AVForums

Our philosophy in our forums, reviews, podcasts and feature videos is to promote audio and visual excellence by gathering and sharing the best information and resources available.

Help

To begin please visit our help section »

Not a Member Yet?

It only takes a minute to start enjoying the benefits of AVForums membership, and it's free!

Member Log in

Recommend me a lighting controller...

Post Reply
Old 03-09-2008, 11:13 AM   #1
Member
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Milton Keynes
Experience Points:
8,104, Level: 21
Points: 8,104, Level: 21 Points: 8,104, Level: 21 Points: 8,104, Level: 21
Activity: 0%
Activity: 0% Activity: 0% Activity: 0%
Thanks: Gave 25, Got 91
Posts: 921
Recommend me a lighting controller...

Guys,

The final lighting setup is in place now and as such I need to get myself a lighting controller.

Needs to have 4 zones, and as many programmable scenes as possible.

Mode Scenestyle 4 seems quite good but ideally would like more than 4 scenes.

Any other offerings?

The lighting is as follows, 2 zones of rope lighting, 1 zone of 6x 35W GU10, 1 zone of 3x 50W GU10. No low voltage lighting included.

Many thanks

John
  Quote
Old 03-09-2008, 12:14 PM   #2
Member
Join Date: Feb 2007
Experience Points:
3,459, Level: 13
Points: 3,459, Level: 13 Points: 3,459, Level: 13 Points: 3,459, Level: 13
Activity: 0%
Activity: 0% Activity: 0% Activity: 0%
Thanks: Gave 0, Got 14
Posts: 60
Re: Recommend me a lighting controller...

How much do you want to spend?

Lutron Grafik Eye has 8 scenes
  Quote
Old 03-09-2008, 1:02 PM   #3
Member
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Milton Keynes
Experience Points:
8,104, Level: 21
Points: 8,104, Level: 21 Points: 8,104, Level: 21 Points: 8,104, Level: 21
Activity: 0%
Activity: 0% Activity: 0% Activity: 0%
Thanks: Gave 25, Got 91
Posts: 921
Re: Recommend me a lighting controller...

Bruce,

My mum and dad have a 4 zone Grafik Eye and I do like it. However, its a bit more than id probably be wanting to spend. Theirs only has 4 scenes though, however it is about 4 years old. Is 8 scenes a feature of new models?

The Scenestyle is quite a good price but as mentioned I would like more scenes.

Would something like Rako do the job?

Forget to add before, it MUST have IR control aswell. Gotta have it programmed into Harmony activities
  Quote
Old 03-09-2008, 6:31 PM   #4
Member
Join Date: Feb 2007
Experience Points:
3,459, Level: 13
Points: 3,459, Level: 13 Points: 3,459, Level: 13 Points: 3,459, Level: 13
Activity: 0%
Activity: 0% Activity: 0% Activity: 0%
Thanks: Gave 0, Got 14
Posts: 60
Re: Recommend me a lighting controller...

Rako can do more than 8 scenes, and does IR. Different style of controller though. Probably about the same price as the GE.
  Quote
Old 03-09-2008, 6:40 PM   #5
Senior Member
 
owain_thomas's Avatar
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Manchester, England
Experience Points:
8,739, Level: 22
Points: 8,739, Level: 22 Points: 8,739, Level: 22 Points: 8,739, Level: 22
Activity: 0%
Activity: 0% Activity: 0% Activity: 0%
Thanks: Gave 79, Got 75
Posts: 1,886
Re: Recommend me a lighting controller...

Quote:
Originally Posted by Bruce_ View Post
Rako can do more than 8 scenes, and does IR. Different style of controller though. Probably about the same price as the GE.
I might be missing something obvious but how does the Rako do more than eight scenes? for that matter, can it do more than four with the standard controllers?
  Quote
Old 03-09-2008, 10:03 PM   #6
Member
Join Date: Feb 2007
Experience Points:
3,459, Level: 13
Points: 3,459, Level: 13 Points: 3,459, Level: 13 Points: 3,459, Level: 13
Activity: 0%
Activity: 0% Activity: 0% Activity: 0%
Thanks: Gave 0, Got 14
Posts: 60
Re: Recommend me a lighting controller...

Dunno what I was thinking. You're right of course. Rako can only do 4 scenes.

Grafik Eye needs a separate panel to access 8 scenes, I think. But I'm not expert with Lutron product.

Actually there doesn't seem much available for 8 scenes, in the cheaper end of the market. They all seem to do 4 scenes.

The ZEN dimmer does 8 scenes (DO NOT BUY IT)

Most of the commercial systems will do 8 scenes, but you are probably looking at more than £1000 (product + commissioning)

iLight has an 8 scene control panel. connected to a 4 channel dimmer, it's still £500 though.
  Quote
Old 04-09-2008, 9:31 PM   #7
Assured Advertiser
 
hornydragon's Avatar
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: Where ever you want me to be.
Experience Points:
63,997, Level: 61
Points: 63,997, Level: 61 Points: 63,997, Level: 61 Points: 63,997, Level: 61
Activity: 0%
Activity: 0% Activity: 0% Activity: 0%
Thanks: Gave 102, Got 1,406
Posts: 28,088
Re: Recommend me a lighting controller...

Quote:
Originally Posted by owain_thomas View Post
I might be missing something obvious but how does the Rako do more than eight scenes? for that matter, can it do more than four with the standard controllers?
RS232 or IR can do more scenes IIRC as can clever use if special panels but the norm is 4 scenes. only having 4 circuits 4 scenes is nirmmaly enough 6+ circuits and it can be a struggle in open plan areas
  Quote
Old 05-09-2008, 8:00 AM   #8
Member
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Milton Keynes
Experience Points:
8,104, Level: 21
Points: 8,104, Level: 21 Points: 8,104, Level: 21 Points: 8,104, Level: 21
Activity: 0%
Activity: 0% Activity: 0% Activity: 0%
Thanks: Gave 25, Got 91
Posts: 921
Re: Recommend me a lighting controller...

Ok, thanks for the input guys. I think im going to go for the Scenestyle 4 as I have just discovered that it has a holiday mode where you can program it to simulate occupancy. As I regularly go overseas for a couple of weeks at a time, its ideal!
  Quote
Post Reply



Thread information and display options
Thread Tools

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off