Lighting, Light Fixtures, Ceiling and Exhaust Fans - Light switch problem
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galoux
02-04-09, 10:35 PM
Hello! I'm not a DIYer--my dominant hand doesn't work any more, so that lets me out--but I do have a somewhat handy friend, and I'm posting my problem here before calling him in to help me. My home is a 1950s low-voltage house, but the switch for the overhead in the bedroom was replaced with a regular switch (installed sideways) at some point before I bought the place.
Anyway, tonight as I was switching it off, I got a little vibrating sensation in my finger. I thought I'd felt something a couple of days ago too. Well, the feeling didn't recur when I touched the faceplate or the switch again, but I'm concerned.
Does it sound like the switch needs to be replaced? Why would it suddenly develop a problem? Is it something I need to take care of right away? I'm a Nervous Nellie about electricity (I also have trouble walking, let alone running, so you can understand why!). I'm leaving that switch strictly alone until I hear from someone.
Thanks much!
Anyway, tonight as I was switching it off, I got a little vibrating sensation in my finger. I thought I'd felt something a couple of days ago too. Well, the feeling didn't recur when I touched the faceplate or the switch again, but I'm concerned.
Does it sound like the switch needs to be replaced? Why would it suddenly develop a problem? Is it something I need to take care of right away? I'm a Nervous Nellie about electricity (I also have trouble walking, let alone running, so you can understand why!). I'm leaving that switch strictly alone until I hear from someone.
Thanks much!
Wirepuller38
02-05-09, 07:02 AM
O.K., I will ask. What is a "low-voltage house"?
furd
02-05-09, 01:58 PM
I suspect he (she?) is referring to a system that was popular in some developments where the lighting was all controlled by low-voltage relays. The relays were either at the light fixture or grouped in a relay cabinet with wiring to the fixture. They had a 24 volt transformer and SPDT momentary contact switches to control the individual relays.
It had a lot of flexibility in placing multiple switches for the same light. Some also had master switches that allowed for controlling several different lights from a single point. I did this in my previous house and had a switch at the front door that allowed one movement to turn all the lights (and the furnace) off when leaving and another switch in the bedroom to do the same when going to bed. I was able to install my system pretty cheaply because I got the relays and most of the switches either for free or at surplus prices.
The same system is used today in commercial buildings and industrial plants where the lighting is under control of an energy management system. All the working parts are readily available although the local switches may have a different appearance from the switches used a half-century ago. You definitely won't find these parts at the big box mega mart home center but will have to deal with an electrical supply house that deals in commercial and industrial products.
As for galoux, without knowing what kind of switch is now installed and if the relay for the light was bypassed when the "new" switch was installed, I can't offer much advise.
It had a lot of flexibility in placing multiple switches for the same light. Some also had master switches that allowed for controlling several different lights from a single point. I did this in my previous house and had a switch at the front door that allowed one movement to turn all the lights (and the furnace) off when leaving and another switch in the bedroom to do the same when going to bed. I was able to install my system pretty cheaply because I got the relays and most of the switches either for free or at surplus prices.
The same system is used today in commercial buildings and industrial plants where the lighting is under control of an energy management system. All the working parts are readily available although the local switches may have a different appearance from the switches used a half-century ago. You definitely won't find these parts at the big box mega mart home center but will have to deal with an electrical supply house that deals in commercial and industrial products.
As for galoux, without knowing what kind of switch is now installed and if the relay for the light was bypassed when the "new" switch was installed, I can't offer much advise.