Upgrading an Old Lutron System: HomeWorks, GRAFIK Eye and RadioRA 2

Many of the UK’s finest homes have Lutron lighting control installed fifteen or twenty years ago, and much of it is still working. Lutron built its systems to last. But age catches up eventually. A processor fails and cannot be replaced like for like. New LED lamps flicker or buzz on dimmers designed for halogen. Or the original installer is no longer around to make changes.

If that sounds familiar, the good news is that an old Lutron system rarely needs ripping out completely. This guide explains:

• Which older Lutron systems are affected
• The problems that typically appear
• What Lutron’s current systems offer
• How a well-planned upgrade keeps as much of your existing installation, and your familiar keypads, as possible

Which Lutron systems are considered legacy?

Lutron’s current residential lineup is Caséta at the entry level, RadioRA 3 for most professional installations, and HomeWorks QSX for larger and higher-end homes. Systems you are likely to find in older UK homes include:

• HomeWorks Interactive and HomeWorks Illumination. These are Lutron’s earlier whole-home systems, common in high-end homes from the late 1990s and 2000s. They are long discontinued.
• HomeWorks QS. This was the predecessor to today’s HomeWorks QSX. Many QS systems are still in service, and Lutron provides a route to convert QS projects to QSX.
• GRAFIK Eye. These are Lutron’s preset lighting control units, often used for a single room or a few rooms. They are typically wall-mounted control units with rows of buttons and sliders. Older GRAFIK Eye models have been superseded, and UK suppliers now list even the later GRAFIK Eye QS as discontinued.
• RadioRA 2. This is Lutron’s previous-generation wireless system, now replaced by RadioRA 3 for new projects.

If you are not sure what you have, the model names are usually printed on the processor, the dimming panels or the keypads. A Lutron installer can identify the system on a short visit.

The problems older Lutron systems run into

Processor failure

The processor is the brain of a Lutron system, holding all the scenes, schedules and keypad programming. On older systems, replacement processors are no longer made, and the software used to program them is no longer supported. If the processor fails, the programming can be lost with it. That is why we recommend acting while an old system still works, rather than waiting for a failure.

LED flicker, buzz and poor dimming

This is one of the most common problems with older systems. Many older Lutron dimmers and dimming modules were designed for halogen and incandescent lamps. Modern LED lamps and drivers behave very differently electrically. On older dimming hardware they can:

• Flicker or shimmer
• Buzz audibly
• Drop out at low levels
• Refuse to dim smoothly to a low glow

Changing the lamps rarely fixes it. The usual fix is replacing the dimming hardware with modern modules designed for LED loads. That can often be done while keeping the circuits and wiring as they are.

Failing keypads and parts

Keypads, buttons and wireless devices wear over time. Once parts are discontinued, each failure becomes harder to repair.

No one to support it

Many older systems were installed by companies that no longer exist, or no longer support them. Without the original programming files and the right software, making even simple changes becomes difficult.

What a modern Lutron system gives you

Upgrading to a current Lutron platform solves the problems above and adds features owners quickly come to rely on:

• Proper LED dimming, using current dimming technology designed for modern lamps and fittings.
• Smartphone control through the Lutron app, at home and away.
• Integration with whole-home control systems such as Control4 and Crestron, and with voice assistants.
• Modern keypads, such as the Palladiom range, with engraved buttons and a wide choice of finishes.
• Motorised shading from the same system. See our guide to motorised blinds and curtains.
• Ongoing support and updates from a current, actively developed platform.

Our Lutron lighting control guide explains how the current systems compare.

Your upgrade options

The right route depends on what you have, how well it works, and your plans for the house. Broadly, there are four options.

Option 1: Upgrade the brain and the dimming, keep the rest

For many HomeWorks homes, the most cost-effective route is to replace the processor and the dimming hardware behind the scenes. This solves obsolescence and LED problems in one go. The wiring, many circuits and, in some cases, existing keypads can be kept. Lutron publishes upgrade paths from HomeWorks Illumination and QS to HomeWorks QSX. It also offers translation hardware that lets some older panels communicate with newer systems.

Option 2: Phased upgrade, room by room

Where budgets or disruption are a concern, the upgrade can be split into stages. The processor and dimming are usually replaced first. Keypads and controls are then replaced room by room, for example as each room is redecorated. Your home works properly from the first stage, and the visible finishes change on your schedule.

