Q1: What is RadioRA 2?
RadioRA 2 is a whole-home dimming system that uses radio frequency communication. RadioRA 2 helps manage and monitor house lighting for convenience, security, and energy savings. RadioRA 2 sets the mood for daily activities by recalling lighting scenes. RadioRA 2 uses radio signals for communication, which means the system is installed without any additional wiring.
Q2: Can RadioRA 2 be installed in my existing home?
Yes, RadioRA 2 is designed to retrofit into any existing home. RadioRA 2 uses radio signals, so that no extra wires are needed for the system to work. RadioRA 2 dimmers and switches are direct replacements for existing switches and dimmers.
Q3: How big of a house can RadioRA 2 cover?
Lutron modeled a "worst case" home, including construction techniques such as cement, metal studs, stone walls and foil wrap. It was determined that in this worst case world, a conservative range for the RadioRA 2 RF signal repeater is 30 feet. Assuming the average height of a room is ten feet, a repeater could cover six floors (three floors above the repeater and three floors below it) or a 60 foot diameter sphere (30 foot radius). The coverage area of a repeater is approximately 2,800 square feet per floor. Using
4 RadioRA 2 repeaters, you could cover a floor as large as 12,000 square feet.
Q4: What components make up a RadioRA 2 system?
A RadioRA 2 system is made up of local lighting controls (dimmers, switches, and shade controls), master controls, and RF signal repeaters. Local lighting controls provide standard dimming or switching of your lighting and must be installed for any lighting that you want to be part of your system. Master controls can operate any or all of the lights and window treatments in the RadioRA 2 system, allowing you to control and monitor lighting scenes. LEDs beside each button on a master control indicate whether a scene is active or lights in a particular room are on. RF signal repeaters ensure that the system communicates reliably and maintains the signal range. Repeaters also enable system setup, giving each home a unique digital code and allowing the homeowner to add more RadioRA 2 devices in the future. System packages provide everything needed for a complete system. Additional components may be added as necessary for your home.
Q5: What types of lighting can RadioRA 2 control?
RadioRA 2 switches are rated to handle any type of lighting up to 8A, but interfaces are available for larger loads. RadioRA 2 dimmers directly control up to 1000W of incandescent, 1000VA of magnetic low-voltage (MLV), 500W of electronic low-voltage (ELV), and 5A of fluorescent (requires Lutron Tu-Wire dimming ballasts). There are also interfaces available to dim larger loads of incandescent, MLV or ELV, and an interface to dim up to 16A of fluorescent using Lutron 120V dimming ballasts.
Q6: Can I upgrade/expand my existing RadioRA 2 system?
Yes, you can add all types of RadioRA 2 devices at any time. However, they must be within the appropriate distance of an RF signal repeater: 60 feet for another repeater, 30 feet for all other RadioRA 2 devices (except accessory dimmers and accessory switches) Adding more components can't exceed the 100 device limits for
the stage 1 level or 200 devices at the stage 2 level. (which will require the services of a trained Lutron Installer)
Q7: What are the main differences between RadioRA 2 and the original RadioRA 1?
RadioRA 2 can have up to 100
devices on the system and up to 200 devices at the stage 2 level (requires certified training and computer software) RadioRA 2 operates at a different frequency, which means that the components are not compatable with the original Radiora 1 products.
Q8: Can RadioRA 2 integrate with other systems in my home?
Yes, a number of system enhancement interfaces are available for interfacing RadioRA 2 to other systems in the home. Individual interfaces are available for RS-232, infrared, and contact closures. including an RS-232 port, three contact closures, an astronomical timeclock, and an RF signal repeater.
Q9: Can I control my window treatments with RadioRA 2?
Yes. RadioRA 2 has a Sivoia and Sivoia QED control (RA-SVC-) which wires directly to the electronic drive unit. AC shades may also be controlled using a RadioRA 2 switch and a relay
Q10: Can I control my RadioRA 2 system with a handheld universal TV remote?
Yes. Using the new RadioRA 2 system can be controlled by
by a programmable remote control. Call Lutron technical support at 800.523.9466 for inquiries about a specific remote control.
Q11: Can I activate my lights from my security system?
Yes. The new RadioRA 2 visor
control receiver has a security contact closure inputs, which allow your security system to activate your lighting. Typically, interior lights are programmed to turn on to full brightness, and exterior lights flash to attract attention upon security system activation. RadioRA 2 devices will be "locked out" whenever the security system is activated, so that lights may not be turned off from dimmers, switches, or master controls.
Q12: Can RadioRA 2 control my lights when I'm not home?
Yes. The main RadioRA 2 repeater has a built in astronomic timeclock, lighting changes can be activated based on time of day, sunrise, or sunset. With the built-in "away" mode, lighting changes can be scheduled to occur while you are away, making the home appear occupied. The "away" mode also uses random time shifts from day to day to simulate a more natural schedule. *requires Lutron training & software to unlock the time clock feature in the master repeater
Q13: What can the timeclock do for my system?
