Rako Lighting Control

We use a variety of lighting control systems but we design and commission a lot of systems that feature Rako controls. Rako is easy to use, it integrates with other systems well and yet offers great functionality when deployed in isolation.

It can be integrated with Audio / Video systems, Curtain and blinds systems, even whole house control systems. Rako can be used to provide fine control over lighting, curtains and powered screens in a home cinema room or can offer the ability to switch off all the lights in a house at the touch of a single button. So it's versatile and well supported, but why might it work for your project?

We particularly like using Rako lighting control system when clients have the following criteria:

Where the lighting control system is being retro-fitted in to an existing house. The wireless technology minimises the amount of electrical work and ‘making good’ required, and there is no need to take all of the wiring back to a central point.
Where a high degree of flexibility of control over freestanding light fittings is required. You can for example keep including different floor or table lamps in to your lighting scheme without the constraints of a 5amp circuit. This is particularly important in rooms which will change use over time, or where the installed lighting doesn’t give you any flexibility over moods (eg; where is it a single circuit pendant or grid of downlighters).
Where there are a particularly small number of circuits per room. Because one dimmer unit controls one circuit (unlike many systems where one dimmer module controls a fixed number of circuits, often 4 or 6), this is a cost effective solution for simpler room schemes.
At the other end of the scale, where there are a particularly large number of circuits per room. One Rako controller will ‘talk to’ up to 15 different circuits in any one room. This is beyond the capability of many mid to low range control systems, unless you double or triple up the fixed modules (ie; install multiples of 4 or 6).
Where replicating lighting patterns for security reasons is important. Rako allows you to ‘record’ your natural patterns of light and replay it whilst you are away. So instead of having plugs on timers exhibiting a predictable pattern of lighting, the Rako system will replicate you being in the kitchen particularly early one evening, moving in to the lounge, taking a loo break, etc etc.
Where you wish to integrate lighting control in to wider house control, without investing in a whole house control system. The Rako system will interface with things such as blind control, electric gates (so when the gates open the lights come on down the drive and in the hall), security (so when a window is opened all of the ground floor lights will come on), etc etc. Usually, if the question is ‘can it do this’ the answer is yes
Where simplicity of installation and programming is key. We have for example installed this for clients with houses abroad, with electricians who speak no English. They were quickly able to understand the wiring, and we were able to help the client fine tune the programming by talking him through it on the telephone.

So how does it work? In essence, each controller has a radio frequency transmitter, and each dimmer or switch unit has a receiver. Each lighting circuit has a dimmer or switch unit wired in to it, in line. There are different types of dimmer or switch unit depending on what type of light source you are controlling (eg; halogen, fluorescent or LED), and the wattage per circuit. When the system is programmed you tell each controller which house and which room it is controlling, and each receiving unit which room and circuit it is on. Because it is an RF system you do not have to wire back to the switch as you do with a conventional wiring scheme. All of the other clever things it does are done by the accessory devices and the software programming.

A lot of clients have an initial concern around ‘what if my granny comes to stay and doesn’t know how to turn the light on?’. We always recommend putting a wall controller where you would expect to find a light switch, by a rooms’ entrance. The controllers look like sleek switches, and can come in a wide range of finishes. Remote controls are also available.

Give us a ring and we can discuss in more detail how it might work for you, and very quickly give you a rough idea of costs. With more information we can do a detailed specification, costing and supply, and programming.