Current State Of RadioRA 2

[potts.mike]

I am looking to move on from Z Wave and people seem pretty positive on RadioRA 2. I am trying to get a grasp on what is required for a minimum DIY install. 
 

• Is there still some sort of online trainnnig I need to go through to program the system.
• If I want to start with controlling two loads Would a dimmer, hybrid keypad and main repeater work?
• Is a GrafikeyeQS required for lighting control? 

 
Thanks for the help all.

 

[picta]

1. Yes
2. Yes (if the devices are within 30' from the repeater)
3. No

 

[potts.mike]

I'm signed up for the training, will look into that a bit more over the weekend.
 
I plan on ordering the RRD-H6BRL-WH RadioRa 2 Hybrid Wall Keypad, Main Repeater RR-MAIN-REP-WH and RRD-6CL-WH 600W CFL/LED Dimmer 

 

[Neurorad]

Careful with the RRD-6CL. Although designed as a multipurpose dimmer, it doesn't work well with very low watt LED loads, e.g. a single fixture/lamp.

 

[Neurorad]

Some places are cheaper than others, for RA2. Also, some distributors have great support.

I've bought RA2 devices from local electrical distributors and from Worthington, at about the same prices. Sign up for an acct with Worthington.

 

[zenix]

• If I want to start with controlling two loads Would a dimmer, hybrid keypad and main repeater work?

 
You can even start out without main repeater and add one later on.

 

[wkearney99]

Systems like this work best when starting with a plan for the whole thing, not just a few switches or keypads.  Mainly because you discover there are some places where you really do (or don't) want a particular kind of device.  As in, you put in a hybrid keypad and it becomes needlessly tedious trying to tap a tiny button all the time.  When it would have been better to change the box to a 2-gang (or more) and put both a paddle dimmer AND a keypad (as in, not the hybrid).  
 
So, yes, you can start that way but from the perspective of someone that DID that the first time, you really shouldn't.  I did a few bits and pieces using RA1 and trying to work around existing wall boxes.  That was a mistake.  I ran into several points where a keypad was a dumb idea, or I wasn't willing to expand the box when it was really necessary.  Hindsight and all that, I did not make that mistake with the new house and RA2.

 

[rsw686]

Yes you need to take their online training in order to download the essentials software, which is needed to program the repeater. I would buy one of their kits to start as you will save money over buying the individual components. If I recall it was 20-30% cheaper for what was included.

 

[potts.mike]

 
You can even start out without main repeater and add one later on.

How do you program the system without the main repeater?

I plan on having a longer term plan than just the two switches but it will likely be a one switch a month kinda thing. It's a small apt. So in three or four months I'll have everything replaced. It being an apt. Thought won't be cutting in any new boxes etc. we plan on buying a place in the next two years that I can really customize.

 

[wkearney99]

Having been a landlord in the past, I can say that's not something I'd ever want my tenants doing.  NO alterations to the electrical wiring.  Wires inside of boxes are not intended for frequent changes.  Way too many potential problems from frayed insulation, repeatedly bent and fatigued conductors, improperly done connections leading to sparks and/or overloads.  NO, NO, NO.  Absolutely not for temporary 'in now, out when moving' scenarios.  That's just begging for trouble with rushed removal and replacement of whatever crap happened to be found during the move.  I'd only allow for one-time, leave-in-place changes.  Even then it'd have to be someone either already licensed as an electrician or pretty damned impressive with their DIY skills.
 
Because when you're long gone and the wiring catches fire, who's going to be stuck paying for the problems?  Or worse, held liable for the deaths?  No.  

 

[potts.mike]

The maintenance guys for our complex will do the install, they replaced everything with zwave for me when we moved in three years ago.

 

[zenix]

How do you program the system without the main repeater?

 
Oops, sorry, you can't actually program anything without main repeater. So you can get a few dimmers first and set those up, but you can not program them. Then you can get a main repeater and program it without using PC software. It's called "walk around programming", meaning you walk around a lot and push various button combinations to add devices to the repeater and setup keypad scenes, see the PDF. And the last step is to get RadioRA setup software and use that to setup the system - that gives you much more flexibility as well as ability to access the system from iPhone apps.
 
http://www.lutron.com/TechnicalDocumentLibrary/044-254b.pdf