Remote control lights- witch re-loaction alternative?

debtfree_wannabe

Hi,


Before we moved into our home, the living room door from the hallway was blocked off. This allowed for the Kitchen, dining room and living room to all be open plan.


However, the switch to turn the ceiling light on in the living room is still in the hallway.


If we drill through and locate the switch within the living room, on the opposite side of the wall to where it is currently, it will sit on the wall behind our sofa approx. a third of the way across the length of the sofa, meaning it would still be in an inconvenient location.


Rather than having to take up the floorboards upstairs to potentially re-locate the switch and cable to a more suitable location, I wondered about a remote control light?


Would this be a suitable and cost effective alternative in this situation? I have searched Google, but been unable to find much information about how they actually work and what is required (ie do they need to be in the same room as the switch or the remote (or both!))


Does anyone have any experience of using these to be able to enlighten (excuse the pun) me please?


Thank you

brightontraveller

debtfree_wannabe wrote: »

Hi,


Before we moved into our home, the living room door from the hallway was blocked off. This allowed for the Kitchen, dining room and living room to all be open plan.


However, the switch to turn the ceiling light on in the living room is still in the hallway.


If we drill through and locate the switch within the living room, on the opposite side of the wall to where it is currently, it will sit on the wall behind our sofa approx. a third of the way across the length of the sofa, meaning it would still be in an inconvenient location.


Rather than having to take up the floorboards upstairs to potentially re-locate the switch and cable to a more suitable location, I wondered about a remote control light?


Would this be a suitable and cost effective alternative in this situation? I have searched Google, but been unable to find much information about how they actually work and what is required (ie do they need to be in the same room as the switch or the remote (or both!))


Does anyone have any experience of using these to be able to enlighten (excuse the pun) me please?


Thank you

Post make and model etc there all different....

Biggles

debtfree_wannabe wrote: »

Rather than having to take up the floorboards upstairs to potentially re-locate the switch and cable to a more suitable location, I wondered about a remote control light?

Rather than take floorboards up, why not just run a cable horizontally to where you need it, in a channel under the plaster?

TheCyclingProgrammer

Biggles wrote: »

Rather than take floorboards up, why not just run a cable horizontally to where you need it, in a channel under the plaster?

Yes, OP, why haven't you considered this option?

If you want an easily retrofitted remote control solution, then I would recommend LightwaveRF although their prices have rocketed recently.

You'd need to replace the existing light switch with either:

a) A master dimmer switch: http://www.vesternet.com/lightwaverf-1-gang-dimmer OR
b) An inline relay, located inside the backbox and covered with a blanking plate: https://www.amazon.co.uk/LightwaveRF-Wireless-Control-Inline-Switch/dp/B007KJH1HE

Finally, you'll need a remote control to pair with the master switch/relay. LightwaveRF sell handheld remotes but you'll probably just want a wireless wall switch:

http://www.vesternet.com/lightwaverf-1-gang-wireless-on-off-dimmer-2430

These can be fixed to the wall over an existing backbox or simply stuck on the wall using the 3M strips provided. Pairing takes seconds. You're looking at about £65-80 total. The inline relay is the slightly cheaper option, as it sounds like you don't need an actual switch on the wall in the hallway but if you want to be able to dim the lights, then you'll need to get the master dimmer switch. You can get an inline dimmer relay but these will not fit inside a normal light switch back box (they are more designed for locating under floors or in lofts).

In either case, you'll need to make sure the backbox of the existing switch is deep enough to accommodate the dimmer switch or the relay. - 35mm deep should be sufficient, 25mm might be a bit tight.

rob7475

I've installed some of these in our house

https://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Main_Index/Lighting_Menu_Index/Wiring_Accessories~Dimmers_All/VL_IQ_Touch_Dimmers/VL_Brushed_Steel_Dimmers_Touch/index.html

They're cheap, look good and you can program a spare button on any IR remote control to use it. I have the help button on our sky remotes programmed to switch the lights on or off.

debtfree_wannabe

Biggles wrote: »

Rather than take floorboards up, why not just run a cable horizontally to where you need it, in a channel under the plaster?

I had considered this, but my knowledge of regulations regarding electrics is rather sketchy, so didn't know if running cables horizontally across a wall at approx. 5ft high would be acceptable.


Obviously, we've done this previously for sockets, but the cable then runs just above the skirting, so is less likely to encounter a nail or a screw being put into it by accident at any point in the future (ie by new owners).


I will look into this further.

TheCyclingProgrammer

debtfree_wannabe wrote: »

I had considered this, but my knowledge of regulations regarding electrics is rather sketchy, so didn't know if running cables horizontally across a wall at approx. 5ft high would be acceptable.

The cables need to be run in safe zones. If you're not experienced with electrics you'd want to get an electrician in to do this anyway and they will know where cables can be run in accordance with regulations.

Horizontal cables are fine as long as they are running between two accessories, or an accessory and the corner of the room. Safe zones can also transfer to the other side of the wall depending on the depth. I think you'd need to keep a the old back box with a blank plate though.

Bob_Dean

I would recomend the LightwaveRF dimmer switch. I have two and it is deffinatly less disruption than wireing a new light switch in as there is no need for re-decorating. You also get the advantage of a dimmer switch so you can have the lights low late in the evening just before you go to bed.

One thing to remember is that with the dimmer switch you may also have to replace your lightbulbs with dimable bulbs.

debtfree_wannabe

Thank you everyone for your replies, it's certainly given me some things to look into :-)