Possible to Convert 6-Button KeyPad to 7-Button?

[Rich33]

Hi. I have a 6-Button Keypad dimmer model 2334. I believe I can convert it to an 8-button keypad but I'd really like to convert it to a 7-button keypad by leaving the large button on top as is and only converting the bottom large button to two smaller buttons. Is this possible? Thanks.

[EricK]

Stu the moderator in the smarthome forum has posted pics of his 4 button kpl. To make a 7 button you will need to put the kpl in 8 button mode, a thru h. I think you will need an 8 button frame. He "cross links" adjacent buttons so for your case a controls b and vice versa. Essentially make sure that a and b are both controllers and responders of the same scenes. Apparently the wide button will will snap into the 8 button frame. If you do this please post a pic.

Eric

[Rich33]

Thanks. I'll order the 8 button conversion kit and give it a try. Between shipping and business travel it will be a couple of weeks before I anticipate doing this but I'll post pics and a summary when I do.

[Rich33]

EricK, I'm having trouble finding Stu to look at his post... would u have a link? Thanks.

[LeeG]

His ID is stusviews.

[PurdueGuy]

I've done it in by my bedroom KPLs to make 6 button KPLs, but in the following configuration:

-BUTTON1-
-BUTTON2-
BTN3 BTN4
BTN5 BTN6

[Rich33]

Thank you all. Knowing this is possible, I will proceed and will post my results and a simple how-to guide in a few weeks when I return. For reference, here's the link EricK was referring to from Stusviews.

http://www.smarthome.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=13822

 

Thanks also to Stusviews for help finding the link.

[shannong]

Did you do the conversion? I'd appreciate any feedback you can give as I'm considering this for one of my KPLs.

[Rich33]

Sorry for the delay. This turned out to be very easy to do.

 

First, as indicated above the wide button installs over adjacent smaller buttons so physically it is as simple as snapping the wide button in place. One thing I didn't like about this though is that the backlighting was not uniform across the wide plate because of the two smaller frames. To get around this I cut the inside frames with wire cutters and then installed the large clear lens for stability before installing the button. These pictures make this a littler clearer.

 

Original Frames

 

 

New 7 button frame after cuts

 

 

Once the frame is installed all you need to do is cross-link the adjacent controls that you want to act as one so that both are controllers and responders to the same scenes.

 

I hope this helps.

[shannong]

Thanks for the pics. I have my 8-button on order.

[shannong]

I converted my 8-button to 7 this weekend. Pretty quick and simple.

 

However, with the rail missing across the top and bottom the large button has a tendency to pop off. Have you experienced that? How did you resolve it?

 

I'm going to try a piece of double-sided Scotch tape to see if that resolves the issue.

[Rich33]

Hi. No, I have never had a problem with the button popping off. I did insert a double clear lens for rigidity though. I used one of the lenses from the 6 button frame for this. I would try that if you're not already doing doing so. I hope that helps.