Can you purchase Auto light switches (That switch off after a few mins)

Aubrey_Thicket

Hi all

Newbie here so please go easy.

I have a problem that I guess a lot of you guys have...

We have Three teenagers who just happen to think electricity is free. Yes, youve guessed it. They seem incapable of switching their bedroom lights off. Its almost as if they have shares in an Electricity company. So, countless hours of atguing have forced us to act...

Can anybody suggest a light switch that times out after a certain amount of time? For example after 10 minutes. That way after 10 minutes the light switches off. If the kids are actually in the bedroom thats just tough luck. Theyll just have to get up and switch it back on every 10 minutes which should teach them a lesson!

Any ideas please?

John_Gray

You probably want to be looking at motion sensors linked to the lights. No movement, no light (after a set time). Often installed in offices, where little movement when working at a desk requires frantic waving of arms to get the lights to turn on again!

It won't be cheap, though...

pappa_golf

yes , commonly used in (lower grade) hotels and doss houses , (think Rackman!)






http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00O92QHZC?keywords=timer%20light%20switch&qid=1452630816&ref_=sr_1_10&sr=8-10

[Deleted User]

Why don't you just buy some LED bulbs?

paddyrg

How about those PIR security lights you get for gardens? They're not all floodlight style, you can also get more civilised ones! Some can be set for a few seconds or upto 20 minutes, could be a close match to your need all in one unit!

Otherwise yes, screw fix or any electrical trade place certainly sells timer switches, used widely in institutional hallways.

esuhl

John_Gray wrote: »

You probably want to be looking at motion sensors linked to the lights. No movement, no light (after a set time). Often installed in offices, where little movement when working at a desk requires frantic waving of arms to get the lights to turn on again!

That was my first thought too!

John_Gray wrote: »

It won't be cheap, though...

If you can afford £14.99, there's this:

http://www.screwfix.com/p/lap-360-ceiling-standalone-surface-mounted-pir/80538

forgotmyname

You can get switches but they will override them, bit of duck tape or
something else plugged in that simulates movement so your bills may get higher.

A £14.99 switch will take a long time to recover the costs back, considering an 11w bulb only uses (approx) £11 a year if on 24/7. Switch probably wont break even in 5 years.

Stick LED bulbs in, I replaced my 11w low energy with 7w LED, Cost £3.99 so it only needs to last 1 year to be cost effective and they do not need a warm up time like the low energy bulbs, instant on at full brightness.

getmore4less

Screwfix are doing LED for £2 they are on hotukdeals <10w
http://www.hotukdeals.com/deals/lap-gls-led-lamps-cool-white-bc-8-7w-pack-5-light-bulbs-9-99-screwfix-2369871#comments

picked up some Osram similar for £1 in Tesco today.

you can get PIR bulbs not cheap

kwikbreaks

Yes - energy saving lightbulbs will be the money saving option IMO. One that wasn't around when mine were teenagers and the same rows occurred, On one occasion number one son sellotaped a penny to the light switch. I kept it.

debitcardmayhem

I saved lots of money in my re-wiring exercise, I told the sparky to replace the switches with blanking plates, since there is no need for an off switch

forgotmyname

Blanking plates with the wiring disconnected? Superglue the switches in the off position?