I added this item to an electrical order just to see how they'd implemented it. The device is a clear plastic bezel that sits behind a typical UK lightswitch and has two wires that are connected across either the two wires of an ordinary single way switch or across the strappers of multi-way switches. When the switch is off the full open circuit mains voltage appears across it via the load, and the switch illuminator then takes a very small amount of current to light a neon or LED without passing enough to make the light glow (it may make LED lamps glow or CFLs flash intermittently.)
The idea is that the glowing frame helps you locate the switch in a dark room, while possibly acting as a low intensity night light too.
If I have to be completely honest, I was disappointed by the circuitry in this device. I know they are trying to save space, but the size of the resistor and spacing was actually a bit ungenerous. I'm not going to be installing this in my own house.
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The idea is that the glowing frame helps you locate the switch in a dark room, while possibly acting as a low intensity night light too.
If I have to be completely honest, I was disappointed by the circuitry in this device. I know they are trying to save space, but the size of the resistor and spacing was actually a bit ungenerous. I'm not going to be installing this in my own house.
If you enjoy these videos you can help support the channel with a dollar for coffee, cookies and random gadgets for disassembly at:-
http://www.bigclive.com/coffee.htm
You were using crabtree 3 way 1 gang switch
When I was a kid one friend's house had a couple of wall plates that fascinated me. The top of the plate had a smallish plastic cover under which was a neon bulb and a resistor, and it only lit when the switch was off, as you describe here. I've never seen that anywhere else, nor in any hardware store or other store since then.
I bought a couple of these "Seeklight"s thinking they must work better once sandwiched between the patress and switch plate… but no, they're exactly as naff as when you hooked it up.
Clive, do you fancy showing us how to create a modded one that works properly?
Where did you buy the surround from?
Having something lighting the switch location is good.. I was wondering if any of the light would glow thru the actual plate that the switch is on… And having light in a bedroom is not optimal for sleep, so dim is good…
Congrats! Makes changing a light bulb more dangerous! Should use at least a 2-way switch with this.
Those meters must be a good make I see them used a good bit by electro vloggers.
If the diode in inverse parallel with the LED was just placed in series with the LED, would that not result in the same protection from inverse voltage AND at the same time result in a reduction in the power by 50% ?
was that math correctly done
Where can we get these from?
I don’t see it anywhere. Would you post a link please.
Cool but I think the one I saw originally was a neon probably not the B&Q one as it only had one Neon but then what do i know I am only a Fox with a Swiss cheese brain !
Can’t find these anywhere, all I can find are the shitty ones that have 3 LEDs facing down
Are there any good versions of this here in the USA?
This is a bit off a topic, but could you review a universal power socket with uk american european aussie lead compatibly id love to have one but i dont trust me not setting my house on fire.
I had one of those pre led days which was lit by an electroluminescent plate, at least that gave a nice green glow all around the light switch.