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Lutron Homeworks Problem

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Hi, I am hoping that someone in this forum has some insight as to what is happening with our lutron systems. We are a custom integrator out of Toronto and we have been having problems with our homeworks systems. I have had the lutron tech support guys and their engineers look at all the log files with no results. Next step is to have them come down to see the install. All the systems are displaying the same symptoms. All the systems use 4A modules. All the systems were wired with cresnet wiring (2 x 22 shielded w/ drain and 2 x 18 awg). I know this isn't the Belden spec'd wire. All the systems have the proper link terminations at the proper locations. All the systems have an 8 series processor. All the systems have a Q96 installed. Here are the issues: 1) Keypad button is pressed and 2 loads that are supposed to turn on together are coming on except 1 load is going on with the proper ramp up of 2 seconds and the other is coming on instantly. The programming side shows both have a ramp up of 2 seconds. Same thing happens when we close the lights. Not a programming issue as lutron was sent the file and definately not a module issue as we have replaced 3. 2) Engaging any load of module x will cause load y to engage. So for example, regardless of what load gets activated (1,2 or 4) on the lutron 4A module, load number 3 always comes on. Again program has been sent and modules have been changed. If anyone has seen this before please provide some insight as to what it might be. Thanks in advance EK  

Output 3 coming on with the others is weird. I've only seen that sort of thing with bad modules. I've seen the non-dim effect when using a 4A, that was spec'd as a 4U in the program, and vice versa. What type of loads are being controlled? I've seen some ELVs that don't like to dim even with 4As. If it's an ELV transformer, you might want to test it with a 5E. Try yanking the terminations.  

Hi joatmonaf, We didn't know the outputs when the system was designed which is why we chose the 4A modules. We had a situation where the electrician on site was bidding for the same work and when he didn't get it he wasn't exactly co-operative. I spoke with lutron again today and the tech seems to think it is a bad module. Apparently the 4A's have had a firmware upgrade since we installed these because in very rare occasions they were behaving this way with MLV loads. Since we bought a large quantity whenever I replaced the module I was just replacing with a different one with the same datecode. New one on the way. As for some of the other issues (not including example 2 with the loads issue).... I think we've got an issue with a neighbours crestron remote on the same frequency as ours. What are the chances? Thanks for the reply. EK  

Are you usung Crestron as your control system?  

Good luck with the new modules, but I haven't encountered anything like that on like that on such a large scale. Please post the results. It would be good to know. If you are interfacing to the Lutron system with Crestron, on occasion a close neighbor could be shutting your lights off, or turning them on, producing an otherwise unexplainable situation, but most likely not causing any symptom that you listed.  

Hi Chicagorep, Yes we are using crestron as our control system. I will post our results after we recieve the new module next week and change some frequencies on the remotes. As far as the module turning on a load when any of 3 loads are activated; well there may be a reason for that as well. I believe that when we wired the MI's in each panel they were not wired in a daisy chain configuration which is a requirement according to the lutron FAQ. One panel is beside the processor panel and the other is in the attic mechanical room. Since we homerun everything back we hooked up both wires to the processor instead of daisychain. I will correct and report back. We are so used to installing Vantage and Crestron lighting; anybody can do it and there is no special design considerations when it comes to wiring. Lutron has 4 or 5 pages of different ways to hook up link terminators. Not to mention you have to remember how many keypads can fit on a link, how many keypads can be daisychained, what type of dimmer goes on what link and what type of processor to order; Rf, non rf, H48, D48, MI etc. etc. I wish they could just make it a little simpler. Thanks for all of your replies. EK  

Quote: Originally Posted by Efthimios /forum/post/18032691 We are so used to installing Vantage and Crestron lighting; anybody can do it and there is no special design considerations when it comes to wiring. Lutron has 4 or 5 pages of different ways to hook up link terminators. Not to mention you have to remember how many keypads can fit on a link, how many keypads can be daisychained, what type of dimmer goes on what link and what type of processor to order; Rf, non rf, H48, D48, MI etc. etc. I wish they could just make it a little simpler. Thanks for all of your replies. EK Click to expand...

Is the power system by chance a 3-phase supply system? We've had this exact behavior occur(non-dimming channels on the same module; channels turning on with adjacent channels) with lighting systems that were installed in a 3-phase system, but the modules and power boosters were wired onto different phase pairs. You will get this exact behavior on a Crestron 2DIM8 when the input live feeds are wired 120 degrees out of phase with a common neutral. Even if it's not a 3-phase system you can have strange interactions occur within the power distribution system of the residence, or even between multiple residences sharing the same transformer. I would recommend taking a second look at the incoming power distribution. -Sean  

Quote: You will get this exact behavior on a Crestron 2DIM8 when the input live feeds are wired 120 degrees out of phase with a common neutral. Even if it's not a 3-phase system you can have strange interactions occur within the power distribution system of the residence, or even between multiple residences sharing the same transformer. Click to expand...

