Dinushan Paranavithana Posted August 7, 2019 Share Posted August 7, 2019 Hi, Is the CA-1 controller powerful enough to automate lighting of an entire house (two-three floors) with centralized lighting? (Lets say we have 30 individually controllable lighting loads) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
-defunct- Posted August 7, 2019 Share Posted August 7, 2019 I personally wouldn't use a CA1 for that install. The CA1 is great for very small intro builds or as a controller to put a mesh in a remote part of a building. For that size, I would spec at least an EA1, probably an EA5 depending on how many touch screens there will be. chopedogg88 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dinushan Paranavithana Posted August 7, 2019 Author Share Posted August 7, 2019 hi @Dunamivora Thank You! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
therockhr Posted August 7, 2019 Share Posted August 7, 2019 Just my opinion but I dont see why a CA-1 couldnt handle that. In fact, the CA-1 was made to tackle a project just like this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LollerAgent Posted August 7, 2019 Share Posted August 7, 2019 I would say an EA5 is way overkill for controlling 30 lighting loads. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
-defunct- Posted August 7, 2019 Share Posted August 7, 2019 4 minutes ago, therockhr said: Just my opinion but I dont see why a CA-1 couldnt handle that. In fact, the CA-1 was made to tackle a project just like this. Have you used a CA1 for a project like this? Do you know how slow they are? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dinushan Paranavithana Posted August 7, 2019 Author Share Posted August 7, 2019 1 hour ago, therockhr said: Just my opinion but I dont see why a CA-1 couldnt handle that. In fact, the CA-1 was made to tackle a project just like this. hi @therockhr , @LollerAgent, @Dunamivora Have you guys tried for a similar case? anyone practically tried it out for a 3 storey house? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
-defunct- Posted August 7, 2019 Share Posted August 7, 2019 If you have a single UI and the 30 lights with no automation, then it might work. As soon as you add lighting scenes or more UIs (like 10 touchscreens and a few mobile devices), then you will want at least an EA1. The CA1 wouldn't fail on it other than commands being delayed or slowed. Dinushan Paranavithana 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dinushan Paranavithana Posted August 7, 2019 Author Share Posted August 7, 2019 1 minute ago, Dunamivora said: If you have a single UI and the 30 lights with no automation, then it might work. As soon as you add lighting scenes or more UIs (like 10 touchscreens and a few mobile devices), then you will want at least an EA1. The CA1 wouldn't fail on it other than commands being delayed or slowed. got it! Thanks ! @Dunamivora Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oscarnyc Posted August 7, 2019 Share Posted August 7, 2019 Lutron Radio Ra2 on a single repeater with decade hold hardware that's probably orders of magnitude less powerful than the CA-1 can easily handle this. If a CA-1 can't thats a problem. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobbieF Posted August 7, 2019 Share Posted August 7, 2019 Yes - It will be fine. I had an HC250, with about 10 Puk Lights, Locks, Motion Sensors, Alarm integration & Keypad (No Touchpanels). It worked a charm! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
therockhr Posted August 7, 2019 Share Posted August 7, 2019 4 hours ago, Dunamivora said: If you have a single UI and the 30 lights with no automation, then it might work. As soon as you add lighting scenes or more UIs (like 10 touchscreens and a few mobile devices), then you will want at least an EA1. The CA1 wouldn't fail on it other than commands being delayed or slowed. Might work!? If the CA-1 cant easily handle this with lots of room to spare then they need to get rid of it. A lutron caseta smart bridge could handle that and lots of scenes without blinking. This forum notoriously overspecs controllers. LollerAgent 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JSTRONG Posted August 8, 2019 Share Posted August 8, 2019 I took over a job that had over 70 c4 light switches , dimmer and keypads all on a single ca-1. The controller was locking up occasionally. Switched it out for multiple ea-1 and an ea-5 in the rack. -defunct- 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
therockhr Posted August 8, 2019 Share Posted August 8, 2019 If what you guys are saying is true they need to can the CA-1 then. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JSTRONG Posted August 8, 2019 Share Posted August 8, 2019 19 hours ago, oscarnyc said: Lutron Radio Ra2 on a single repeater with decade hold hardware that's probably orders of magnitude less powerful than the CA-1 can easily handle this. If a CA-1 can't thats a problem. Yes I have had my radio ra2 main working for years also without a glitch. I think the difference is that Lutrons main repeater has a single easy job to do but the ca-1 is an entire home automation processor with many jobs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RAV Posted August 8, 2019 Share Posted August 8, 2019 Depends on is there Zigbee? Just wired keypads to a 30 zone panel, sure. But I agree with if you add in some zigbee switches, thermostats, remotes, advanced programming, net drivers; then you'll end up underpowered, then you're into a EA3 or EA5 depending on complexities. CA1 was designed for centralized lighting where there was no entertainment (HDMI, Audio Services) needed. -defunct- 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oscarnyc Posted August 8, 2019 Share Posted August 8, 2019 7 hours ago, Cartnj said: Yes I have had my radio ra2 main working for years also without a glitch. I think the difference is that Lutrons main repeater has a single easy job to do but the ca-1 is an entire home automation processor with many jobs Yes, the complexity and processing power increase when other devices are added (though the Lutron does t-stats and the VCRX as well). I was just referring to OP's situation where he justs asks about 30 lighting loads. -defunct- 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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