204 Beech Ave - The Design + Construction of a modern accessible home

Geoffrey Grace

It’s amazing that all you see in the last photos are trees!

Sean

I guess you must have gotten quotes on electrical by now. I am curious if, given your situation, you might be opting for some sort of automated lighting controls and if so what kind.

I ended up using Lutron RadioRA, which was the only fully featured user installable lighting switches I could find that were radio frequency and bulletproof (unlike X10 which seems to beset with problems). Homeworks (also by Lutron) and other high-end systems were way more powerful and sophisticated than I needed, far beyond my budget and required professional installation, not to mention professional re-programming in the future. Lutron also has a lower-end RF product now called AuroRA.

Sean

I don’t know if RadioRA is controllable via iOS devices. Mine are controlled using handheld (or a car visor) remotes or wall keypads with pre-set lighting scenes. The switches and remotes all talk to eachother using radio frequency. Lutron also makes the Sivoia line of blinds (which I am going to be installing) that integrate with their lighting controls.

Sean

Hey Geoff,

I just went to Lutron’s website and found out that the RadioRA system I bought only 5 years ago has now been discontinued and replaced by RadioRA 2 (which is incompatible with RadioRA as it works on a different frequency) and that is why I did not realize they had an iOS application. Thanks.

My main reason for recommending the original RadioRA was that it was user-installable, being mainly intelligent light switches that install just like ordinary light switches in standard gang boxes, fully-featured and absolutely bulletproof in terms of reliability.

Unfortunately, with the introduction of RadioRA2 (which is very similar to RadioRA but a bit less expensive even though it has more features such as suport for 200 switches instead of 32, adds an iOS app, temperature & occupancy sensors and a few other nifty things) Lutron only allows this reincarnation to be sold by certified installers whch therefore increases the price significantly. This is too bad as RadioRA 2 is installed in the same simple way as RadioRA. (I guess Lutron is trying to mollify their dealers as RadioRA 2 partially competes with and will likely cannibalize sales of Lutron’s high-end Homeworks system). This will likely change once the product has been in the market for 3 years or so (2012+), which will be too late for you (but then it seems it can be retrofitted by simply replacing standard inexpensive light switches).

Btw, I would highly recommend you look into Lutron’s contemporary Sivoia roller blinds. I reviewed pretty well all brands of blinds and theirs were one of the best, work wirelessly (except, of course, they must be hardwired to the low voltage power and control cables) and they integrate with RadioRA and RadioRA 2.

Geoff

I met with an installer last week. We’re definitely going RadioRA 2. The biggest downside is that anytime I’d want to edit a program I need to call him back and pay him to edit a setting in his software. That said, for about $4000 we’ll be able to have total control over the lighting. It’s easily expandable to the blinds and soon, thermostat. My guess is after having looked at the PC software (which really doesn’t look like it requires a ton of knowledge) would be a nightmare to set through those keypads.

From what I’ve read the cost of the RA2, even with it’s pro install and programming, is still less than that of its predecessor – sounds like the old system cost a bundle. FWIW, the install guy I met said the only drawback (which isn’t an issue in our case) is that the dimmers are only capable of 600w loads whereas the older system could handle 1000w.

I’m heading down to the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in January. Lutron has a good booth every year and I expect to see some cool new stuff in the Radio RA 2 line-up.

Graham

Just a quick note to say I too am enjoying this project in its entirety. I look forward to seeing how things progress and digging a little deeper into the posts I have not read in full yet. To top it all off this is also a lovely website, simple and beautifully styled to boot!

Bravo from London.