The built in astronomical timeclock on the main repeater can activate scenes at specific times of day, or relative to sunrise and sunset. Use the RS-232 port and contact closure inputs for integration with third-party devices. *requires Lutron training and software to unlock the time clock feature in the master repeater
Q14: Is RadioRA 2 a power line carrier product?
No, RadioRA 2 uses radio signals for communication. Power line carrier products uses the home's electrical wiring for communication, which is susceptible to interference generated by other appliances turning off and on. RadioRA 2 is not susceptible to power line interference and false signals, which may cause erratic behavior in power line systems.
Q15: Will other equipment in my home or neighboring homes interfere with my RadioRA 2 system?
RadioRA 2 operates at a frequency different from most remote controls, cellular/portable phones, and other wireless devices. The RadioRA 2 communication protocol ensures that any device operating at the same frequency will not affect the lighting on your system. Also, your system will not affect other RadioRA 2 systems. During startup, your system searches for other systems in the area and creates a unique code to prevent cross-system interaction.
Q16: What happens to a RadioRA 2 system after a power outage?
RadioRA 2 has non-volatile memory, which maintains all system addressing and master control programming during a power outage. After a power outage, the memory restores all system lighting as it was before the power failure.
Q17: Can lightning or power surges harm RadioRA 2 in any way?
RadioRA 2 devices use sophisticated protection circuitry to help guard against lightning and surges. While it is true that nothing will survive a direct lightning strike, RadioRA 2 will remain unharmed by normal electrical storms and static electricity.
Q18: What is the range of the car visor remote transmitter?
The RadioRA 2 car visor transmitter (RR-VCTX-WH) has a typical range of 150 feet. It can control both lighting and your garage door(s) from this distance.
Q19: Will other RadiorRA 2 visor controls open my garage door?
No. Each RadioRA 2 visor control is coded with a unique serial number. During installation and setup, the multi-function entry master control learns which visor controls are in the system. Communications from all other RadioRA 2 visor controls are ignored.
Q20: What are the system limits for RadioRA 2 A first level RadioRA 2 system can have up to:
100 dimmers and switches* (do not count accessory dimmers and accessory switches)14 master controls and system interfaces, 4 RF signal repeaters (1 minimum)
*Dimmers and switches also include GRAFIK RA units, GRAFIK Eye interfaces, and Sivoia controls. A second level RadioRA 2 system can have up to 200 devices (requires a certified Lutron installer)
Q21: Where do I put my RadioRA 2 devices?
All RadioRA 2 devices must be within 30 feet of a signal repeater in any direction, including up and down. (This does not include accessory dimmers or accessory switches, which can be located anywhere) Multiple repeaters are used to cover larger areas. The RadioRA 2 repeaters can be placed under sofas, in closets, or on top of furniture in order to reach all devices on different floors. Repeaters must be within 60 feet of each other.
Q22: How do I program my system?
RadioRA 2 master controls are programmed manually using button presses. Certain combinations of buttons are used to enter programming mode, then the lights are adjusted at each dimmer for each master control button. This simple process is described in detail in the RadioRA 2 Setup Guide. No computer is required upto 100 devices, beyond that the services of a trained Lutron installer is needed.
Q23: What would be typical master control programming?
Buttons on master controls can activate a single light or a group of lights. You would typically program master control buttons to work with your daily activities. For example, if you always turn on the same set of lights when you enter your home at night, you could set up a single master control button in the entryway to turn on all of these lights, instead of walking around to each dimmer. Or, if you like the lights in the family room to be a certain way for viewing movies, with some lights bright, some lights dim, and some lights off, you would program a single button on a master control to make all of the lighting in the room go to this "scene" when pressed. Buttons can also be set up to monitor a group of lights. A button can be programmed such that if there are any lights on in a particular "room," the LED beside the button will be on.
Q24: What are "Room" buttons? What are "Scene" buttons?
Master control buttons can be programmed as "room" buttons or "scene" buttons. "Room" buttons are used to monitor the on/off status of a group of lights. A press of a "room" button will turn all of the lights in the room on. As long as any of the lights assigned to the button are on, the LED for that button is on. "Scene" buttons are used to create a mood or atmosphere in a room. When a "scene" button is pressed, each light assigned to the button goes to its predefined level. If any of the lights are adjusted, the LED will go out. Whenever a "room" or "scene" button's LED is on, another press of the button will turn the assigned lights off.
Q25: Can I reduce "wall clutter" by using only master controls to control my system?
Yes, but any lighting you want on your RadioRA 2 system must still be controlled by a RadioRA 2 dimmer, switch, or Grafik RA. To reduce "wall clutter," these devices may be hidden in closets, your basement, an attic, or anywhere out of sight that is still within 30 feet of an RF signal repeater. You may then use wall-mounted master controls at all room entry points and tabletop master controls in key areas for control over your entire system.
