Rako
British wireless lighting control — Rako WK-series dimmers with RA-BRIDGE for KNX hybrid installations.
Rako Controls (Tonbridge, Kent, UK — founded 1998) is the UK's leading specialist in wireless lighting control for residential and commercial applications. Rako uses a proprietary 433MHz radio protocol (RakoBUS) for communication between wireless dimmers, keypads, sensors and the Rako Hub — pre-dating and competing with Casambi in the British market. In KNX projects, Rako is specified for retrofit lighting control in existing buildings where running DALI-2 bus wiring is cost-prohibitive, or as an add-on to a KNX installation for wirelessly controlled lighting zones. The RA-BRIDGE acts as a KNX–Rako bridge: KNX group address telegrams translate to Rako scene and dimming commands on the RakoBUS network.
Role in our panels
How we use Rako
Rako integrates with KNX via the RA-BRIDGE gateway — a DIN-rail device that bridges KNX TP to the Rako RakoBUS protocol. The bridge maps up to 255 Rako room channels and scenes to KNX group addresses (DPT 1.001 on/off, DPT 5.001 dim level, DPT 18.001 scene). This enables KNX scenes to trigger Rako lighting scenes across all Rako-controlled zones. Bidirectional: Rako scene activation (from Rako keypad or sensor) sends the corresponding KNX telegram — useful for KNX HVAC or audio triggers when a lighting scene changes. Rako Hub (Ethernet/Wi-Fi) provides network access to the Rako system and a REST API that Home Assistant uses for direct integration — an alternative to the hardware bridge for projects already running HA.
In KNX panels, Rako integration via RA-BRIDGE requires a DIN-rail slot for the bridge and KNX TP connection. Rako dimmers install in existing ceiling roses or behind switch plates without panel wiring changes — this is the retrofit value proposition. For new installations, KNX DALI-2 (Lunatone, Helvar) remains the professional standard; Rako is specified for: UK residential projects where wireless is preferred (listed buildings, rental properties), projects with existing Rako infrastructure being integrated into a new KNX system, or hybrid projects where KNX handles structured control (HVAC, security, scenes) and Rako handles lighting dimming zones in specific areas.
Used in these project types
Rako products
Key components we install
Rako WK-D080 Wireless Dimmer
80W LED/trailing edge dimmer module. Installs in ceiling rose behind light fitting — no switch wiring required. Wireless control via Rako Hub and RakoBUS. For retrofit lighting control where running dimmer wiring to switchboards is impractical. Compatible with most LED dimmers. 433MHz, encrypted.
Rako WK-D250 Wireless Dimmer
250W trailing-edge dimmer. Suitable for larger LED loads and mixed resistive/capacitive LED installations. Same ceiling-rose installation as WK-D080. 4-zone group assignment for building-wide scene control.
Rako Hub (Ethernet)
Ethernet gateway that provides LAN/Wi-Fi access to the Rako system. REST API for Home Assistant integration. Replaces the hardware RA-BRIDGE in projects using HA as the KNX bridge. Scenes, channel levels and room control via HTTP API. Essential for non-hardware KNX-Rako integration via HA automations.
Rako RA-BRIDGE KNX Gateway
DIN-rail hardware bridge. Maps Rako channels/scenes to KNX group addresses. Up to 255 Rako rooms supported. Bidirectional: KNX→Rako and Rako→KNX. Programmed via Rako programming software (Windows). For projects where direct hardware KNX-Rako integration is required without HA dependency.
Rako WK-KP4 Wireless Keypad
4-button wireless scene keypad. Battery-powered (5-year life). Fits any standard single-gang back box. No wiring required. For additional scene control points beyond the main KNX pushbuttons — bedside scene buttons, terrace, pool area, or any location where KNX wiring was not run.
Rako FAQ
Is Rako better than Casambi for wireless lighting control?
Casambi uses Bluetooth mesh (more modern, no proprietary hub required, widely supported internationally). Rako uses 433MHz RakoBUS (longer established in UK market, purpose-designed for lighting, simpler to commission). Both work well. Choose Rako for UK projects where local Rako engineers are available and existing Rako infrastructure may already be present. Choose Casambi for international projects, hybrid DALI-2 + wireless, or where Bluetooth mesh range (10m per hop) is sufficient. Both bridge to KNX via hardware gateway or HA.
How many Rako dimmers can a single RA-BRIDGE support?
The RA-BRIDGE supports up to 255 Rako rooms (a 'room' in Rako = one dimmer module or a group). Each room has up to 16 channels, each channel maps to one KNX group address for level (DPT 5.001) and one for on/off (DPT 1.001). For very large installations (>255 rooms), multiple RA-BRIDGE units can operate on the same KNX installation as different ETS6 devices.
Can Rako dimmers work with LED downlights?
Yes — Rako WK-D080 (trailing edge) is compatible with most dimmable LED downlights (confirm LED driver is marked 'dimmable'). For non-dimmable LED luminaires, Rako also makes switched (non-dim) modules (WK-RF). Maximum LED load: 80W on WK-D080 (approx. 40× 2W LED downlights). For higher loads, use WK-D250 (250W) or multiple parallel modules.
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