RE: Rako was:xPL/xAP an alternative to C-Bu$ ?

["Dave Sharples" <david.sharples@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

I recently bought some Rako kit from http://www.playhaus.co.uk/ when
renovating my bathroom. They are just "up the road" so I could
take my wife
for a demo before making the the investment - otherwise I would have used
LA.
=20
I also considered Clipsal's Ulti system, but decided it would have been a
waste, as I needed a reasonable retro-fit, but also wanted to switch the
lights in the loft/ceiling void, as I was covering in the old wall-plate
an=
d
pull cord in the old toilet, bathroom & airing cupboard, to produce a
range
of seamless scenes in one new large room, but still using the old 3
separat=
e
circuits.
=20
I'm very pleased with the results. 2 Rako dimmable channels controlling 3
L=
V
transformers, and a Rako switcher controlling the shower extractor fan. I
have a 7-button wall-plate with which I've managed to programme an
acceptable range of four scenes - although you cannot programme the ramp
rates with the wall-plate controller - you need the PC interface for that -
which I couldn't justify for just one room.
=20
Likes
- the switchers/dimmers are all the in the loft - so one
battery-powered surface mount wall-plate can control up to 255 circuits to
produce 4 scenes in one Room.
- it seems reliable and is simple to use.
- it can be retrofitted into the ceiling/loft spaces near the light
fitting - enabling the the old wall switches to be jointed and hidden, and
new ones created effectively anywhere with the battery wall-plate or remote
control - even in wet-zones.
=20
Dislikes
-The stuff feels a little fragile - and MMHO is a only just
one-step up from home-built.=20
- You can't practically control different rooms from the same
wall plate, although there are special channels for "whole house
off".
- No automation for time of day operation/security etc -
although with the PC interface this would be possible - as there are
specia=
l
channels for zoned or whole house switching.
- There is only one wall-plate available - the programmer - on
which you use blanking plates to lobotomise it to a simple wall-switch if
you wish.
=20
I promised Keith Doxey I would write a proper review/account of my
experiences for Automated Home - which I will.... but in the meantime, I'm
happy to correspond with anyone on the topic and share my experience..
=20
Kind Regards,
=20
Dave.=20
_____=20=20

From: Justin [mailto:groups@xxxxxxx]=20
Sent: 21 May 2004 10:49
To: ukha_d@xxxxxxx
Subject: RE:[ukha_d] Rako was:xPL/xAP an alternative to C-Bu$ ?



Phil,

I know LA stock the Rako range, but have you actually had a play with the
stuff?
The fact no one else seems to be excited about these make me think I
have=20
overlooked some huge flaw!

Anyone here using Rako stuff?

Cheers,
Justin.

P.S. Did you get my PM with the software?

Quoting Phil Harris <phil@xxxxxxx>:

>=20
> You can also get 12v powered faceplates if you really don't want to
ever
> have the need to change batteries but yes - should be 3 years battery
lif=
e
> according to the manufacturers.
>=20
> The dimmers have programmable ramp rates and dimming curves, there are
also
> 0-10v dimmer packs for use with bimmable balasts for fluorescents.
>=20
> Phil=20
>=20
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: groups@xxxxxxx [mailto:groups@xxxxxxx]=20
> > Sent: 20 May 2004 13:28
> > To: ukha_d@xxxxxxx
> > Subject: Re: [ukha_d] xPL/xAP an alternative to C-Bu$ ?
> >=20
> > Have you looked at the Rako line? It's not X10 cheap but=20
> > seems quite reasonable to me.
> >=20
> > I think I might end up going with their stuff as...
> > Being RF there is no need to mess around wiring CAT5 back to=20
> > the switches.
> > There is a 2 way PC interface which has a simple protocol so=20
> > I'm sure it wouldn't be too difficult to tie the system in=20
> > with xPL/xAP/HomeSeer etc.
> >=20
> > The faceplates are battery powered (3 year life supposedly)=20
> > so there is no restriction in where they have to go (the=20
> > dimmers go in-line in the ceiling void). That's useful=20
> > enough, but I can see all sorts of ways of using the switches=20
> > when talking to a PC or even using other (cheaper) switches=20
> > to control the lighting via the PC interface.
> >=20
> > http://www.rakocontrols.com
> >=20
> > No association, bla, etc. *But* if you go this route, give me=20
> > a shout off-list first ;-)
> >=20
> > Cheers,
> > Justin.
> >=20
> > Quoting Gareth Cook <g@xxxxxxx>:
> >=20
> > > I went to the UKHA2004 show - I was the CBus switches.
All=20
> > very very nice.=20
> > > I then came back home and did the sums.
> > >=20
> > > In my house, to replace the light switches, I'm looking at
=A32000.=20
> > > Switches ONLY ! No dimmers yet....And quite frankly, it
ain't gonna=20
> > > happen - I like my HA, but not at that price. I'm getting=20
> > more careful=20
> > > in my old age :-)
> > >=20
> > > So, if I already have CAT5 to the light switches - any
reason why a=20
> > > xPL/xAP alternative could be developed ? Maybe even using=20
> > standard MK=20
> > > momentary switches as the physical switch and wiring this=20
> > new module=20
> > > to the "mains" input on that switch as a local
loop - and then from=20
> > > the module in the backbox back to Node 0 over CAT5. Same, if
not=20
> > > better control - and at a reasonable price.
> > >=20
> > > I'm seriously thinking of switching to X10 - I know it's=20
> > naff but if=20
> > > I'm re-wiring anyway, I can have all the LD11s back in one
place -=20
> > > shouldn't get a problem. And the switches from MK are a
few=20
> > pounds - a=20
> > > more palatable cost.
> > >=20
> > > G.