective because of the decreased wiring labor, much less asbestos and lead interference (if any at all), and we removed sensors from the hallways that could be damaged in a high school environment.

Another solution was using the Pico Remote to solve ADA compliance.  The same 100-year-old school with lead and asbestos.  We kept the switch in its current location but replaced it with a Maestro Wireless switch (or dimmer).  The Pico was then placed at the correct ADA height.  This gave proper control to both disabled and non-disabled occupants.

LRC: Great solution for a difficult situation. Overall, what are customers saying out there about installation and programming?

CT: General feedback is that this product is very simple to install, simple to program, and simple for the end user to understand.  One of the great things about this product is the rolling commissioning.  Once you commission a room, that space is up and running and you can add other spaces at any time without disturbing the initial rooms.  This product also allows you to build a system that’s right for you, by starting standalone only and adding a hub later, or jumping in head first, right away.

LRC: Simple, affordable and scalable solutions for today’s demanding energy codes, even under the most demanding circumstances. It’s no surprise that Vive by Lutron is generating so much interest. Thank you for taking the time to answer our questions.

Enjoy this five minute video with Edrei about Lutron Vive.

Introducing a revolutionary wireless lighting control solution for new and existing commercial buildings. Vive wireless solutions offer a multi-strategy approach that accommodates your budget and performance needs now, and for the future of your building. Visit lutron.com/Vive today for more information.

LUTRON VIVE

Introducing a revolutionary wireless lighting control solution for new and existing commercial buildings.

Design

• Build from a full suite of products
• Combine individual fixture control and area control
• Expand the system at any time

Install

• Less wiring for faster installation as well as reduce labor time
• Push button setup or using smart device
• Start small and expand at any time

Maintain

• Monitor, adjust, and manage from any smart device
• Energy saving
• Minimize down time
• Expand capability
• Simple integration

Energy-saving control strategies

• Occupancy/vacancy sensing
• Daylight harvesting
• Time scheduling
• Demand response
• Plug load control
• High-end trim
• Personal dimming control
• HVAC integration
• System optimization service

Vive wireless solutions

• Control type support:
  • Lutron Hi-lume EcoSystem
  • 0-10V
  • Phase control
  • Switching
  • CCO
• Load type support:
  • LED
  • Incandescent/halogen
  • Fluorescent
  • MLV
  • ELV
  • CFL

Mounting options

• Wallbox mount
• Ceiling mount
• Fixture mount

Device setup

• Setup and program with Vive wireless hub
  1. Press and hold on wireless device
  2. Vive wireless hub identifies the device
  3. Connect the devices and program through any smart device
• Setup without a Vive wireless hub
  1. Press and hold wireless dimmer for 6 seconds
  2. Press and hold wireless occupancy sensor for 6 seconds
  3. Now the dimmer is connected to the occupancy sensor

Thought Lighting Control was complicated? Take a look at this video to see just how easy it can be with the Lutron Energi Tri-Pak® Wireless Lighting Control System