Rako Lighting Electrician in West London

[Oscarp]

Hi All,
Can anyone recommend a Lighting Electrician in West london that can finish off / trouble shoot / configure a Rako system.

Background:
I have 2 zones: Kitchen & hallway (and want to have upto 4 zones. Rako devices have been purchased)

In kitchen has 4 rewired circuits each with Rako devices in place.
The hallway has 1 rako device in place

Problem: When I connect up the hallway I get zone interference (i.e. the controls turn on/off the lights in 2 zones despite being on different channels)

My sparky doesn't have a clue on how to do it and the wife has had enough!!!!

Thanks all,
OscarP

[vex]

Where abouts in West London Oscar?

We might be able to help.

V.

[Oscarp]

Hi Vex,
Ealing / Brentford - W5 postcode...
OscarP

[vex]

Hi Oscarp.

I have been thinking about this, but all I think that has happened is that your electrician has linked both keypads to more dimmers than you wanted.

I just need to check the instructions as to how to remove existing relationships and I get back to you. It should be simple for you to do yourself.

V.

[hornydragon]

I recon he has either used room 1 or rooms 4,5,6 for the dimmers and 4 for the keypad.

[charris cy]

Oscarp,

you do not have any interference.

I agree with Vex and Horny: You have just addressed the dimmers and the Control panels wrongly.

Do you know how to address the Rako system? Do you have easy access to the dimmers?

If yes then I can very easily expain you how to readress and fix the system.

If you have the software and the usb then I can even explain to you how to re-address the dimmers without the need to access them and use the magnet on them.

If you have no idea about what I am talking above then I suggest you hire vex and he will solve the problems in a few minutes.

[Oscarp]

Hi all,
I had the sparky installed the rako devices and then ended up addressing them myself - half a job by the sparky -

The 4 rakos in the kitchen / diner are managed by a single controller address using the same DIP switch setting and are all working ok.

Once we added in the a 5th unit to control the lights in the hall (on a different DIP switch setting, with a different controller) then it took control of all the lights - in the hall and in the kitchen! I have attempted to reset the system a number of times, with no luck. The rakos are all floorboards and carpet now, but I have a number of controllers that could be used for programming.

I currently do not have the software and usb, but would be very interested in understanding how to use the s/ware to re-address the dimmers without the need to access them and use the magnet on them.!!!!

OscarP

[hornydragon]

what DIP are you using for each (room number?) thats were you have gone wrong... using the software isnt for the faint hearted, I have seen it done but not done it myself, Charris it seems is a dab hand at this. ALso no doubt has a Rako identifier (not available to general users or most dealers)

[Oscarp]

I shall check the settings tonight and post tomorrow..
Does anyone else find the software challenging?
- my level of software operation is that I have built and configured my own HTPC in the past, but before I spend £175 on the software....
OscarP

[Oscarp]

The settings on the DIP switch controller in the kitchen is:
House: 1,2,3 = On 4,5,6,7,8 = OFF
ROOM: 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8 = ON

This controls both zones. I can access the Rako unit in the hall and attempt to reprogram it.
2 questions:
1) How do I fully reset the RAKO unit (I have a magnet)
2) Should the lights in the kitchen be on or off when re-setting and then programming the hall RAKO

This will be set as
House: 1,2,3 = On 4,5,6,7,8 = OFF
ROOM: 1,2,3,4,5,6,7 = ON. 8 = Off
Many thanks,
OscarP

[Oscarp]

Ah ha!! I got it working last night on the one of the hall circuits without it switching off the kitchen

Just need to look at the way the lighting circuit is set up for the other bank of lights in the hall (which are still being operated by the kitchen)

A good step forward! Tx everyone
OscarP