Sourcing a wall mounted pull light switch

[InTheHighlands]

Our bathroom has an ordinary pull switch mounted on the wall for the light - the access hatch for the loft precludes ceiling mount. Works fine, but I noticed that the cord is fraying where it's rubbing on exiting the switch.

I'd expected that finding a wall mounted replacement would be straightforward, but Google etc suggests not. The only ones I can find are either a) unknown brand of unknown origin or b) expensive - and both options have the cord dangling v close to the wall, which would lead to marking over time.

My ideal would be a basic white switch with the cord dangling a couple of inches from the wall - does anyone know of a reputable manufacturer offering one?

Otherwise I'll either make a suitable bracket or replace the cord when it breaks!

 

[littlespark]

Can you post a photo to show what you mean?

It might mean a hunt on eBay for something “older”


Is changing the string a huge problem? If the light works ok, then seems a waste buying a new one when a new string would be fine.

 

[InTheHighlands]

 

[InTheHighlands]

Yes, changing the cord would make sense. It's a holiday house & just want to avoid the situation where the cord snaps when friends/relatives are using the house with me not there...... Hence seeing if a better switch exists - something that surely should, but......

 

[brianmoooore]

Is a cord switch actually required? If the switch is 600mm or more from the edge of a bath or shower, then an ordinary plate switch is an alternative.
Never understood the UK obsession with cord switches in bathrooms.

 

[littlespark]

Ah. Ok, I had in my head a wall light with a pull cord attached.


It’s best if that is mounted to a ceiling, or on an angle… flat to the wall like that will wear out the string in no time.

As Brian suggests, a normal wall switch would be better, which can be located outside the room if need be.

 

[Teddy Lop]

Many pullcord switches will fit into a bisa (conduit) box, so a 1 entry/end box connected to a spout/lid fixed to the wall works. (This was in a greenhouse though, may be a tad industrial for a bathroom, depending on decor)

 

[pirate]

Quinetic solution springs to mind

 

[InTheHighlands]

Genuine thanks for all the suggestions! Conduit box would be a bit industrial. Quinetic solution I had to Google - bit over the top in this situation, but well worth remembering for a different application.

I'll look at the simple solution - ordinary switch on the landing.

I'm a bit surprised that one of the mainstream manufacturers don't add something to their catalogue as it can't be such an unusual situation!

 

[littlespark]

Can you not reposition onto the ceiling, when the ceiling gets put in?

 

[InTheHighlands]

Reposition - not really as it's the access hatch to the loft that predated the bathroom. With the benefit of hindsight, repositioning the access at the time the bathroom was being created would have been sensible.......

It's an old croft house with wooden panelling - one bedroom still needs renovating (27 years on....) - may give an opportunity to move the access

 

[UNG]

Quinetic solution springs to mind

That was my first thought

Genuine thanks for all the suggestions! Conduit box would be a bit industrial. Quinetic solution I had to Google - bit over the top in this situation, but well worth remembering for a different application.

I'll look at the simple solution - ordinary switch on the landing.

Not sure why you think Quinetic is over the top unless it is down to cost
By the time you mess around with the simple solution it may end up costing more in time and materials

I'm a bit surprised that one of the mainstream manufacturers don't add something to their catalogue as it can't be such an unusual situation!

As with a lot of things cost is a big factor in nearly 50 years in the trade I can count on one hand the number of times I have fitted a pull switch on a wall so it is IMO an unusual situation.
Over the years product quality has dropped if you have a pull switch that was installed 40+ years ago the cord was a lot thicker and more substantial to what is used now and some products IMO are built to a price and to fail in order to generate future recurring business

 

[brianmoooore]

Never fitted one at 90 degrees, but have fitted plenty on sloping ceilings at 30 degrees or so.
As above, the older ones last forever, but the newer stuff not so much.
I think I remember that one older one actually had a metal chain for the bit out of the switch, before joining to a string.

 

[UNG]

Never fitted one at 90 degrees, but have fitted plenty on sloping ceilings at 30 degrees or so.
As above, the older ones last forever, but the newer stuff not so much.
I think I remember that one older one actually had a metal chain for the bit out of the switch, before joining to a string.

You are correct some of the older pull switches did have a short chain on the switch before it joined the cord

 

[pirate]

My MK ceiling mounted light switch in the bathroom is original 1975...I doubt the newer ones would last as long

 

[brianmoooore]

My MK ceiling mounted light switch in the bathroom is original 1975...I doubt the newer ones would last as long

Mine as well, but when I got to the age that the 4am trot to the bathroom became the norm, I started getting complaints from the other half about the noise the thing made when the cord was pulled, so I changed it for a more modern, quieter one.

 

[UNG]

My MK ceiling mounted light switch in the bathroom is original 1975...I doubt the newer ones would last as long

That will be when it was proper MK quality before it started going downhill in the late 70's / early 80's

 

[baldelectrician]

You could put an IP rated switch in

IP66 10AX 1G 2W Switch • WXPPS12 | Hager

Find products, IP66 10AX 1 Gang 2 Way Switch and more on Hager United Kingdom

hager.com

View attachment 121060

Hager does not look bad

 

[EddieB]

Can you post a photo to show what you mean?

It might mean a hunt on eBay for something “older”


Is changing the string a huge problem? If the light works ok, then seems a waste buying a new one when a new string would be fine.

I"ve never seen a purpose made wall pull switch, I'm not sure they exist.