Electrical Switches With Neon Warning Light

[Bramleyboy]

We have a small room which my wife never turns off the light when she leaves it. We went away for the weekend recently and the light was on all the time. SO, I want a switch with a red light on it to show it's on. I have looked at switches and the only ones seem to be 1 gang 2 way double pole. Would this work and is it self explanatory or what should I look for. I have changed switches before but tings get more complicated all the time! many thanks, Bramley

[ivor4781]

its on if you can see the the rooms lit up, cant see that a red light on a switch is going to make the wife turn it off
buy an LED bulb doesn't really matter if its left on all weekend, the cost is pence

[Buenchico]

No problem at all.

A simple 1-way switch has power going into 'COM' (or sometimes 'L') and, when turned 'on', leaving through 'L1':
http://lightwiring.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/one-way-switch-mechanism.png

A 2-way switch again has power going into 'COM'/'L' and leaving via either 'L1' or 'L2', depending upon the position of the switch:
http://lightwiring.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/two-way-switch-mechanism.png

However simply leaving 'L2' disconnected (and just using the other two terminals) effectively turns a 2-way switch into a 1-way switch anyway.

Even so, it's still possible to buy a 1-gang 1-way switch with a neon indicator if you'd prefer. e.g. https://www.bes.co.uk/1-gang-1-way-double-pole-with-neon-control-switch-20-amp?gclid=CI2Hi4KVkNICFcS37QodIE4F4g#product-details-tab

[Canary42]

http://www.diy.com/departments/varilight-20a-1-way-ice-white-single-switch-with-neon/54080_BQ.prd

[Buenchico]

>>> its on if you can see the the rooms lit up, cant see that a red light on a switch is going to make the wife turn it off

That thought had also occurred to me!

Further, a low-energy bulb in a small room is only likely to consume 30W (at the very most). Leaving it turned on for 48 hours costs just 22p on a typical tariff. Given the cost of a new switch (and the fact that leaving a light on can be a good burglar deterrent) it hardly seems worth bothering about to me!

[The Builder]

No problem using a higher rated switch, or even a double pole switch (you simply use only one pole.)

That doesn't help though. Your problem is that you will be very lucky if you have a neutral within the backbox. Sometimes, a switch is wired from a live loop (live, earth, AND neutral), but possibly not in your case.

Don't be tempted to use the neon connected between the live and the earth. Opinions differ on this. Some say it's Ok, but others would regard it as bad practice at the very least.

Interestingly, you could connect the neon between the live and the switched live. The trouble is, it's the reversal of what you want. This way the neon would only light up when the switch is OFF.

As I say, opinions vary. Perhaps our friend Bright Spark may see this and be able to help.

[Canary42]

That crossed my mind too Chris :-)

[wolf63]

Can you not get a timer that will switch the light off if no movement in the room or after a certain length of time?

[Bramleyboy]

Thank you. Buenchico's was the best answer but I cannot see where to mark it as such. In the old site it used to be easy. I have looked at the FAQs! As to the room it is a dressing room with no windows but has four bulbs in it! I could remove three but it wouldn't look good. Many thanks. Bramley.

[fredfredfredfred]

Hello Bramley..
What's wrong with a pneumatic timer switch?

[Bramleyboy]

What's that? I've never heard of them! Bramley.

[The Builder]

Here's an electronic time delay switch, Bramley...

https://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Products/DNTLSW10.html

[mikey4444]

I think you are going for a far too complicated answer, to a very simple problem.

Change to a LED bulb ! I have a dark corner of the stairwell, where I leave the light on most of the time, for safety's sake, and it takes a 9w LED bulb.

While you are at it, consider changing as many bulbs to LEDs as you can, in the rest of the house, as they will pay their way in two directions :

1....They are many times cheaper to run...as someone has said....pence !

2....They last almost for ever, so you shouldn't have to change them very often, if at all. That will make sense if they are in an awkward place too change.

I have always used the following source for LED bulbs ::::

https://www.ledhut.co.uk/?gclid=COX769aon9ICFeEV0wodPu4AWQ

[Old_Geezer]

I agree with Ivor. How is a neon on a switch that isn't even looked at on exiting the room, going to ensure it is switched off when a blazing light bulb doesn't already manage it ?

At say 14p a kWh a 100w light bulb will cost you 1.4p an hour, or 33.6p a day; so it's may be annoying, but not really something to get too het up about.

[Old_Geezer]

Ah should've read all the thread, seems that the point's been already made.

[mikey4444]

Bramley....just to say again....LEDs are your answer, and its also the answer to everybody else, if they want to save money !

[Bramleyboy]

Thank you all. It's just that the room in question is a dressing room and we went away for four days. I have already replaced all the bulbs in the house with LEDs but there are 5 bulbs in this room. It has no windows and the thought that 5 bulbs are on four days. I did not put the lights in the ceiling of our house, they were there when we bought it but replacing 179 LEDs was daunting and it has saved money but leaving them on.......... Bramley.

[mikey4444]

bramley......it looks as if you don't really need persuading about LEDs !

But the same principle exists with this room, as does the rest of the house. If you leave 5 LEDs bulbs on, that the cost is still going to be very small compared with ordinary bulbs. Its certainly seems a much simpler solution than faffing about with new switches, with or without neons.

Also ....try training the wife !

[Bramleyboy]

After 45 years of marriage she cannot turn a light off. However, she's a dab hand at turning them on! I often think our house looks like the QE2 when I come home at night! Incidentally are there any tips for fitting the little GU10s? It's a crippling design fault and I have the little rubber sucker thing on a swivel, they're still difficult.

[The Builder]

GU10 LEDs are easy enough to fit, Bramley. Sensible down lighters usually have a retaining clip to hold them in. Remove the clip and the bulbs just drop out complete with the holder. No rubber grippy things needed :o)