light switch

propertyrental

We have 2 standard light switches outside the bathroom - 1 for the lights and 1 for the extractor (came set up like that with the house....).

From time to time someone exits the bathroom and forgets to switch off. With the door shut you can't see the lights are on so might be hours before anyone realises.

I'm thinking of changing the switches to those ones with a little red light below the switch. Is that safe/appropriate, and is it a simple DIY job for someone who does DIY?

Mr.Generous

Yes its simple if you can wire a plug you can do this. Unusual set up though, never seen it done on 2 switches.

knightstyle

I have never seen an indicator light that does not need a neutral as well as live feed.  Your current wiring will almost certainly not have a neutral at the switch so this will be more than a simple DIY job to achieve.
Two gang switches with illumination can be achieved using MK grid switches or similar BUT they do require a neutral connection.
https://www.cef.co.uk/catalogue/products/147376-20a-dp-1-way-switch-module-switch-with-neon

propertyrental

Thanks. That's what I thought/hoped and yes I can wire a plug except that nowadays you can't get into them!

No idea why the previous owners set it up that way, though the extractor isn't always needed as there is a large opening window,

ThisIsWeird

It sounds like a perfectly sensible setup to me. Ie, it's what I've done...
You don't always need the extractor, so why have it coming on when you don't?
PropRent, as said above, it depends on how it's wired. Very good chance you won't have a neutral, but you won't know until you look. But can't you get them with LEDs these days, that use some teeny residual current going through the light or extractor, or even the earth? Must go and Google...

ThisIsWeird

Hmm, looks like your options are to either drop a neutral down to the switch - this would only be easy if, say, it was upstairs and you had a loft, and the wires are run in conduits in the wall - or to go 'neutral-free Smart'. But I'm not sure the latter has an 'on' indicator. But, "Alexa, did that twit leave the light on again?" could well be quite entertaining.
 

Emmia

propertyrental said:

We have 2 standard light switches outside the bathroom - 1 for the lights and 1 for the extractor (came set up like that with the house....).

From time to time someone exits the bathroom and forgets to switch off. With the door shut you can't see the lights are on so might be hours before anyone realises.

I'm thinking of changing the switches to those ones with a little red light below the switch. Is that safe/appropriate, and is it a simple DIY job for someone who does DIY?

I find it odd that people shut the door on empty bathrooms. How do you know if it's occupied or not?

But the cost of those lights being on might be peanuts, certainly less than the cost of new switches and any rewiring.

Personally I have a windowless bathroom and so have a humidistat extractor that comes on with the lights, and comes on when the humidity goes over a certain point, even if the lights are off 

silvercar

Emmia said:

propertyrental said:

We have 2 standard light switches outside the bathroom - 1 for the lights and 1 for the extractor (came set up like that with the house....).

From time to time someone exits the bathroom and forgets to switch off. With the door shut you can't see the lights are on so might be hours before anyone realises.

I'm thinking of changing the switches to those ones with a little red light below the switch. Is that safe/appropriate, and is it a simple DIY job for someone who does DIY?

I find it odd that people shut the door on empty bathrooms. How do you know if it's occupied or not?

But the cost of those lights being on might be peanuts, certainly less than the cost of new switches and any rewiring.

Personally I have a windowless bathroom and so have a humidistat extractor that comes on with the lights, and comes on when the humidity goes over a certain point, even if the lights are off 

Isn’t that normal with bathrooms? To keep any odour or steam in the bathroom. If it is occupied it would be locked.

Emmia

silvercar said:

Emmia said:

propertyrental said:

We have 2 standard light switches outside the bathroom - 1 for the lights and 1 for the extractor (came set up like that with the house....).

From time to time someone exits the bathroom and forgets to switch off. With the door shut you can't see the lights are on so might be hours before anyone realises.

I'm thinking of changing the switches to those ones with a little red light below the switch. Is that safe/appropriate, and is it a simple DIY job for someone who does DIY?

I find it odd that people shut the door on empty bathrooms. How do you know if it's occupied or not?

But the cost of those lights being on might be peanuts, certainly less than the cost of new switches and any rewiring.

Personally I have a windowless bathroom and so have a humidistat extractor that comes on with the lights, and comes on when the humidity goes over a certain point, even if the lights are off 

Isn’t that normal with bathrooms? To keep any odour or steam in the bathroom. If it is occupied it would be locked.

I leave mine open, saves confusion with whether it's occupied.

I don't have a particular problem with odours or steam. The extractor also works better if it can pull air more easily from outside the room. The door doesn't need to be wide open, just ajar.

GrubbyGirl_2

Can't you just change the light fitting to a motion activated one?

ThisIsWeird

GrubbyGirl_2 said:

Can't you just change the light fitting to a motion activated one?

...which requires a neutral