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

["Phil Harris" <phil@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

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 life
according to the manufacturers.

The dimmers have programmable ramp rates and dimming curves, there are also
0-10v dimmer packs for use with bimmable balasts for fluorescents.

Phil=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.
>=20
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