Good lighting control is mostly good planning: which lights belong together, where the keypads go, and what each button should do. We help you choose a system that fits the house, wire the boxes, dimmers and processors, and make sure the LED fixtures and controls get along. Below, one maker’s three product lines are used as an example of how systems differ by size. Planning lighting as part of a whole connected home? See smart home and automation.
What we do
- System planningChoosing between Caséta, RadioRA 3 and HomeWorks for your home and budget.
- Keypads and dimmersScene keypads, dimmers and remotes in the places you reach for them.
- Wiring and processorsControl wiring, boxes and a spot for the processor and network.
- LED compatibilityMatching fixtures, drivers and dimmers so lights dim smoothly.
- Shades and landscapePower and wiring for motorized shades, landscape and path lighting.
- Adding onExtending an existing Lutron system or upgrading from switches.
What a lighting control system does
A lighting control system turns a wall of switches into a few clearly engraved buttons. One press sets a whole scene: kitchen bright, dining room soft, landscape lights on, shades half down. Lights can follow a schedule, look lived-in while you’re away, and answer to your phone or voice assistant. Systems like Lutron’s use their own Clear Connect radio rather than your Wi-Fi (Lutron Caséta, RadioRA 3).
HomeWorks, RadioRA 3 and Caséta, compared
Lutron makes three main home systems. They share the same idea, but differ in size, wiring and who sets them up.
Caséta
A few rooms, retrofit- Smart Hub, up to 75 devices
- Wireless dimmers and Pico remotes
- DIY or pro installed
- Alexa, Apple Home, Google, Sonos
RadioRA 3
Whole home, wireless- PoE processor, up to 200 devices
- Sunnata keypads and dimmers
- Professionally installed and programmed
- Works with Control4, Crestron, Savant and more
HomeWorks
Custom homes, wired + wireless- QSX processor: wired, wireless and Ketra in one system
- Palladiom, Alisse and Sunnata keypads
- Lights, shades and tunable Ketra light
- Professionally designed and programmed
| Caséta | RadioRA 3 | HomeWorks | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Who installs | You or a pro. | Trained professionals install and program it. | Trained professionals design, install and program it. |
| How it connects | Clear Connect radio to a Smart Hub. | Clear Connect radio to a processor powered by PoE. | Wired control links and wireless, under the QSX processor. |
| Size | Up to 75 devices per hub. | Up to 200 radio devices per processor. | Large homes; up to 200 Ketra devices per Type X gateway. |
| Keypads | Pico remotes and smart dimmers. | Sunnata keypads with a status light bar. | Palladiom and Alisse (wired) and Sunnata. |
| Plays well with | Alexa, Apple Home, Google, Sonos, Serena shades. | Control4, Crestron, ELAN, RTI, Savant, URC, Alexa, Apple Home, Google, Ring, Sonos. | Lutron shades and Ketra; whole-home integration. |
| Good fit | A few rooms or a first step. | Whole-home retrofit or new build. | Custom homes and new construction. |
From Lutron: Caséta Smart Hub, Caséta device limit, RadioRA 3 introduction (RadioRA 3 is also backward compatible with most RadioRA 2 and RA2 Select devices), HomeWorks QSX and HomeWorks.
Ketra and tunable light
Ketra is Lutron’s tunable lighting, which can change color and intensity through the day (Lutron Ketra). In a HomeWorks system, the QSX processor brings Ketra into the same system as your other lights and shades (Lutron). It’s the kind of choice that’s easiest to make before the ceilings are closed.
Planning the wiring
- Decide early. Wired keypads and processors need control wiring and a place for equipment. In a remodel or new build, that’s easy before drywall and hard after.
- Boxes and dimmers. Box depth and what’s already in the wall affect which dimmers and keypads fit, so we check each location.
- Match the LEDs. Dimmers and LED fixtures have to be compatible, or you get flicker and buzz. Our guide on LED dimmer flicker explains why.
- Network. A RadioRA 3 processor is powered over the network cable (PoE), so it wants a solid wired network spot.
- Fewer switches, better labels. One engraved keypad can replace a row of switches at an entry.
Design and programming
RadioRA 3 and HomeWorks are built to be set up by trained professionals (Lutron). Every system needs a design and programming step: which buttons do what, scene levels, schedules and integrations. We’ll be upfront about who does each part of your job, from the wiring we install to the programming and the walkthrough at the end.
Tunable white: light that follows the day
Motorized shades on the same keypads
Shades can join the same scenes as the lights: “Movie” dims the lights and lowers the shades in one press.
