1968 GE lighting controls

[readydave8]

I had worked on touchplate systems but not GE, never was fun but always suceeded

I'm stumped on this one, mainly because I can't grasp the pattern. Individually, each switch works normally. But turning off one switch will turn off the other switches in the area.

The switches are GE RFS6. Relays are RR-4 (or similar, that one is designed to power pilot light).

I brought customer's backup inventory with me, thought I could breadboard at shop using any 24v transformer. But looking up online, see that GE has a rectifier after transformer.

I know I'm not giving enough information for anyone to troubleshoot. Hoping someone reading this has experience with these systems, and can give me some tips.

Meanwhile, is it possible that existing rectifier has failed, and is creating these ghosty issues?

 

[LarryFine]

It sounds like it's working, and there may be master switches that operate groups.

Individually, each switch works normally. But turning off one switch will turn off the other switches in the area.

This sounds like a contradiction. Can you please clarify?

 

[hillbilly1]

As LarryFine said, it may be a master switch, those have diodes to block the other switches from paralleling and activating others.

 

[LarryFine]

As LarryFine said, it may be a master switch, those have diodes to block the other switches from paralleling and activating others.

Which is why they use DC instead of AC.

 

[readydave8]

It sounds like it's working, and there may be master switches that operate groups.



This sounds like a contradiction. Can you please clarify?

Work normally if turn one light on and turn back off. If several lights are on, turning just one off may switch others off that are not on same switch

 

[readydave8]

Master switch as in they're intended to work that way? Not according to customer, he said they would not do that originally

For example 3gang, individually each turns a light on and off

But if all 3 are on, turning one off makes the other 2 go off

They are 3wire switches, common-on coil-off coil

 

[readydave8]

As LarryFine said, it may be a master switch, those have diodes to block the other switches from paralleling and activating others.

(So these are not master switches), but there may be master switch elsewhere in house with failed diode?

 

[readydave8]

Wow you guys are smart! Already made me think of a few things to check when I go back

 

[LarryFine]

Work normally if turn one light on and turn back off. If several lights are on, turning just one off may switch others off that are not on same switch

That does sound like a master-off switch. Does that same switch turn anything on?

 

[LarryFine]

For example 3gang, individually each turns a light on and off

But if all 3 are on, turning one off makes the other 2 go off

Is that one switch one of the three, two or all, or a separate switch?

Is this unwanted all-off consistent, i.e., does it happen every time?

 

[LarryFine]

(So these are not master switches), but there may be master switch elsewhere in house with failed diode?

That's a distinct possibility, or maybe a power-supply issue.

 

[augie47]

I've installed them before and always used the rectified voltage. I know the relays themselves will work AC Or DC.
Could this failed operation be caused by a failed rectifier and the system is now operating AC.

 

[readydave8]

Is that one switch one of the three, two or all, or a separate switch?

Is this unwanted all-off consistent, i.e., does it happen every time?

3 separate switches (on despard yoke)

Switch A -- Lite A
Switch B -- Lite B
Switch C -- Lite C

All good

But if all 3 are on, turning off Switch C turns all 3 off

Consistently or usually? Will investigate further tomorrow

 

[hillbilly1]

Possibly a shorted diode?

 

[readydave8]

Possibly a shorted diode?

Diode would either be in rectifier, or in a master switch I presume?

 

[LarryFine]

Diode would either be in rectifier, or in a master switch I presume?

I believe there would need to be a diode between the master switch and each relay it operates.

That isolates each individual switch and relay from the others. (Two diodes for master on & off.)

 

[readydave8]

Who said diodes?
(2 were bad)

 

[readydave8]

So what do I need to know in order to select replacement diodes?

 

[hillbilly1]

They should have a number on them. Probably have to order them off Amazon since Fry’s and Radio Shack are no longer around, and nobody repairs TV’s and radios anymore.

 

[LarryFine]

So what do I need to know in order to select replacement diodes?

I would think a 1N4001 (50v, 1a) would suffice.

Just one of many:

GE RR7 Relays / gar

Every time I see one of these lighting control panels I think of gar. So today I snapped some pictures of a removed lighting control panel. He is a fan of these older reliable relays as am I. I thought he might like to see they are still being used with updated control systems.

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