Quote: Originally Posted by joatmonjf /forum/post/18033787 I don't know how that could have affect on the single feed Lutron modules, though. Click to expand...

Quote: Originally Posted by ddave12000 /forum/post/18032947 Coming soon (homeworks QS) is my understanding... Click to expand...

Quote: Originally Posted by Chicagorep /forum/post/18036625 Don't hold your breath Click to expand...

Thanks for all the replies. I know there is no power boosters in this system but not so sure about unbalanced neutral. We have been told about QS but until it arrives and until we've had an opportunity to play with it I can't really comment. As for Crestron we have experienced this issue, but at the end of the day they new exactly what was happening and the phasing was fixed within 15 min. I have never heard of this happening with lutron and none of their techs, at least 5 different guys I talked to, mentioned anything. This is interesting and I will look into it in the next few days. Regards, EK  

Efthimios Any Electrician worth 1/2 his salt would have hooked up the system sensibly for full load balance. You can be pretty confident that your neutral service conductor is balanced within rating. But you can always ask. If you want to rule out the neutral balance of branch circuits, just ensure that each output load of a module has a corresponding neutral conductor, and that each output does not exceed 1000w, with 1920W(20A), or 1440W(15A) total for the module.  

Thanks joatmonjf, I figured that part was ok because these electricians are cetified homeworks dealers themselves. SweetSpot makes a good point also. We have a job right now where there are a few power boosters. I will check to see how they have been wired because this is the first time this particular electrician has worked with a lighting system. For us, the least maintenence has been on vantage systems. Not one call back on any system installed. Unfortunately we are no longer vantage dealers after moving to lutron 3 years ago. EK  

Quote: Originally Posted by ddave12000 /forum/post/18037852 For which? Coming soon, or Homeworks QS? Click to expand...

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• General Control4 Discussion

Lutron HomeWorks integration with Control4 3.2.0

By jcn December 14, 2020 in General Control4 Discussion

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I have a system that I'm trying to integrate Lutron HomeWorks with C4 running 3.2.0 but It doesn't seem to be working. I already follow all of the instruction step by step and nothing.. Has anyone here can give me some advise.

what isn't working? have you paired your hub with c4?

9 minutes ago, msgreenf said: what isn't working? have you paired your hub with c4?

Yes. i add the IP address for the main processor to my driver on C4.. Is there anything else I'm supposed to do? Also i add the driver for the processor using the Discovered tab on composer.

which driver are you using?

I used the one that add automatically when you added from the discovered tab and i have used another one that is on the database  

Thepritch88

Do you have to add drivers for the dimmers as well as the processor?

you need one driver per device

I had to add the driver for the dimmer. And i also try adding the driver for the processor manually and nothing..

1 minute ago, msgreenf said: you need one driver per device

Yes. Im just doing a test with one dimmer and Thermostat for now  

and you made the bindings? and set the ID numbers?

Just now, msgreenf said: and you made the bindings? and set the ID numbers?

1 minute ago, jcn said: yes. 

Is there a different driver i should be using that are noit in the database?

chopedogg88

Make sure you aren't using the default user and password for the processor. And of course set the username and password to the corresponding one that you create in Lutron. 

What’s the model of the processor you’re using? I would have thought you’ve got the right one if it was in discovered but you never know.

check the dimmer drivers have HomeWorksQS in the name 

check username and password, you may need to set up a different one that the default 

3 minutes ago, chopedogg88 said: Make sure you aren't using the default user and password for the processor. And of course set the username and password to the corresponding one that you create in Lutron. 

I call lutron and they said the username and password of the proccessor cant be change.. im using lutron/lutron

1 minute ago, Thepritch88 said: What’s the model of the processor you’re using? I would have thought you’ve got the right one if it was in discovered but you never know. check the dimmer drivers have HomeWorksQS in the name  check username and password, you may need to set up a different one that the default   

lippavisual

You need to add a new user and password

56 minutes ago, lippavisual said: You need to add a new user and password

I did it and nothing..

Not to get too far off topic but does anyone have Lutron homeworks shades and/or fans integrated into C4? My Lutron shades and fans do not work great with control4 and I have been looking for a solution for a long time.

Unsocialtoaster

There is a shades driver for Homeworks QS shades, but it gets a bit messy if you try to do groups of shades. Someone did release a thrid party driver to help with this quite recently, but I'm afraid I can't remember who.

AFAIK there is no driver for a Homeworks QS fan, but I think it should be possible to program around it to get a fan icon on the interface, even if in the background the system thinks it is switching a light on and off.

Thank you for the response. This goes into detail about my problem. If anyone has something to add please feel free!

This is the new 3rd party driver that is supposedly better than the C4 one. I am waiting for them to release a RadioRA 2 version, as I’m having the same problems as you (as you know).

https://drivercentral.io/platforms/control4-drivers/blinds-shades/lutron/

Wow thank you I can’t believe I didn’t know about that! 

No problem. If you get this setup and working, please let me know if it fixes the shade status with the seeTouch keypads. 

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