Lutron Spacer or Maestro question

[dmclone]

I've been on the Lutron site for the last hour and can't figure out the combo that I need. I thought maybe someone would have a similar situation.


3 light zones


All of these need to be IR.

I want one wallplate that has 3 gangs. I want another wallplate at the top of the stairs that is tied into one of those light zones. That one doesn't need to be IR.

[dmclone]

I would want it to look something like this.

http://www.lutron.com/spacer/SpSystemDefault.asp?s=17000&t=17200

[Karman]

Go with the Spacer System. The Maestros can't talk to each other within the same box and create "scenes". For example, with the 3 gang wall plate that you want, with Maestros, all three would do the same thing at the same time. Spacer System dimmers have the ability to communicate (through their clear housings) with each other. You could have one come all the way up, one go all the way down, and one right in the middle - all at the touch of a button on the remote.

When you get ready to buy - go to hankselectric.com - best prices by far on Lutron stuff and quick delivery.

[judsonp]

When you get ready to buy - go to hankselectric.com - best prices by far on Lutron stuff and quick delivery.

Actually I just purchased my spacer system from Beverly Hills Electric (http://beverlyhillselectric.stores.yahoo.net/spacersystem.html)

Free shipping on orders over $150 and the best prices I could find anywhere!

It sounds like Karman has your config handled, that is what I would do too.

[Toeside]

If you only want one scene that incorporates 3 zones, you can do this with the Maestro IR, though this is probably not what you want.

Set lighting level of each zone to what you want when the scene is activated. You'll have:


All Off
All On
Scene1


In my media room I have 4 sconces. If I want the side sconces to be brighter than the rears, I could set the scene accordingly for each Maestro IR. Then on my remote I can press the off button and all 4 turn off. On, obviously, turns all 4 on. Pressing the scene button turns on both sets to the predefined brightness. If the sides are brighter than the rears, I have the flexibility to then dim both sets at once until the back sconces are off, but the sides are still on.

It's not super flexible, but it's possible to get creative with the very affordable Maestro IR dimmers.

[wadew59]

It's not super flexible, but it's possible to get creative with the very affordable Maestro IR dimmers.

I was researching this exact same situation for myself, confused somewhat by the different alternatives (and maybe still am), and came across this thread.

It looks like to me the Spacer IR dimmers are roughly the same price as the Maestro IR dimmers and offer more flexibility. Is there something I'm missing? I feel like there is. Maybe the Spacer has higher cost Master Controls/Remotes (I haven't really looked into this yet), but if I control with a Pronto universal remote would I need anything other than the IR dimmers anyway with either the Spacer or Maestro or do I still have to have a master control switch with the Spacer system?

I just noticed what I was missing, or at least part of it. First, I have a multi-location set up and Maestro is obviously cheaper on single location which I didn't look at closely since it didn't apply to my situation. The multi-location appeared to be about the same cost at 1st glance, but the Maestro comes packaged with the dimmer switch for the 2nd location plus a remote for that price, but the Spacer requires you to buy the 2nd location dimmer switch as an accessory at a cost of about $18 give or take.

[Karman]

One thing to remember when shopping for Lutron stuff - Lutron has the "Spacer" line and the "Spacer System" line.

[clear33765]

What is the difference between the Spacer system and the Maestro dimmers?

If I put 3 Maestro dimmers in the same 3 gang box and pointed my universal remote at it and tried to turn off the lights.... all 3 dimmers would accept the IR command and turn off? Do the Spacer dimmers act different?

[Tom Harness]

The big difference between the Lutron Maestro and Spacer System dimmers is that the Spacer units have four pre-set levels called scenes. The Maestro dimmers have a single pre-set level, call it scene 1 if you like. You can set the level of each Maestro dimmer independently, but they all only have one pre-set light level or scene. Both dimmer types have full-on and full-off selection.

An example might best illustrate the difference. I'm completing a home theater that has four light groups: Main lights, stage lights, sconces and rope lights in crown molding. I could have used one Maestro dimmer on each light group. This would allow me to turn them all full-on, full-off or set each group to ONE light level. The Spacer System dimmers that I use allow me to have four re-settable light levels for each group of lights. Scene 1 can set all four light groups to the brightest I want them to be before I start a movie. (Full-on is used to clean the room.) Scene 2 dims the main lights, the stage lights not so much and pretty much leaves the scones and rope lights close to their brightest condition. Scene 4 is my movie level and it turns off the mains and stage lights and dims the sconce and rope lights. Scene 3 is used when a movie is paused for some reason. It raises some of the lights but not as high as the pre-movie light level. I'm still figuring out what I want each scene to do for me.

You can also control Spacer System dimmers with master wall controllers which have buttons for on/off and all four scenes. If you don't feel a need for multiple lighting scenes, the Maestro dimmers will do the job and will do it cheaper.

If I added more Spacer System dimmers, I could add additional light groups, but I would still have only four scene levels. If I wanted more scenes than four it would be necessary to move up to the Lutron Grafik Eye system which costs more but has even more flexibility.

Tom

[Savedsol]

Spacers have one set scene, Spacer Systems have four + off.

[FThera]

I don't think Lutron makes the Spacer's anymore (Use Maestro IR's). They do still make the Spacer System though.

The difference between the Maestro IR and the Spacer System is that the Maestro only has an IR receiver on the front (room side) of the switch, they only have ONE preset level (scene) plus on and off, and they will all work in unison when you point an IR remote at them.

The Spacer System switches have an IR receiver on the front panel, AND in the clear back (inside the gang box side) that allows them to work with the 4 Scene Master Control, (either mounted in the same box or from another location) if it's mounted in a separate gang box and the IR blaster is wired into the gang box with the switches. The Spacer System dimmers can each be programed with 4 different scene's and controlled by either the Master Control or your IR Remote. A much more flexable system.

With the correct master dimmer either system can be combined with their accessory dimmers that will function just the same as 3 or 4 way switches.

[pelly]

I have been reading through multiple threads on the Lutron lighting options. Although it looks like the System Spacer would be the ideal choice, from a budget standpoint I am considering the Maestro.

I want to have 2 sets of cans and a pair of sconces (3 zones total).

I understand that I can only have 1 scene with the Maestros, but am I correct that set 1 could be at 50%, set 2 at 40% and the sconces at 30% and that would be my "scene" They don't all need to be set at the exact same % do they? (I believe that is what I understood from Toeside's and Tom's earlier posts)

In order to have 3 zones I would need the master controller w/remote and 2 accessory dimmers correct?

Also, my controller/dimmers would be around the back corner from the seating area. What would I need to operate the remote from my seating area? Is there some sort of an IR repeater that I would get and place in the seating area?

I am trying to understand exactly what units I would need to do the same thing with the System Spacer and what the extra cost would be. I guess it would be the 5 scene Master control unit (which looks to be about 65$ more) + 2 accessory dimmers, although I am seeing a couple of different remotes. I guess I will keep looking into this, but clarification on the Maestro's would be great. Thanks.

[hardax]

For any of these setups make sure you check your house wiring first to insure you have neutral wires running into the switch locations.

My house is only 8 years old and the finished basement were I put my modest home theater was even newer but the person who did the electrical down there decided to save some time/expense I guess and did not run neutrals to the switches.

What I didn't know at the time was just how dependant these programable switches were on the neutral wiring.

I have gone through a lot of trial and error getting a system working dependably in my theater and there are times where the lights still turn on by themselves etc.

Make sure you double check as there are only 2 or 3 options available for no neutral wire installs and non are very good.