Lutron or Rako? A Dublin and Cork Guide to Choosing Lighting Control by Project

Lutron or Rako comes down to the stage your project is at and what you want the keypads and blinds to do. For most Dublin and Cork homes, Lutron is the pick when keypad design and quiet motorised shades lead the brief, and Rako is the pick for flexible, good value control in a finished house or in place of an old JCL FlexiDim system.

We are an accredited Rako installer, and we design, install and programme Lutron too, so this guide is written from both sides of the counter. Rather than run through features brand by brand, it starts from the kind of project you have, because that usually settles the question faster than any specification sheet.

Lutron or Rako at each stage of a project

Neither brand is a compromise. What separates them in practice is the look and feel of the keypads, whether motorised shades are part of the plan, and how much of the house is open when the work starts.

Self builds and new builds: decide before first fix

A house that is still a shell gives you the most choice, and the cheapest moment to use it. Data cable to each keypad position costs little while the walls are open, and it lets you choose a wired system that will run for decades. Rako's own overview application sheet describes the wired system as dedicated data cabling linking the parts of the system to central RAK units, and lists what it adds over wireless: backlit keypads, active feedback and unlimited system range. Lutron's HomeWorks fills the same role for larger houses.

If you are planning a self build, the order of decisions matters more than the brand. Our guide to lighting design for a self build covers what to settle with your electrician first, and the same first fix visit can plan the power and recesses for motorised blinds, so they disappear into the ceiling when open.

Finished houses and period homes

In a house you already live in, wireless is the starting point, and both brands have a good answer. Lutron RadioRA 3 adds keypads and dimmers without chasing walls, and Rako's sheet notes that its wireless dimmer modules are designed to fit a standard domestic wiring layout.

This is the everyday reality of work in both cities. In Dublin it often means Georgian and Victorian houses in Ballsbridge, Rathgar and Ranelagh, where ceilings and cornicing must not be touched. In Cork it ranges from Victorian and Georgian houses in Montenotte, Sunday's Well and Blackrock to coastal and country houses around Kinsale and West Cork. In houses like these, the keypad you prefer and whether you want blinds usually decide it.

Replacing a JCL FlexiDim system

JCL, the company behind FlexiDim, has closed, so there are no new parts or software updates when a module or keypad fails. FlexiDim was usually star wired, with every lighting circuit running back to dimmer modules in one place, and that wiring is the opportunity: the central equipment and keypads can be replaced while the cables stay where they are. Rako is one of the systems we use for this, alongside Crestron and Control4, and we installed a great many FlexiDim systems over the years. Our JCL FlexiDim replacement page explains how the scenes you are used to are recreated on the new system.

Keypads and blinds: where Lutron pulls ahead

Lutron is the name most architects and interior designers ask for. Its Palladiom and Alisse keypads are beautifully made, its dimmers handle almost any LED fitting smoothly, and its motorised shades are among the quietest available, which matters in a bedroom. Shades can be added at any time and joined to the lighting scenes you already have.

Whichever brand you choose, you design the keypads yourself. In our interactive proposal you, your interior designer or your lighting designer choose keypad styles, finishes, button names and backlight colours, with live costs as you go, before anything is installed.

Looking after it once you move in

A lighting control system is with you for many years, and the programming is what you notice day to day. Through 1Install Care we keep the software up to date, change scenes as your needs change and look after the system remotely where we can. We can also take over, reprogramme and support a Lutron system that someone else installed.

Questions we are often asked

Is wireless Rako reliable enough for a whole house?

Yes, when it is planned properly. Rako wireless is designed for homes, and planning the positions of the dimmers and keypads is part of our design work.

Can wired and wireless be mixed in one house?

With Rako, yes. Rako describes a hub that sits on the wired network and also sends and receives wireless messages, so an extension can be wireless while the main house is wired.

Will my LED downlights dim smoothly?

Lutron's dimmers handle almost any LED fitting smoothly, and with Rako every circuit dims smoothly when each dimmer is matched to its fittings. Check the fittings early in the design, because the match matters more than the badge on the keypad.

Can I control Lutron or Rako from my Crestron or Control4 touch screens?

Yes. Lutron integrates with Crestron, Control4 and Savant, and Rako connects to other control systems through its hub, so lighting appears beside music, heating and cinema. Our guide to choosing a home automation system covers that wider decision.

Which costs less, Lutron or Rako?

Rako is known for good value, and the final price for either depends on the number of circuits, keypads and shades, so we price each house rather than quote a rule. A consultation or survey visit is €440 plus VAT for up to 4 hours, as our smart home cost page sets out.

See our Lutron and Rako pages, and lighting control in Dublin and Cork, for the systems we install near you.

Book a consultation or call Dublin on 01 906 9326 or Cork on 021 202 8107.