SpeedKey dimmers to work with Idratek

[GezaazY]

Hey all


I would like to use dimmers from http://www.speed-key.co.uk/ with Idratek. At the moment I do not have neither the dimmer nor the system. I figured, that if a find out everything I need, I will not ordered stuff that I can not use.

How will one hook up those dimmers into the system so they work as intended and the system knows if they are used to change the lighting.

Thanks in advance

[Gumby]

With some difficulty. Those dimmers appear to be standalone dimmers.

You could hack about with IR remote controls and trying to measure illumination level, but it wouldn't be very successful IMHO.

[chris_j_hunter]

hey - that's a bit negative !!

they do switch versions, as well as dimmer versions, of the touch-screen wall-plates (if that's the right name), which I'm pretty sure could be used with Idratek dimmers ... the approach might work well, ISTM ... indeed, I bet more than a few could be interested in the potential of maybe adding some of these units to Idratek ...

NB: there's a story so far - see :

http://www.wordpress-1219309-4387497.cloudwaysapps.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2380

Chris

[chris_j_hunter]

PS: looks to like they (Speedkey) are new to the market & have yet to actually get going in the UK (& most other places, too) - eg:

http://www.speed-key.co.uk/global.htm

OEM opportunities ! (?)

[GezaazY]

It seems that the only way to find out whether they can be integrated to the system is trial and error.

[chris_j_hunter]

maybe, but the Speedkey switch units do look to me to be OK for making inputs to Idratek, for many uses, including dimming & scene setting ... etc ...

and by using Speedkey switch units with Idratek, rather than using Speedkey dimmer units on their own, much more sophisticated control would be possible ...

to explain, a little more - while the datasheet for the switch units seems not to be available (yet), that for the dimmer units is :

http://www.speed-key.co.uk/images/download/PDF/SK-T2000%20Dimmer%20touch%20panel%20Manual.pdf

and it seems to me to confirm that using Speedkey units to provide switch inputs to digital inputs on Idratek units would be possible ...

ie: the wiring diagrams seem to suggest that the live mains connection to Speedkey outputs could be broken - cut or unjumped - and replaced by appropriate LV connection ...

as you say, maybe we'd need to get a sample & try it ...

I did try to find prices etc - no luck, so far !

maybe Karam has a view ?

Chris

[Gumby]

All the information in the datasheet implies the switch and dimmer units are intended for mains ac only (eg note curtain control diagram). I very much doubt that there is necessary isolation from mains to use the switch units for LV signalling to Cortex. Without that isolation it would not be safe to use them. The only way to find out would be to ask Speed-Key.

The OP did ask about dimmers...

[chris_j_hunter]

yep - I have asked them the question, 'will report back ...

from the way their wiring diagrams (*) are drawn, I'm hopeful of a positive response, though far from sure - we'll see !


(*) - eg: the L to COM link, etc ...

[chris_j_hunter]

OK - reporting back ...

" ... yes, open and closed switch control can be achieved by 1-button switch like our 1-gang lighting touch panel ...

visit ... website for more detail ...

also attached the wiring diagram for ... reference ... difference from the lighting wiring is that the other device needs to be powered on its own ...

We ... apply that panel for controlling our entrance glass door operation, open (on) & closed (off) ... "

seems positive to me ... maybe an OEM enquiry could elicit a more definitive reply !

HTH

Chris

[chris_j_hunter]

PS: they also sent a manual - which I tried to attach ...

[GezaazY]

Thanks for helping me out, Chris and Gumby.


I wonder if the same thing applys to the dimmer switch.

[chris_j_hunter]

essentially, I think, yes - the manual diagrams, anyway, suggest so ...

BTW, the 2300 series offers another aesthetic option ...

Chris

[chris_j_hunter]

PS: despite a couple of attempts, attaching the manual proved impossible - the process seemed to work but, in the end, nothing was there ... ... so, extracts are attached, instead ...

bottom-line, though - still - is, it would be good to have one to try !

Chris

[chris_j_hunter]

haven't found a price yet ... anyone any clues ?

[Karam]

maybe Karam has a view ?

Chris

I have posted a general reply in relation to the initial questions in the general discussion thread on the subject. I would say that you only find out the issues for sure when you try. My general view would be 3rd party simple switches are fine, but heating control panels, dimmers, security systems and so on take you down the path of ad hoc rather than integrated automation - if you can actually achieve the necessary signal translation of course.

But you have to consider things on a case by case basis. For example you could integrate a 3rd party dimmer with an analogue input capability almost as well as a native IDRATEK dimmer since you'd always be in total control of the device. Similarly you might integrate a 3rd party analogue temperature sensor into the system reasonably well. Certainly 3rd party PIRs in addition to our own are routinely used but trying to dual use these for both the 3rd party alarm system as well as IDRATEK requires some DIYing work.