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Re: Timer light switch

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Andy Burns

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Sep 27, 2016, 5:59:51 PM9/27/16
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Huge wrote:

> Does anyone still make these? I want something that replaces a conventional
> light switch and incorporates a timer to switch lights on and off. The
> only one I can find is a "Greenbrook T40S-C" at £16.83 from Amazon.

Don't seem to be many others, there's this abomination which clips over
the existing switch and manipulates the rocker(s) with motors and cams

<http://www.dragonsandfairydust.co.uk/light-switch-timer-review>

harry

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Sep 28, 2016, 2:15:19 AM9/28/16
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The problem is always going to be, a neutral is required to drive the motor/other device.
So you are unlikely to find one.
A rewire is required to achieve what you want.

John Rumm

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Sep 28, 2016, 3:54:35 AM9/28/16
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On 28/09/2016 07:15, harry wrote:
> On Tuesday, 27 September 2016 22:59:51 UTC+1, Andy Burns wrote:
>> Huge wrote:
>>
>>> Does anyone still make these? I want something that replaces a conventional
>>> light switch and incorporates a timer to switch lights on and off. The
>>> only one I can find is a "Greenbrook T40S-C" at £16.83 from Amazon.
>>
>> Don't seem to be many others, there's this abomination which clips over
>> the existing switch and manipulates the rocker(s) with motors and cams
>>
>> <http://www.dragonsandfairydust.co.uk/light-switch-timer-review>
>
> The problem is always going to be, a neutral is required to drive the motor/other device.

Historically this was circumvented by drawing a very small current
through the lamp to power the switch. The difficulty with that approach
was that it only works well with filament lamps, and may either simply
not work, or more likely, cause problems with flashing or dimly lit low
energy lamps these days.

> So you are unlikely to find one.
> A rewire is required to achieve what you want.

Or a switch which includes a battery.

--
Cheers,

John.

/=================================================================\
| Internode Ltd - http://www.internode.co.uk |
|-----------------------------------------------------------------|
| John Rumm - john(at)internode(dot)co(dot)uk |
\=================================================================/

John Rumm

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Sep 28, 2016, 4:04:15 AM9/28/16
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On 27/09/2016 22:23, Huge wrote:
> Does anyone still make these? I want something that replaces a conventional
> light switch and incorporates a timer to switch lights on and off. The
> only one I can find is a "Greenbrook T40S-C" at £16.83 from Amazon.

There is:

http://www.screwfix.com/p/elkay-3-wire-touch-activated-timer-switch-master/5796g#product_additional_details_container

but that requires access to a neutral.

Another approach to consider would be a remote control lamp with home
automation - so you can leave the switch on, and then automate the lamp
instead.

Peter Parry

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Sep 28, 2016, 4:20:47 AM9/28/16
to
No it isn't.

For example

https://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Main_Index/Security_Menu_Index/Lighting_Controls/index.html
any of those three can use an adapter -
https://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/tcl/search?query=ZV210&footer_search=submit
to allow them to operate without a neutral at the switch. (Looks like
an expensive capacitor!).

The Timeguard ZV700B will also work with >11W low energy lighting.
(Or use the adapter).

http://www.timeguard.com/products/light/automatic-light-switches

The ZV900 Automatic Switch Load Controller will also allow LED/CFL
lamps to he used.

http://www.timeguard.com/products/light/automatic-light-switches/automatic-switch-load-controller
http://www.timeguard.com/media/2594/ZV900_Instructs_100x68_issue1.pdf


