2 way switch with indicator?

Harnser

Harnser

Harnser

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I have 2 light switches for my garage lights: one inside the garage by the door, the other in the kitchen. This lights are regularly, accidentally, left on for hours, because people forget to turn it off in the kitchen, and when the fire door is shut you can't see any light.

I want to add a visual reminder that the light's on, but cannot find a 2-way switch with a built-in indicator. I bought one of the glow panels to fit behind the lightswitch, but the instructions warn that it must light up only when the light is off (the opposite of what I need). I also bought one of the 20A appliance switches but can't figure out a way to convert it to be 2-way.

Is this impossible to do with 2-way wiring?
 
I'd have thought you'd just need to wire up something between the incoming common live cable and the common terminal on the switch. That way when the circuit is made to the garage lights it'll also power the device.
 
Do you have a neutral at the switch you want the indictor at, if not then you are a stuck. Its not the type of indictor thats the problem, its having the neutral there, if you had a neutral, then you could use the switch locactor surround you bought. A 20A double pole switch cant be used as a 2 way switch, and even if you did away with the 2 way switchig, you'd still need a neutral.

Don't try and use the earth as a return for it, its not right and it'll cause someone a bit of agro in the future when it shows up as a low insulation resistance
 
Last edited:
Adam_151 said:
Do you have a neutral at the switch you want the indictor at, if not then you are a stuck. Its not the type of indictor thats the problem, its having the neutral there, if you had a neutral, then you could use the switch locactor surround you bought.
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I got the switch off today, this is what's behind:
CIfuaKv.jpg


The blue's the neutral right?
 
No neutral there, if you want a neon indicator you are looking at trying to replace the twin and earth from the fitting to the switch with 3c and earth. Interesting it looks like this has already been replaced once in the past (why?) due to the switch drop being in harmonsided colours (brown and blue) and the 3c+e for the strappers being in old colours (red, yellow, blue). Unless the job was done around 2004 with an old stock of 3c and E (by someone who did not belive in sleeving lives, either....)
 
Adam_151 said:
No neutral there, if you want a neon indicator you are looking at trying to replace the twin and earth from the fitting to the switch with 3c and earth.
Click to expand...

Okay thanks. I've got to take the garage ceiling down sometime to insulate the floor of the bathroom above so will save this task for then.

Interesting it looks like this has already been replaced once in the past (why?) due to the switch drop being in harmonsided colours (brown and blue) and the 3c+e for the strappers being in old colours (red, yellow, blue). Unless the job was done around 2004 with an old stock of 3c and E (by someone who did not belive in sleeving lives, either....)
Click to expand...

The room the switch is in was built 15-16 years ago, so that fits with the old stock. Much of the building work was done by the previous owner, and who knows who he got in to do the electrics...
 
Have a look at the MK Grid Plus (or similar) system. There's a 2 way switch with built in neon indicator that might do the job. It's a 20 amp switch but no reason it wouldn't work on lighting that I can think of.
 
Three possible options:
  • Replace both switches with timer switches (awkward if you spend time in your garage)
  • Remove the one by the door and fit a neon-indicator switch in the kitchen
  • Have another light/indicator in the kitchen that comes on when the garage light is on (get an "ON-AIR" display from a studio)

I am also sure that if you made your home into a smart-home, you could probably control it with an app.
 
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