Neon Plate Switch Locator recommendation

cablemonkey · Jan 7, 2012

Hi,
I have been asked by an elderly client to fit some nighttime light switch locators for some out buildings. Can anybody recommend a product that will work with a metal surface mount back box and switch? Ta Monky

telectrix · Jan 7, 2012

MK use to do one with a green neon illuminator. it used the switch terminal as a false neutral when the switch was in the off position.

Lighthouse Phil · Jan 7, 2012

MK and Legend both have single plate switches with neons. Have used the Legend type and they worked fine. ( Green neon)

GT1 · Jan 7, 2012

Ditto the mk ones. Fitted a few of them and they look pretty cool.
Not so straightforward on a 2 way switch mind !!

needasparks · Jan 7, 2012

Just remember these switches (neon locator) are for an elderly person so there is a high chance they will use low energy lamps so the lamps may flicker when off. I got caught out by this once.

MarkieSparkie · Jan 7, 2012

Hi cablemonkey, Check out Crabtree Seeklight Cat No. 7009, it's an LED illuminated shroud that fits around the switch plate. It fits virtually all Crabtree switch plates. It has one significant drawback however, it will only work with filament lamps, this may not be a drawback for your elderly client as most seem to hate CLFs.

La Poste · Jan 7, 2012

GT1 said:
Ditto the mk ones. Fitted a few of them and they look pretty cool.
Not so straightforward on a 2 way switch mind !!

Would it best to drop a neutral to the switch in this scenario?
That way the neon would stay on all the time, line connected to one side of the neon and the other connected to the neutral you have dropped.

GT1 · Jan 7, 2012

Well to be fair with one way switching anyway. It's very straightforward, you won't need the neon lit when the light in the room is on. In fact you will hardly notice its on with the light on or in daylight for that matter. !

Marvo · Jan 7, 2012

I know this wasn't what you asked about but if it's a 2-way system or it's a problem for other reasons you could always use glow in the dark tape. I had some on the kids bedroom light switches and the bathroom switch that was made by 3M. It was almost white in colour so it didn't look bad during daytime and the stuff stuck like you wouldn't believe. There's no way it will come off without damaging the switch and it glows for about 6-7 hours after lights-out.