Upgrading Lutron Illumination to QSX: What to Check

A HomeWorks Illumination upgrade can bring new controls, features and lighting scenes to an established home. We plan the move to QSX around the existing equipment, retaining suitable infrastructure and coordinating the changes room by room.

Lutron Application Note 840 sets out supported paths, replacement equipment and opportunities to reuse suitable existing link wiring. It also makes clear that some older modules, interfaces and power supplies require replacement.

Identify the installed generation

HomeWorks Interactive, Illumination, QS and QSX are different generations. Record the processor model, panel interfaces, load modules, keypad families, shade interfaces, RF equipment and third-party connections. Obtain the available project and programming files where possible.

Do not label a system from the appearance of one keypad. Properties are sometimes extended in stages and may contain equipment from more than one period.

Map every Illumination link

Illumination processors provided dedicated links for categories such as remote power panels, keypads, RF devices, wired dimmers and shades. QSX organises the system differently. Application Note 840 explains the recommended migration for each link and whether the existing wire may be reused.

Match the power supplies to the new equipment

Lutron’s hardware overview distinguishes the 15 V DC supplies used by many Illumination devices from the 24 V DC arrangement used by QSX devices. We include the appropriate power supplies in the upgrade design and assess the existing cabling separately.

Choose the next generation of room controls

A QSX upgrade gives us the opportunity to review keypad finishes, engraving and room scenes together. We select the supported controls, coordinate backboxes and wall details, and shape the button layout around the way you live now.

Assess panels and load equipment

Some panel wiring and equipment may be reusable through the supported route; other interfaces or modules need replacement. Record every load and its present behaviour. Old labels may not match altered circuits, so prove the circuit schedule before relying on it.

Bring the LED lighting into the upgrade

We identify the fittings, drivers, control method and connected loads, then test the dimming through the intended range. Any changes to lamps or modules are included in the upgrade design so the lighting and controls work together.

Network and integration changes

QSX processors use Ethernet for processor connectivity and modern integrations. Confirm switch ports, addressing, remote-service requirements and network ownership. Older third-party drivers or serial interfaces may not have a direct modern equivalent, so every integration needs a supported replacement plan and test.

Sequence the change safely

1. Complete the survey and photograph all panels and controls.
2. Secure available programming files and document the current scenes.
3. Agree the replacement design, temporary arrangements and outage periods.
4. Install and test the new panels, processors, keypads and interfaces in planned stages.
5. Commission every circuit, shade, scene, schedule and integration.
6. Review the scenes with the homeowner and retain the final project information.

Use Lutron's current Application Note 840 as the technical starting point.

Arrange a HomeWorks upgrade survey

Send photographs of the processors, panel labels, keypads and affected rooms, plus any project files you hold. London Electricals can then define the survey and upgrade route. Visit HomeWorks repairs and upgrades, review current HomeWorks design, or read the guide to an inherited Lutron system with no installer.