bathroom light switch

benson1980

Hi all,

Currently refurbing my bathroom (slowly) and am looking at options regarding our standard pull cord light switch. It only powers the ceiling light and has one live and one neutral wire leading to it...

I was having a google re: any alternatives and came across wireless light switches, so a receiver that I presume you conceal in the ceiling void (?) and a wireless switch on the wall. Does anyone know if something like this would work/is acceptable for regs etc?

https://www.bltdirect.com/ener-j-wireless-white-1-gang-kinetic-switch-non-dimmable-receiver?adcid=pla&_intent=HIGH&gclid=CjwKCAjwwo-WBhAMEiwAV4dybbv82rnea6UNH5oCrOq4mJ0iYPc0sptsZwAVyPXJqpo1FZM-6af53xoCwUcQAvD_BwE

Or, any other ideas? Any options to get rid of the dated pull cord would be good.

Thanks

TadleyBaggie

benson1980 said:

 It only powers the ceiling light and has one live and one neutral wire leading to it...

It really hasn't. The wires might be red/black but that doesn't meant it's a live and neutral. Most likely the red is live but the black will be the switched live.

benson1980

TadleyBaggie said:

benson1980 said:

 It only powers the ceiling light and has one live and one neutral wire leading to it...

It really hasn't. The wires might be red/black but that doesn't meant it's a live and neutral. Most likely the red is live but the black will be the switched live.

Yep my mistake- makes sense. 

diystarter7

OP, just get a sparky to put a light switch outside the bathroom looks much better and IMO safer than inside a bathroom

TadleyBaggie

diystarter7 said:

OP, just get a sparky to put a light switch outside the bathroom looks much better and IMO safer than inside a bathroom

I'd hate that, when my wife uses the ensuite when I'm in bed, she goes in, shuts the door and switches on the light so the bedroom isn't lit up.

fenwick458

switches can go inside as long as they are 600mm away from a shower/bath/sink.
really wouldn't recommend a wireless switch if you having it refurbed, the main selling point with wireless switches are the ease of installation, they are good where the room has just been refurbished and it's impossible to run cables from point to point, but what they don't tell you is you're stuck maintaining it for years, batteries go flat, parts fail, stuff breaks.
If you are getting it refurbished, ideal time to run cables to wherever you want move the switch 

shiraz99

diystarter7 said:

OP, just get a sparky to put a light switch outside the bathroom looks much better and IMO safer than inside a bathroom

No, on both counts.

FreeBear

benson1980 said: Or, any other ideas? Any options to get rid of the dated pull cord would be good.

A smart wifi light switch with a 433MHz remote - If you have Alexa/Siri, just tell it to turn the light on/off or use a remote.

https://sonoff.tech/product/smart-wall-swtich/tx-series/

https://sonoff.tech/product/smart-wall-swtich/tx-series/

You will need a live & neutral feed plus a switched live to the light - There are smart light switches that claim to not need a neutral, but from what I hear, the bulbs can flicker when off and most use a Tuya chip which can be difficult (or impossible in some cases) to flash with alternative firmware.

ChilliBob

I've just got phillips hue installed in my bathroom...... great, except we now need to turn the fan on manually otherwise it'd always be on! D'oh! 

benson1980

fenwick458 said:

switches can go inside as long as they are 600mm away from a shower/bath/sink.
really wouldn't recommend a wireless switch if you having it refurbed, the main selling point with wireless switches are the ease of installation, they are good where the room has just been refurbished and it's impossible to run cables from point to point, but what they don't tell you is you're stuck maintaining it for years, batteries go flat, parts fail, stuff breaks.
If you are getting it refurbished, ideal time to run cables to wherever you want move the switch 

Thanks- it is a pretty small bathroom in fairness so the 600mm rule I may struggle with.

FreeBear said:

benson1980 said: Or, any other ideas? Any options to get rid of the dated pull cord would be good.

A smart wifi light switch with a 433MHz remote - If you have Alexa/Siri, just tell it to turn the light on/off or use a remote.

https://sonoff.tech/product/smart-wall-swtich/tx-series/

https://sonoff.tech/product/smart-wall-swtich/tx-series/

You will need a live & neutral feed plus a switched live to the light - There are smart light switches that claim to not need a neutral, but from what I hear, the bulbs can flicker when off and most use a Tuya chip which can be difficult (or impossible in some cases) to flash with alternative firmware.

I think this may be an issue as I probably don't have a neutral going by what Tadley has advised.

I do like the look of those kinetic switches, appreciating the potential downfalls but assuming I can just connect the receiver up to the existing wiring.

beefynet

I've had a Quinetic switch in my bathroom for a couple of years now, and no problems. There is no battery and it is easily installed. 
It was a much better option than having a pull cord switch.