This Lutron lighting and shading control system was originally installed with a Lutron RadioRA2 Main Repeater, a platform first released in 2009. On November 1, 2021, Lutron officially introduced the next-generation RadioRA 3 wireless lighting control system.
RadioRA 3 offers excellent backward compatibility with most RadioRA 2 devices, meaning a system upgrade can often be completed simply by replacing the main repeater while retaining existing field devices.
Upgrading from RA2 to RA3 brings several significant advantages, particularly in design, functionality, integration capabilities, and overall user experience:
Key Advantages of Upgrading from Lutron RA2 to RA3
Support for the new Sunnata RF keypads and dimmers
• Touch slider dimming: RA3 supports Lutron’s latest Sunnata RF keypads featuring touch-sensitive dimming sliders (similar to smartphone gestures), offering a more modern look and feel.
• Dynamic LED light bar: Compared to the traditional button design of RA2, RA3 keypads feature a refined LED light bar with adjustable brightness for a more contemporary aesthetic.
Simplified system architecture
• No separate Connect Bridge required: The RA3 Main Repeater has a built-in bridge, enabling direct support for cloud services, voice control (such as Alexa and Google Assistant), and remote mobile access.
Stronger integration capabilities
• Easier integration with high-end automation systems such as Control4, Crestron, Savant, and URC.
• Modernized official app with support for remote programming and system diagnostics.
Increased system capacity
• Higher device limits: RA3 supports more devices overall, including up to approximately 200 Sunnata RF devices in addition to RadioRA2 devices, providing greater scalability.
More efficient installation and commissioning
• Lutron Designer software replaces the older RadioRA2 Essentials and Inclusive software platforms, providing a more intuitive interface and improving programming and commissioning efficiency.
Summary
If you are considering a system upgrade or planning a new installation, RadioRA 3 offers a more future-ready, scalable, and user-friendly lighting control solution.
