RadioRA 3 vs HomeWorks QSX: Lutron's Numbers Side by Side
RadioRA 3 and HomeWorks QSX are both Lutron whole-home systems, programmed with the same Lutron Designer software and sold through trained dealers. The difference is scale and wiring: RadioRA 3 is wireless and tops out around 200 devices; HomeWorks runs wired and wireless together and goes far beyond that. Here are Lutron's own numbers, what only HomeWorks can do, and what changes if Control4 sits on top.
The numbers, from Lutron's spec sheets
| RadioRA 3 | HomeWorks QSX | |
|---|---|---|
| Processors per system | up to 4 | 1 plus up to 15 more processors or gateways (16) |
| Devices | 100 Clear Connect Type X or 95 Type A per processor; 200 Type X / 190 Type A per system | up to 10,000 zones per system |
| Wired (QS) links | none: the processor's network port is for programming and integration | up to 32 links; a QS wired link carries 99 devices / 512 switch legs over 2,000 ft of wire |
| Wireless | Type A (434 MHz, repeaters) and Type X (2.4 GHz mesh) | the same radios, through wireless processors and links |
| Panel (DIN) dimming | no | yes: DIN power modules, digital and DALI controllers |
| Ketra lighting | no | yes: Lutron says the QSX processor is required for residential Ketra |
Sources: RadioRA 3 processor spec · RadioRA 3 system overview · HomeWorks QSX processor spec · HomeWorks system architecture.
Range, in practice
- Type A devices need to be within 30 ft of a repeater or the processor, with repeaters up to 60 ft apart: about 2,500 sq ft per repeater or processor. RadioRA 3 allows 4 repeaters per processor.
- Type X (the Sunnata generation) is a mesh with a 75 ft radius, and Lutron asks for at least two devices within 25 ft of the processor.
- HomeWorks can do all of that and also run wire between keypads and panels, which is why it suits large houses, multiple buildings and new construction where the walls are open.
Keypads: the difference you see on the wall
Per Lutron's keypad pages:
- Both systems: Sunnata, seeTouch (wall and tabletop) and Pico.
- HomeWorks only: Alisse, Palladiom keypads, Architrave, Signature Series and the Athena touchscreen.
If a particular designer keypad is the reason for the project, that alone can decide the system. Shades are closer: Palladiom shades work with RadioRA 3; Palladiom keypads don't.
Choosing
From Lutron's facts, HomeWorks is the answer when any of these is true: Ketra is in the plan; you want panel dimming or wired keypads; the house needs more than about 200 devices or more than 4 processors; or you want Alisse, Palladiom or Architrave keypads. Otherwise RadioRA 3 covers most single homes, especially retrofits where running new wire isn't practical. RadioRA 3 also accepts many RadioRA 2 devices (seeTouch, Maestro, Pico), which matters when an older RadioRA 2 house is being brought forward.
Already on HomeWorks QS? Lutron documents a conversion: a QS project updated to the right Designer version converts to QSX, and QS processors are converted to QSX processors (Lutron's guide). Older wired panels have a path too: Lutron's Panel Link to QS Link translator lets them run on QSX.
With Control4 on top
Both connect to Control4 through the processor, over Lutron's LEAP protocol, with drivers Control4 wrote itself (OS 3.1.0 or later): "Lutron LEAP Radio RA3" and "Lutron Homeworks QSX LEAP Processor", both in Control4's driver database. Their documentation notes a few differences worth knowing before you plan the programming:
- HomeWorks: the driver doesn't support virtual buttons, and after a transfer from Lutron Designer the button subscriptions have to be re-issued, or Control4 stops hearing the keypads.
- RadioRA 3: after a power loss, the processor can take up to about four minutes to start talking to Control4 again. Nothing is broken; give it the four minutes.
- Both: Control4 sees the lights, keypads (button presses become Control4 events), shades and occupancy, so a Lutron keypad can run a Control4 scene and Control4 can run Lutron lights.
Which one runs the lighting and which runs everything else is a design decision worth making on purpose. We explain how we split it in why we put Lutron lighting behind Control4.
Who can program them
Neither is a homeowner system. Lutron Designer is available only after Lutron's qualification training, and Lutron sells both through trained dealers. If you're not sure which one is in your house, which system do you have? covers where to look and how the Lutron tiers differ. If the dealer who installed it is gone, we take over Lutron systems.
