Wireless

Electric393

Anyone here have experience with wireless light switches? I'm thinking of using them on my next project and wanted to hear any suggestions.

mdshunk

They work.

I would absolutely not install one if I can get wiring to it. Using RF switches just "because you can" is stupid, to put it plainly. If there's no way to get wiring for what you need to do (highly finished old work situation), then go for it. I've used maybe 6 wireless switches in the last 10 years.

Electric393

What do you think about these wireless switches? I found this last night when I did a search.

www.AdHocElectronics.com/wireless-switch

mickeyco

Wireless switches are the best thing to come along since sliced bread, with the price of copper these days, I went ahead and pulled all the copper wire out of my conduits, installed wireless switches and sold the copper for scrap. As far as those AdHoc ones, I'm not sure if they're even UL Listed, I'd stay away from them and go with a well known manufacturer.

Electric393

You made a good point so I called and asked about UL approval.
They said the switches are made by a company named EnOcean in germany. They are CSA approved to U.S. standards. They told me they are good to go for use in the U.S. and that liscensed electricians are already using them.

mdshunk

HA! The Canadian standards don't mean squat to my inspector.

mickeyco

Electric393,

Do you have any affiliation with AdHoc?

http://www.contractortalk.com/search...earchid=322194

mickeyco

Obviously I was kidding in post #4 but I do have one wireless light switch with a small remote so I can read in bed and not have to get up to turn off the light. The problem with those RF switches is that they occasionally turn on or off from indiscriminate signals from other devices (garage door opener next door). It's a pain in the a$$ when your sleeping and a bright light come on. I can think of a lot of scenarios where this could be very inconvenient and even dangerous, ie. lights out while you're using power tools, etc.

Sparky Joe

Wow, 8 amps from a 20 amp circuit.

I'm still not seeing the advantage of using these things? Perhaps saving 10 feet of wire from the light down to the switch? That's money in the bank brother. Infact now that I think of it I wonder why these thinga aren't more popular. I've always wanted to sit on the couch and turn the lights off 2 seconds before I fell asleep on the couch. Hell if I had to get up to turn off the lights I might as well just walk to the bedroom

mickeyco

You can tape the switch to your pant leg and turn the lights on or off from anywhere in the house just by hitting the switch on your pant leg, no more getting up and having to look for that pesky light switch and the advantage of no batteries, means no possible acid leaks on your pants.

Sparky Joe

I got lead acid on my pants once, way back when I worked at K-Mart. Some poor lady broke down and walked about a mile to the K-Mart. I picked out a battery for her carried it to the register then used my break to take her to her car where her husband was waiting.

I didn't know why but for the rest of the day the front of my pants where I was holding the battery was damp and wouldn't dry.
After I washed the pants the entire pocket area(where they were damp) completely disintegrated.
It took some time before I figured it out and then felt bad for selling that poor lady a leaky battery, but not bad for her husband for sending a woman to carry a car battery down the block for a mile.

I liked the pants so I got my grandma to sew in a patch, but she accidently sewed through the pocket so I had only 2 inches of pocket on that side.

MSSI

Theres a couple guys I work with who's pockects I would like to sew shut...

thom

I've used the wireless switches on remodels where wiring a switch would require significant tear out. Use it at my own house to control the christmas tree lights and beadwalls.