RA3 Remote Programming Lutron Designer

[Idealelectric]

Curious if anyone knows how to remotely program from Lutron Designer? Its not seeing the system and I have remote access enabled when I designed it.

[Kyle S]

Hello,

Did you successfully transfer the project to the processor before leaving the jobsite?
Was there a cloud with a green checkmark in the top right corner of the software?
Have you been able to remotely program with any systems before?

[Idealelectric]

The transfer was successful to both processors.
There was a green check mark. There is a green check mark when I try remotely from PC but doesn't connect.

This is my first setup i've done- wasn't sure if i was missing something.

[johnmax]

If you are trying to activate devices thru cloud it does not work- you have to be on site or use VPN. At least with Homeworks its been that way havent tried lately to activate over cloud. Regular program changes though work mostly fine using only cloud connection with QSX and RA3.

[SpivR]

Lutron RA3 system with four main processors and wireless repeaters (big-ish system).

I'm trying to understand exactly what I can or cannot do with remote access to the system.

So far, while onsite locally, I've installed one of the main processors, activated it, uploaded the Designer database, activated the wireless repeaters and activated a few dimmers and switches.

I will be going back to site, but would also like to work remotely.

Please pardon the newbe-ish questions, but haven't tried to work remote to any of my other RA2 or RA3 projects.

1. Do I have to do anything special to use remote access while I am onsite. Any options or software configuration to verify or test?

2. When I am remote, how do I verify that I have remote access? Is there a simple way to test, or do I load the configuration and look for activated processors or do I try and do a database transfer?

3. Can I activate additional main processors remotely (if they are plugged in onsite to the Ethernet network and PoE), or must I do that onsite?

4. Can I remotely activate additional dimmers and switches? Right now, we are using all RA2 ClearConnect Type A, not RA3 Sunnata Type X (don't ask - long story), so activation is via Designer procedure on the PC, not the mobile app.

5. Limitations to any of the above - what type of VPN remote access can I use to enable full capability remotely or is that just asking for trouble? (I can install a VPN box or use something like Tailscale SDN if it works?)

[maurivillar]

helloI would like to know if I can connect a RMJS-5R-DV-B PowPak Relay Module to a QS homerwork and program it to control the lights.

[johnmax]

Lutron RA3 system with four main processors and wireless repeaters (big-ish system).

I'm trying to understand exactly what I can or cannot do with remote access to the system.

So far, while onsite locally, I've installed one of the main processors, activated it, uploaded the Designer database, activated the wireless repeaters and activated a few dimmers and switches.

I will be going back to site, but would also like to work remotely.

Please pardon the newbe-ish questions, but haven't tried to work remote to any of my other RA2 or RA3 projects.

1. Do I have to do anything special to use remote access while I am onsite. Any options or software configuration to verify or test?

2. When I am remote, how do I verify that I have remote access? Is there a simple way to test, or do I load the configuration and look for activated processors or do I try and do a database transfer?

3. Can I activate additional main processors remotely (if they are plugged in onsite to the Ethernet network and PoE), or must I do that onsite?

4. Can I remotely activate additional dimmers and switches? Right now, we are using all RA2 ClearConnect Type A, not RA3 Sunnata Type X (don't ask - long story), so activation is via Designer procedure on the PC, not the mobile app.

5. Limitations to any of the above - what type of VPN remote access can I use to enable full capability remotely or is that just asking for trouble? (I can install a VPN box or use something like Tailscale SDN if it works?)

While I mainly use QSX and rarely RA3, the same should apply to both. I work remotely 99.9% of the time as well. This all depends on if you plan to VPN in, or just rely on the Lutron cloud. If not using VPN, then make sure you Enable Connect Places and Remote Services in the project settings. This will let you upload programming changes only. You wont be able to verify connectivity to a processor or any device.

If you step up to a VPN, you also add the ability to activate devices (not processors as it cannot discover it locally). You can load projects via VPN as well and also run diagnostics (which I dont think work over the basic cloud connection). You can also verify device connectivity and also verify a processor is connected (any processor that has been activated already).

My main gripe with Designer versus the older Lutron software is you can no longer specify a processor's IP address on the activation screen. Before you could just type it in, and the software would see the unactivated processor and you can then activate it. But in Lutron's infinite "wisdom" they took away that ability for some stupid reason.

For VPN we usually own the network as well, so our routers use OpenVPN. But any VPN should work.

[Rowdy R.]

Hello,
The RMJS-5R-DV-B is part of the Commercial Vive system and as such cannot be added into a Homeworks QS system. That being said there is a different model that can be added into the Homeworks QS system, that model number being the LMJ-16R-DV-B.
Here is the Specification sheet for the unit.
LMJ-16R-DV-B Specification Sheet