Lutron homeworks

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bkludecke

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Location
Big Bear Lake, CA
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Retired Electrical Contractor
Does anyone out there have any experience with the lutron homeworks automation system? If so how well does it work and do you have any advice for a new user. we are starting an 8,000 sq. ft. home and the contractor and homeowner are both cheapskates.
 
bkludecke said:
Does anyone out there have any experience with the lutron homeworks automation system? If so how well does it work and do you have any advice for a new user. we are starting an 8,000 sq. ft. home and the contractor and homeowner are both cheapskates.
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If the ho and contractors are cheapskates then they aren't going to use HW. You as an EC can't even buy the product unless you get certified by Lutron.

The product is an excellent product with many bells and whistle. More than most people want or need.
 
Lutron

Lutron

We are both a home automation company, as well as an electrical contractor. We are very familiar with the Lutron system, and install these quite often in our area. The system is great, and is capable of doing an impressive array of things, but, like anything this complex, is worthy of doing your homework.

Keep in mind:

1. The lighting "loads" need to be carefully identified, isolated, and run as separate home runs all the way back to the panel. Instead of running switches, every light or group of lights becomes a load, and gets its own home run all the way back. Then, a low voltage- usually a Cat5e, is run from the same panel back to the switch location. Lots of extra wire, lots of extra labor.

2. Emergency stand-by generators tend to wreak havoc with the Lutron system. This is primarily because most standby units ave some Hertz variations, and the Lutron system requires a fairly stable 60Hz to maintain properly. Consider selling the customer on a back-up UPS for their components and system

3. Programming is computerized, and needs to be done by someone thoroughly trained in the software.

I'd be glad to answer any more questions, should they arise..
 
What is the realistic benifit of these systems? Why is it better than a switch or switches in every room to control the lights in that room. It sounds like there is a lot more wiring and complexity in the fancy systme. What am I missing?
 
laramie said:
The lighting "loads" need to be carefully identified, isolated, and run as separate home runs all the way back to the panel. Instead of running switches, every light or group of lights becomes a load, and gets its own home run all the way back. Then, a low voltage- usually a Cat5e, is run from the same panel back to the switch location. Lots of extra wire, lots of extra labor.
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I have seen hw installed 2 ways. One is the way you described above and the other was to just wire the house normally and instead of regular switches we used the HW switch--- no low voltage involved so I guess it is the wireless system. I installed the switches that they supplied and they did all the programming.

The switches would operate as normal or through the keypads that were mounted throughout the house. It was intergrated with security, cameras, heating system and the Alana (SP) Touch Screens. Quite nice
 
bkludecke said:
Does anyone out there have any experience with the lutron homeworks automation system? If so how well does it work and do you have any advice for a new user. we are starting an 8,000 sq. ft. home and the contractor and homeowner are both cheapskates.
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I install and program Homeworks and the customers I install for are very happy with it. You need to be certified to purchase and program homeworks so I would recommend setting up a meeting with a Lutron rep in your area. Radio RA might also work for you.
 
I am an electrician that is certified by Lutron to install Homeworks. It is a great system. You need to know how you are going to set up the system layout before you start running wires. There are 3 ways to go:

1. Localized - The house is wired conventionally and instead of regular switches you use the Homeworks switches.

2. Centralized - All the lighting loads are home runs to lighting control panels with only keypads at switch locations.

3. Hybrid - A combination of the two systems. You might have Homeworks switches in areas that might be for guests unfamiliar with the system and keypads for other areas of the house.

Keypads make the system very versatile. One button could do anything you want. One tip though, just because you can do something doesn't mean you should.

Like benmin said, you should contact Lutron. They are very helpful and will give you great support. Also I don?t know about you but last time I checked 8,000 sq ft is a very large house. I think it would be safe to say that the owner is not at the poverty level yet. I'll bet he is using all stainless steel appliances that are high end. In my experience when someone says they don't have much to spend when building a high end home you should add 50% to you bid and let them talk you down 25%.
 
mkgrady said:
What is the realistic benifit of these systems? Why is it better than a switch or switches in every room to control the lights in that room. It sounds like there is a lot more wiring and complexity in the fancy systme. What am I missing?
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Integration with other systems in the home I think is the biggest benefit.
 
This is the type of HO that will spend $20,000 on a painting, drive it home in his new Bentley and refuse to spend $150 on a picture light so he can see it at night.
 
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