Touch switch needed

[simpo two]

I'm tired of the old-fashioned pull-cord in my bathroom and want a small panel or button that I just touch to put the light on. Same for the over-mirror light.

I found one which looks just like a blanking plate, ie a white square about 4x4", but there must be something more stylish out there?

I know you can't have ordinary 240V switches in bathrooms but how about if it switches a 12V halgoen set-up?

[mybrainhurts]

John Prescott will be round in a minute to explain the error of your ways......










Look out, look out.......














Wherever you are........






















......grrrrrrrrrrrrrr

[406]

simpo two said:

I know you can't have ordinary 240V switches in bathrooms but how about if it switches a 12V halogen set-up?

John

12V halogen lights have a transformer to change the mains voltage to 12V. The pull cord switch has 240V to it that goes to the transformer. If you want touch switched in your bathroom, I think you will have a lot of trouble getting them as they work on capacitance and will need to be waterproof but I wait to be told otherwise - even I get stuff wrong sometimes .

Also dimmers for 12V lighting needs to be suitable for transformers as the load is resistive. Ebay has a lot of touch dimmers for sale but get the right one.

From "How Stuff Works". This is about Touch lamps but the principle is the same. Touch-sensitive lamps almost always use a fourth property of the human body -- its capacitance. The word "capacitance" has as its root the word "capacity" -- capacitance is the capacity an object has to hold electrons. The lamp, when standing by itself on a table, has a certain capacitance. This means that if a circuit tried to charge the lamp with electrons, it would take a certain number to "fill it." When you touch the lamp, your body adds to its capacity. It takes more electrons to fill you and the lamp, and the circuit detects that difference. It is even possible to buy little plug-in boxes that can turn any lamp into a touch-sensitive lamp. They work on the same principle.

HTH

Dave

406


>> Edited by 406 on Tuesday 4th October 07:55

[wedg1e]

How about the proxy sensors that they use to flush toilets? Short-range IR or something, you wave your hand at it...

[406]

wedg1e said:

How about the proxy sensors that they use to flush toilets? Short-range IR or something, you wave your hand at it...

That would work. My BIL installed one in his toilet because the kids kept leaving the light on. I think he used a PIR fitted to the ceiling.

Dave

406

[esselte]

I think anything other than a pull switch in a bathroom is a no no?

[406]

esselte said:

I think anything other than a pull switch in a bathroom is a no no?

Rubbish. Providing there is no mains electricity to the switch that you touch, you can have anything - although I stand to be corrected by an NICEIC qualified electrician. A PIR involves no touching what so ever, its all done by movement or as my BIL told his kids - MAGIC.

[wedg1e]

esselte said:

I think anything other than a pull switch in a bathroom is a no no?

Weeeell, technically, yes; but practically, bollox to it!

Anyway, if it was THAT dodgy, they couldn't use those proximity things in public loos because what's to stop you sticking one hand down the bog and touching the metal sensor with the other?

If you look at house electrics, it's mostly a pile of cack as you have permanent neutrals (and sometimes permanent lives!) everywhere; from an engineering standpoint all electrics should be double-pole.
There's no real reason other than cheapness for having 240v at the light switches; you could (I did) quite easily build a computer-controlled system that fires the lights in response to low-voltage signals from the switches... there are those 'environment control' systems that do similar. I built mine in 1988 using a Commodore 64. The software included a timer to turn lights on and off to simulate occupation. Although I couldn't afford it then, nowadays I'd use PIRs to detect when there was no movement in the room and turn lights off to save power.... I can feel a project coming on..

[esselte]

There are certain places in the bathroom where you need to use specifically rated items:

www.diydata.com/electrics/bathroom_electrics/bathroom_electrics.htm

[IS200RJR]

This must be your lucky day I can supply you with such a product.
Its called clean scan touchless push plate infrared switch yours for £69.00+Vat

[cotty]

Can you get them for the bedroom for those times when your having sex with the light on then realise you haven’t drunk enough (woof woof) and need to throw something at the switch

[IS200RJR]

cotty said:

Can you get them for the bedroom for those times when your having sex with the light on then realise you haven’t drunk enough (woof woof) and need to throw something at the switch

Yep i never thought of that il get one installed.
As for the rating they come in IP55 and 65 rated so you can use them out side if you really wanted to.

[simpo two]

IS200RJR said:

This must be your lucky day I can supply you with such a product. Its called clean scan touchless push plate infrared switch yours for £69.00+Vat

Ow, do you have a link though? (NB please note that PH Bartering Rules require cash deals at cost price )

NB How does it compare to this one: www.letsautomate.com/10690.cfm

>> Edited by simpo two on Tuesday 4th October 20:09