Keypads that say what they do
Retrofit or new construction?
| Wireless retrofit | Wired new build | |
|---|---|---|
| Walls | Stay closed: smart dimmers replace switches | Open: we run control wiring during framing |
| Typical systems | Caséta, RadioRA 3 (Lutron) (Lutron) | HomeWorks with panels (Lutron) |
| Where dimmers live | In each wall box | Often centrally, in a panel |
| Shades | Battery shades | Wired or battery shades |
| Time on site | Often a day or two | Spread across the build |
Energy savings and California code
Controls save energy because lights are off or dimmed when they don’t need to be on. In a U.S. Department of Energy case study of a federal office building in San Francisco, occupancy sensors alone cut lighting energy in private offices by about 25% on weekdays, daylight dimming by 27%, and both together by about 45% (U.S. DOE). Homes vary, but the idea is the same.
| Room (single-family, 2022 code) | Control required |
|---|---|
| Bathrooms, garages, laundry and utility rooms, walk-in closets | At least one light on an occupancy or vacancy sensor |
| Other habitable rooms | Dimmers or sensors on most lighting |
Summary of the California Energy Commission’s single-family lighting guide; see the guide for exceptions (CEC).
Where it fits
- New custom homesWhole-home scenes, shades and tunable light, wired before drywall.
- RemodelsWireless systems that add scenes without opening every wall.
- Smaller homes and condosA few smart dimmers and remotes, with room to grow.
- Offices and shared spacesSchedules and scenes for conference rooms and common areas.
- Outdoor and landscapePath, patio and landscape lighting on schedules or at sunset.
Choosing a lighting control system
We install and wire lighting controls and the fixtures, drivers and boxes behind them. What we help you compare:
- Size: a few rooms or the whole house, and whether you can add on later.
- Wired or wireless: new construction can use wired keypads and panels; wireless dimmers fit existing homes.
- Dimmer and fixture match: LED fixtures and drivers must be compatible with the dimmer to avoid flicker and buzz.
- Neutral at the switch: some smart dimmers need one, and older homes may not have it.
- Integration: shades, thermostats, voice assistants and whole-home systems.
- Who programs it, and who you call to change a scene later.
From our jobs
How the job goes
- 1Call or send a quote request
Tell us about the rooms, the lights and how you’d like them to work.
- 2Walkthrough
We look at the boxes, wiring and fixtures, and talk through scenes and keypad spots.
- 3Plan and estimate
A clear plan of keypads, dimmers and wiring, with options.
- 4Install and test
Clean installs, every load tested, and dimming checked on every fixture.
- 5Walkthrough and handoff
We show you the buttons, the app and the schedules.
Permits and inspections
Replacing a switch with a smart dimmer on an existing circuit is usually simple. New circuits, new lighting in a remodel and most commercial lighting work need a permit, and California’s Title 24 energy rules apply to new lighting.
Inside Auburn city limits, electrical permits come from the City of Auburn Building Division, which takes permit applications online. In unincorporated areas, such as North Auburn, it’s Placer County Building Services. Elsewhere it’s that city or county’s building department. We pull the permit, schedule the inspection and meet the inspector.
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Common questions
What’s the difference between RadioRA 3 and HomeWorks?
Both are whole-home systems set up by trained professionals. RadioRA 3 is wireless, with a processor powered over the network cable. HomeWorks combines wired and wireless devices and Ketra tunable lighting under one QSX processor, which suits larger custom homes and new construction.
Is Caséta enough for my home?
For a few rooms, often yes. A Caséta Smart Hub handles up to 75 devices and works with Alexa, Apple Home and Google. Caséta, RadioRA 3 and HomeWorks are separate systems with their own devices, so if you expect to go whole-home, it’s worth planning for that from the start.
Does it run on my Wi-Fi?
Lutron’s systems talk to their devices over their own Clear Connect radio, not your Wi-Fi. The hub or processor connects to your network so the app and voice assistants can reach it.
Why do my LED lights flicker on a dimmer?
Usually the dimmer and the LED aren’t a good match. We check compatibility before we install. Our guide on LED dimmer flicker explains more.
Who programs the system?
Every system needs programming: which buttons do what, scene levels and schedules. We’ll be upfront about who does each part of your job, from the wiring we install to the final walkthrough.
Request a free quote
Free estimates, no pressure. Tell us a little about the job and we’ll get back to you. Or call (530) 401-7419, answered 24/7.
Sources
- City of Auburn Building Division www.auburn.ca.gov
- Placer County Building Services www.placer.ca.gov
- Lutron Caséta: Smart Hub www.casetawireless.com
- Lutron: RadioRA 3 introduction (press release, Nov 2021) commercial.lutron.com
- Lutron Support: What is the Caséta Smart Hub and when do I need one support.lutron.com
- Lutron: The next generation of HomeWorks (press release, Sep 2019) commercial.lutron.com
- Lutron: HomeWorks system www.lutron.com
- Lutron: Ketra lighting www.lutron.com
- Lutron: Ketra A20 lamp specification sheet assets.lutron.com
- Lutron: Sivoia QS Triathlon shades technical FAQ assets.lutron.com
- Lutron Support: Sunnata keypad personalization (engraving) support.lutron.com
- U.S. DOE (FEMP): How to select lighting controls for offices and public buildings www.energy.gov
- California Energy Commission: 2022 single-family lighting requirements www.energy.ca.gov
Product details come from Lutron’s own pages and press releases and can change; we confirm them before we quote. Permit information comes from the offices that issue them. Checked against the sources above in November 2026.