Option 3: Full replacement with HomeWorks QSX or RadioRA 3

For older systems in poor condition, or homes undergoing major renovation, a complete replacement can be the better value. HomeWorks QSX suits larger homes and complex projects. RadioRA 3 suits many family homes and lends itself well to retrofit, with wireless keypads and dimmers that reduce the need for new cabling.

Option 4: GRAFIK Eye replacement

Where a GRAFIK Eye controls a single room or a few rooms, it is usually replaced as part of a move to RadioRA 3 or HomeWorks QSX. That brings the room into the same system as the rest of the house, so its scenes can be recalled from anywhere and from the app.

What an upgrade involves, step by step

1. Survey. We record every circuit, the lamps and fittings in use, the dimming hardware, the keypads and the condition of the processor.
2. Recover the programming, if possible. If the old processor still works, we try to extract its existing scenes and keypad programming. Lutron publishes procedures for extracting data from some legacy processors. This preserves years of fine-tuning.
3. Load testing. We check how your LED lamps and fittings behave, so the new dimming is matched to them.
4. Proposal with options. You get a clear written proposal covering full and phased routes, with costs, and an explanation of what is kept and what is replaced.
5. Installation. New processors and dimming are installed, usually in the plant room or electrical cupboard. Disruption in living spaces is usually limited to any keypads being changed.
6. Programming and tuning. Scenes are rebuilt or recreated. Dimming levels are set for each LED load, and keypads are engraved.
7. Handover and support. You are shown the app and any changes, and documentation is updated. Our aftercare and support plans cover ongoing support.

How long does it take and what does it cost?

Every upgrade is different. The cost depends on the number of circuits and keypads, which hardware can be kept, and whether you choose a full or phased upgrade. A processor and dimming upgrade costs considerably less than a full replacement, because the wiring and much of the infrastructure stay. A survey is the only way to give an accurate figure. Our guide to smart home costs in the UK gives broader context for lighting control budgets.

On-site work for a typical processor and dimming upgrade is usually measured in days rather than weeks, with the house remaining in use throughout.

Signs your Lutron system needs attention now

• LED lamps flicker, buzz or will not dim smoothly
• Keypads or buttons have stopped responding
• Scenes have “drifted” or stopped working
• You cannot make changes because there is no one to program the system
• Your processor is a HomeWorks Interactive or Illumination model
• You are planning a renovation or switching to LED lighting

If any of these apply, a survey now gives you options. Waiting for a processor failure may leave you with fewer.

Frequently asked questions

Can an old Lutron HomeWorks system be upgraded?

Yes. Lutron provides upgrade paths from older HomeWorks systems, including Illumination and QS, to the current HomeWorks QSX. In many cases the wiring, circuits and some hardware can be kept, while the processor and dimming are replaced.

Why do my LED lights flicker on my Lutron system?

Older Lutron dimmers and dimming modules were often designed for halogen and incandescent lamps. LED lamps behave differently electrically and can flicker, buzz or dim poorly on older hardware. Replacing the dimming with modern LED-compatible modules usually solves it.

Can I keep my existing Lutron keypads?

Sometimes. Depending on the system and upgrade path, some existing keypads can be retained, or replaced later in a phased upgrade. A survey will confirm what is possible with your hardware.

Is GRAFIK Eye still supported?

Older GRAFIK Eye models have been superseded, and UK suppliers list GRAFIK Eye QS as discontinued. Rooms controlled by GRAFIK Eye are usually brought into a RadioRA 3 or HomeWorks QSX system as part of an upgrade.

What replaced Lutron RadioRA 2?

RadioRA 3 is Lutron’s current professional wireless system and has replaced RadioRA 2 for new projects. Existing RadioRA 2 systems can be maintained or upgraded with a qualified Lutron installer.

What happens if my old Lutron processor fails?

On older systems, a failed processor often cannot be replaced like for like, and its programming may be lost. An upgrade to a current processor restores control, but scenes may need to be rebuilt. That is why upgrading while the old system still works is usually the better option.

Can you take over a Lutron system installed by another company?

Yes. We regularly survey, support and upgrade Lutron systems installed by others through our smart home system recovery service.

Get your Lutron system assessed

Finite Solutions has designed and installed Lutron lighting control since our earliest projects, and we support and upgrade systems installed by other companies. If your Lutron system is ageing, struggling with LEDs, or no longer supported, we will survey it, explain your options and give you a clear plan. You can keep as much as sensibly possible and upgrade at a pace that suits you.

Explore our smart home lighting design and control service, see our system recovery service, or contact our team in Leeds, Cheshire, York or London.