General Information | Installation | Technical
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General Information
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| Q1. What is AuroRa? | |
Lutron's AuroRa lighting control system is an extremely reliable, wireless, Radio Frequency dimming system designed to create a safe, illuminated pathway through the home with the press of a single button. The system gives you remote control of five lights in your home and can operate from a Master Control at your bedside or from a Wireless Controller on your car visor. You can also adjust the light levels throughout your home using the slider on each dimmer to create the perfect light for any occasion. Simply replace five of your existing switches (no rewiring) with AuroRa dimmers, plug the Central Antenna and Master Control into a standard wall outlet, and your system is fully operational.
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| Q2. Can AuroRa be installed in my existing home? | |
Yes, AuroRa uses Lutron's wireless Radio Frequency technology, and provides extremely reliable wireless communication without the need for any additional wiring in the home. AuroRa installs exactly like a regular switch, using the existing wiring. Simply remove 5 wall switches and replace them with AuroRa dimmers.
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| Q3. Do you have to program an AuroRa system once it is installed? |
The AuroRa system is preconfigured and ready to operate right out of the box. Simply replace 5 switches in your home with AuroRa dimmers, and plug the Master Control and Central Antenna into a standard household outlet and your system is fully operational.
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| Q4. Do I need to replace all of the faceplates in my home? | |
The AuroRa dimmer is designed to work with any traditional opening faceplate (AuroRa dimmers can even work with metal faceplates). However, the clean look of Lutron's Fassada screwless faceplate for traditional openings adds an excellent finishing touch to your home. For more information refer to the Fassada portion of our website at www.lutron.com/fassada or contact our customer service representatives at 1-888-LUTRON1.
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| Q5. What components make up an AuroRa system? | |
The system is sold as a package that consists of (5) dimmers, (1) Master Control, (1) Wireless Controller and (1) Central Antenna. The system allows for local control of light intensity using the slider on the dimmer. Remote control of the 5 lights is accomplished using the Master Control or the Wireless Controller.
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| Q6. What are the functions of the five AuroRa dimmers in the package? | |
The 5 AuroRa dimmers install exactly like a regular wall switch and utilize reliable wireless Radio Frequency technology to communicate to the system. The user can adjust the light levels in each room by moving the slider on the dimmer in that room up (brighter) or down (dimmer). When you press the button on the dimmer when the light is in the off state the light will come on to the light level set by the position of the slider (if slider is halfway, the light will come on to 50%). If you double tap the button when the light is in the off state (press it twice quickly) the light will automatically come on to full bright (100%) regardless of the position of the slider. Once the light is on, a simple press of the button turns the light off. The dimmer also has an elegant fade to off feature. This means that when you turn the light off, you can simply hold the button in for 1-2 seconds and the light will slowly fade off over 10 seconds.
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| Q7. What are the functions of the Master Control? | |
The Master Control has a total of 7 buttons (one button for each of the 5 dimmers and an All On and All Off button). If one of the 5 room buttons on the Master Control is pressed, the appropriate dimmer will turn its' light(s) on to the light level set by the position of the slider. Pressing the button on the Master Control again will turn the dimmer off.
Example: If button 1 on the Master Control controls the kitchen dimmer and the slider on the kitchen dimmer is at the halfway position (50%) a press of the "Kitchen" button on the Master Control will turn the kitchen light on to half brightness (50%). Also, the LED light on the Master Control next to the "Kitchen" button will light up to inform the user that the kitchen light is on. If the "Kitchen" button is pressed again the kitchen light will turn off and the LED light on the Master Control will turn off to inform the user that the kitchen light is now off. The other 4 room buttons on the Master Control will work in the same manner. The All On button will turn all 5 dimmers on to full brightness, regardless of the slider position of each dimmer. Also, all 5 LED lights on the Master Control will turn on to inform the user that all 5 dimmers are on. The All Off button will turn all 5 dimmers and the corresponding LED lights on the Master Control off. |
| Q8. What is the function of the Wireless Controller? | |
The Wireless Controller is a wireless battery operated remote control that allows the user to adjust lights from the car or from anywhere in or around the home (typical range is approximately 100 feet from the Central Antenna). The All On and All Off buttons on the Wireless Controller work exactly the same as the All On and All Off buttons on the Master Control. Pressing the favorite button on the Wireless Controller turns all 5 lights on to their locally set slider levels (the position of the slider on each dimmer determines the light level). The Wireless Controller comes with a clip and rubber feet, so it can hang on a car visor or be placed on a table. The Wireless Controller is designed to remotely control only the lights in your home, it will not operate your garage door.
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| Q9. What is the function of the Central Antenna? | |
The Central Antenna sends and receives the Radio Frequency signals to and from all of the components of the system. The Central Antenna plugs in to a standard wall outlet and should be placed centrally in the home to ensure the best Radio Frequency coverage. The Central Antenna can be hidden in discreet locations (EX. under the couch in the living room, in the cabinet above the microwave in the kitchen...).
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| Q10. Using my Master Control, can I dim or brighten the lights in each room? | |
No, light levels are set locally using the slider on each dimmer. You can override the dimmer slider levels by pressing the All On button (all 5 lights will turn on to full bright).
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| Q11. If I switch my light on from 2 or 3 different locations, do I need an AuroRa dimmer installed in both locations? | |
Turning your lights on and off from 2 locations is called a 3-way switch (Ex: your hallway light may be switched from the top and bottom of your stairs). AuroRa dimmers provide patented technology to eliminate the need for an AuroRa dimmer to be placed at both ends of the 3-way switch. Simply replace one of the switches with an AuroRa dimmer and the light can be controlled from any location.
