Integrating Lutron QS Triathlon Shades

[Anthony A.]

Im using a Lutron Homeworks P5 lighting system that has 1 rs232 output only which feeds my OP2. The wireless shades are able to communicate to the P5 processor if I purchase a RadioRa2 wireless repeater. Problem with that is that it would have to be connected rs232 and the lutron processor only has 1 rs232 spot. I dont want to lose rs232 control from the OP2 so what are my options for controlling the shades from the OP2 directly? The shadrs come with the lutron pico remote for standalone control. I would like to be able to automate the shades with the OP2. Any suggestions?

 

[picta]

You can either control the shades from OP using another serial port connected to RA2 repeater or you can share the RA port between the two with this:
 
http://www.bb-elec.com/Products/Serial-Connectivity/Serial-Data-Tools-Adapters/Port-Splitters.aspx

 

[Anthony A.]

I was told that rs232 splitters can cause data collisions and should be avoided in general for HA systems. Is this splitter any different? Also, with the RA2 repeater I read the install guide which said its rs232 had to be connected to a lutron processor. Can it be programmed as a seperate processor and have its rs232 act as an output to the OP2?

 

[picta]

I am not sure why would you be told that, I use 3 of these splitters with my OP2. Never had a problem with B&B brand splitter. You can use RA repeater with OP2 on a different port and configure it as RadioRA 2.

 

[az1324]

Well it is true that collisions are possible with splitters, but how problematic that is depends on the protocol of the devices involved.  In the best case collisions are very rare and the devices can detect and overcome them. 

 

[Anthony A.]

I am not sure why would you be told that, I use 3 of these splitters with my OP2. Never had a problem with B&B brand splitter. You can use RA repeater with OP2 on a different port and configure it as RadioRA 2.

You got me thinking. I guess I could use a Radiora2 repeater independant from the homeworks processor and just have the OP2 do the automation instead of the homeworks. I didnt realize you could setup radiora2 with pc software. Is this illumination software or is it something different?

 

[picta]

You'll have to use Lutron RA software to configure your shades. They should be be assigned unit numbers that are greater than your last unit from the Homeworks. Say you have 64 lights, then the shades will be 65 and greater. In HAI panel you'll assign the unit group that starts with 65 to Radio RA2.
That is one of the features that distinguishes HAI panel from Elk, you can mix different lighting technologies.

 

[Anthony A.]

Awesome. Thank you so much for the help. I will be getting the parts in a weeks time and will update this thread.

 

[wkearney99]

I'm also about to send in my order for QS shades.  Tell me more about the difference between how Elk and HAI treat integrating them?

 

[picta]

This is not specific to Lutron shades, in HAI you can have 256 units that can be configured as different types (UPB, X10, Lutron, RA2, z-wave etc.) for each group of 16 units. In Elk it is not easy to do, but may still be possible for some protocols that are based on simple ASCII strings.