Trying to find out about Rako Lighting.

[maj74]

I want to get remote control of the lighting in our cinema room.
All we have is a single cieling rose with 5 bulbs that currently is controlled with an IR dimmer.

The existing IR dimmer will control on and off with a tap, while holding it on fades in and out. The limitation of this is that if you want a particular lighting level, you have to hold onto the switch while it cycles to where you want it.


There fore I want to upgrade it to something like the rako system.

The existing switch has 3 wires, 2 covered and a third bare, that I assume is the earth.

Therefore:
1: Can I use the RDL250C in-line dimmer. Does this unit have to have a 3 wire lighting circuit, or will it work without an earth?

2: If the circuit proves unsuitable for the RDL250C, then presumably I have to use the RDT-PILL which goes into the switch box on the wall?

3: With one set of lights in the room on a single circuit, What I want is obviously an on / off switch setting and maybe 2 diiferent brightness settings that will fade to full on and full off. What control panel do I need in order to be able to do this?

4: Can these lights be controlled by a Pronto TSU9600? I know that 9600 has wi-fi, but not RF so does that mean I can only control a raku using a dimmer with RS232 feedback?

5: If I want the 9600 to 'display' the current light setting, again I presumably need a controller with RS232 feedback?


Many thanks in advance for any help people can give!

[maj74]

Alternatively, what about the Futronix P50?

[LukeFoster2006]

Hi maj74

1. As I am aware it should work fine without the earth as that's how I run mine.

2. As above.

3. Rako do a seven button wall plate that I feel is the best option. It will allow you to have 4 different scenes and off. It also has the dim up and down functions. It's model number is RCP07 and you can get a variety of different fascias for it.

4. I control my Rako system through my TSU9600 using there RAV232 interface attached to my RFX9600 via RS232.

5. The only way you will be able to get feedback is if you buy the more expensive RAV232+ as this is the only unit that is bi-directional.

If you need any more info just let me know.

Cheers Luke

[maj74]

Well, my rako units have arrived and I've wired in the pill control unit as well as the face plate, and they are working properly which is good.

Not having so much luck with the Pronto control. The rako software module is installed onto my TSU9600 and all the settings in the software are correct as far as I can tell.

The RAV232 unit is attached to my rfx9600 extender.

However the pronto is not running any lights successfully.

Can someone help me with possible reasons?

a) Does the rako software on the TSU9600 work purely through prontoscript? When I press buttons on the pronto, should I see the transmit animation on the top of the screen? (I see nothing) The only rako units in the control code database are for the RAVIR controller.

b) Does the RAV232 have to have a 12v power supply connected when working from an rfx9600 extender? My rako supplier thought it shouldn't need one, but haven't got a spare one at the moment, so can't test. If it has to have one, then I'll go buy another 12v power transformer tomorrow!

These are my 2 thoughts on most likely issues. Is it one of these, or could it be something else?!

[vex]

Can't help on the pronto side, but check the wattage of the bulbs in your light, 5 bulbs at 50W will push the little PLL to its limit (if not beyond)

Our typical installs is run usually 50 to 100w below the listed rating of the dimmer. I currently run the 500w dimmers to 400, anything beyond on that can cause problems.

HTH

V.

[maj74]

They're only 40w Bulbs, so even at full power thats only 200w, which in a 250w controller ought to be ok! As I said, the wall panel is working fine, it's just the pronto side of things not playing ball at the moment!

[Liam @ Prog AV]

Just don't accidentally replace 40w with 60w when they pop.... I had a dimmer melt that way before!!

[hornydragon]

Yes the RAV232+ needs power the RFX9600 won't power it. Not sure if the script is designed with feedback I know the Digilinx rako lua has feedback but it would need changing in the script IIRC.

All the info is in the manual...

[DJMALLZ]

hey bud
i get the feeling that you haven't added a 12v power supply to the rav232. the rav232+ gives two way feedback but not for pronto unfortunately, and yes the module was written through prontoscript which is the only way they can be written and the gentlemen who wrote it are in this forum actually and they're very helpful indeed. i just did a rako integration with pronto few days ago and was very straight forward.