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| Q12. Can AuroRa integrate with other systems in my home? | |
No. AuroRa is designed to provide extremely reliable, Radio Frequency lighting control in your home without any programming. AuroRa is not designed to integrate with other home automation products, security systems etc. Lutron provides extremely reliable Radio Frequency whole home integration in both our RadioRA and Homeworks product lines. For more information please refer to these areas of our website or contact our customer service team at 1-888-Lutron1.
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| Q13. Can I control my AuroRa system with a universal TV remote control? |
The AuroRa system works on Lutron's Radio Frequency communication link and is not compatible with universal infrared or Radio Frequency codes. The AuroRa system comes with a Master Control and a Wireless Controller, also the user can add up to nine additional Wireless Controllers to the system.
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| Q14. What types of lighting can AuroRa control? | |
| Each AuroRa dimmer is designed to control up to 600W of incandescent/halogen lighting. |
Installation
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| Q15. Can I expand the AuroRa system? | |
You can expand the AuroRa system by adding another complete package or by adding up to nine additional Wireless Controllers.
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| Q16. If I add another AuroRa package will all 10 dimmers work together as one system? | |
| Yes, you simply need to bridge the two systems together. Once bridged, all 10 dimmers will come on to full bright (100%) when you press the All On button on any remote and all 10 dimmers will turn off when you press the All Off button on any remote. Pressing the Favorite button on the Wireless Controllers will turn all 10 dimmers on to their locally adjusted slider levels. |
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| Q17. How do I add another AuroRa package to my system and bridge the systems together? |
Install the second system. Once installed, press the advanced button on the 1st system Central Antenna (advanced LED light will turn on) and then press the advanced button on the 2nd system Central Antenna (advanced LED light will turn on). The bridge process will take about 30 seconds, and after a successful bridge, all ten dimmers will flash their lights 4-5 times. Both systems will now work together.
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| Q18. How do I remove system bridging? |
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| Q19. How do I add another Wireless Controller? | |
Adding another Wireless Controller is a simple 3-step process:
i) On the Central Antenna hold in the add button (3-5 seconds) until the add LED light begins to blink (all the lights on the system will also begin to flash). The Central Antenna will beep.
ii) Press and hold any of the buttons on the Wireless Controller for 2-3 seconds until the Central Antenna beeps(the Visor LED light on the Central Antenna will start flashing).
iii) Press and hold the add button on the Central Antenna for approximately 3 seconds to exit (the add LED light will stop flashing and remain off). The Central Antenna will beep.
This process can be repeated until a total of ten Wireless Controllers are in the system.
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Technical
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| Q20. What is the range of the Central Antenna? | |
The Central Antenna has a Radio Frequency range of at least 30 feet in every direction.
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| Q21. Will other equipment in my home or neighboring homes interfere with my AuroRa system? |
AuroRa operates at a frequency different from most remote controls, cellular/portable phones, and other wireless devices. The communication protocol ensures that any device operating at the same frequency will not affect the lighting on your system. Also, your system will not affect other AuroRa systems because each AuroRa system has a unique system code to prevent cross-system interaction.
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| Q22. What happens to the AuroRa system during a power outage? | |
AuroRa has a non-volatile memory, which maintains all system addressing and Master Control programming during a power outage. After the power outage, the memory restores all system lighting to the exact light levels the dimmers were at before the power failure.
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| Q23. Is AuroRa a power line carrier system? |
No, AuroRa uses radio signals for communication. Power line carrier products use your home's electrical wiring for communication, which is susceptible to false signals and interference generated by other appliances turning off and on.
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| Q24. Can lightning or power-surges harm an AuroRa system? |
AuroRa devices use sophisticated protection circuitry to help guard against lightning and surges. While it is true that no electronic devices will survive a direct lightning strike, AuroRa will remain unharmed by normal electrical storms and static electricity.
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| Q25. How do I replace an AuroRa dimmer? |
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| Q26. How do I get additional Wireless Controllers and how do I add them to my system? |
Wireless Controllers can be purchased at the place of your original system purchase or you can view the where to buy on our website Link.Or call our tech support at 1-800-523-9466.
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| Q27. How does the Master Control talk to the dimmers? |
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| Q28. How does the Wireless Controller talk to the dimmers? |
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| Q29. Can Aurora dimmers, Master Controls, or Wireless Controllers be swapped between systems? |
| No, since each AuroRa kit has a unique address devices cannot be swapped between kits. |
| Q30. What is HomeLink? Is AuroRa compatible with HomeLink? | |
HomeLink is an integrated transceiver (a tansmitter and receiver) that can be programmed to activate radio frequency (RF)devices such as garage doors, estate/community gates, entry door locks, home/office lighting, or other RF devices from a car.
AuroRa kits are fully compatible with HomeLink.
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| Q31. What is a FASS? |
The FASS is the Front Accessible Service Switch. It is usedto cut all power to the light bulb, allowing safe bulb replacement.
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| Q32. When will AuroRa be available in Canada and Mexico? |
AuroRa will be available to Canada and Mexico in the 4th Quarter of 2006.
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| Q33. Can one wireless controller activate lights in two different systems? |
Yes, some users would like to have AuroRa in more than one home. The Wireless Controller can be added to two different systems. However, it is not recommended to add a Wireless Controller to two systems within the same home. Doing so may cause unreliable system communication.
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| Q34. In order to bridge two systems together do both systems need to be powered? |
| Yes, in order to bridge two systems all dimmers and Master Controls in both systems need to be powered. |