Lutron AuroRa Targets Mass Market Users

After years of hovering at the high end of lighting control, Lutron is aiming straight for the mass market with the new AuroRa wireless lighting control system.

The system comes with five dimmers, one tabletop master control, one wireless controller for the car visor, and one central antenna -- "all preprogrammed so there's no training and no programming," says Lutron's Rich Black.

A master button controls a single dimmer, while the master control's All On and All Off buttons control all five.

The price: $750 suggested retail, about half that of a similar RadioRa package.

Despite the "Ra" theme, the new product is different in several ways. On the down side, the AuroRa switches lack scene capabilities. Also, there is no option for the traditional rocker dimmer; the AuroRa utilizes toggle-size dimmers.

Finally, you can't mix and match components as with RadioRa. If you want to add to the five-dimmer system, you must buy another package.

On the plus side, the new system employs a frequency-hopping RF technology versus the single-channel RF solution used in the RadioRa line.

Another new technology innovation: In three-way installations, the AuroRa will work with existing mechanical dimmers. Users need only replace the master dimmer. "It's the only smart dimmer that can do that," says Black.