John Rumm

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Sep 28, 2016, 5:01:37 AM9/28/16
to
On 28/09/2016 09:20, Peter Parry wrote:
> On Tue, 27 Sep 2016 23:15:17 -0700 (PDT), harry
> <harry...@btinternet.com> wrote:
>
>> On Tuesday, 27 September 2016 22:59:51 UTC+1, Andy Burns wrote:
>>> Huge wrote:
>>>
>>>> Does anyone still make these? I want something that replaces a conventional
>>>> light switch and incorporates a timer to switch lights on and off. The
>>>> only one I can find is a "Greenbrook T40S-C" at £16.83 from Amazon.
>>>
>>> Don't seem to be many others, there's this abomination which clips over
>>> the existing switch and manipulates the rocker(s) with motors and cams
>>>
>>> <http://www.dragonsandfairydust.co.uk/light-switch-timer-review>
>>
>> The problem is always going to be, a neutral is required to drive the motor/other device.
>> So you are unlikely to find one.
>> A rewire is required to achieve what you want.
>
> No it isn't.
>
> For example
>
> https://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Main_Index/Security_Menu_Index/Lighting_Controls/index.html
> any of those three can use an adapter -
> https://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/tcl/search?query=ZV210&footer_search=submit
> to allow them to operate without a neutral at the switch. (Looks like
> an expensive capacitor!).

Its basically one of these:

http://cpc.farnell.com/vishay/bfc233820684/capacitor-class-x2-680nf-275vac/dp/CA06030?ost=+MKP+X2+0.68uF+275Vac&categoryIdBox=&selectedCategoryId=&searchView=table&iscrfnonsku=false

with a 100R resistor in series.

You would probably get away with using a normal mains input suppressor,
like:

http://cpc.farnell.com/ampohm-wound-products/fe-sp-b-hdr28-470-100/contact-suppressor-0-47uf-100r/dp/FT00726

(which if it works, would be slightly cheaper to run as well!)

John Rumm

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Sep 28, 2016, 7:56:02 AM9/28/16
to
On 28/09/2016 10:39, Jethro_uk wrote:
> On Wed, 28 Sep 2016 08:54:38 +0100, John Rumm wrote:
>
>> On 28/09/2016 07:15, harry wrote:
>>> On Tuesday, 27 September 2016 22:59:51 UTC+1, Andy Burns wrote:
>>>> Huge wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> Does anyone still make these? I want something that replaces a
>>>>> conventional light switch and incorporates a timer to switch lights
>>>>> on and off. The only one I can find is a "Greenbrook T40S-C" at
>>>>> £16.83 from Amazon.
>>>>
>>>> Don't seem to be many others, there's this abomination which clips
>>>> over the existing switch and manipulates the rocker(s) with motors and
>>>> cams
>>>>
>>>> <http://www.dragonsandfairydust.co.uk/light-switch-timer-review>
>>>
>>> The problem is always going to be, a neutral is required to drive the
>>> motor/other device.
>>
>> Historically this was circumvented by drawing a very small current
>> through the lamp to power the switch. The difficulty with that approach
>> was that it only works well with filament lamps, and may either simply
>> not work, or more likely, cause problems with flashing or dimly lit low
>> energy lamps these days.
>>
>>> So you are unlikely to find one.
>>> A rewire is required to achieve what you want.
>>
>> Or a switch which includes a battery.
>
> I have an integral timer/light switch from B&Q - at least 10 years ago.
> When I converted the light from incandescent to fluorescent, I got a
> ballast resistor *specifically* designed to go in parallel with the light
> to draw enough current to charge the switch.
>
> Age being what it is, it was either Farnell, or RS - although I can't for
> the life of me remember what it was called.
>
> Still works though.

Yup TLC have them, or you can roll your own, see elsewhere in this thread.

Brian Gaff

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Sep 28, 2016, 8:23:33 AM9/28/16
to
I'm surprised anyone could be bothered with that last idea.
Surely for a more random way, a simple bi metal strip type is best, unless
you want precise timing of course.
Brian

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tabb...@gmail.com

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Sep 28, 2016, 4:37:21 PM9/28/16
to
pneumatic timer switch


NT

John Rumm

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Sep 28, 2016, 7:19:49 PM9/28/16
to
Difficult to get it to go on and off at scheduled times though!

Handsome Jack

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Sep 29, 2016, 3:17:05 AM9/29/16
to
John Rumm <see.my.s...@nowhere.null> posted
>On 27/09/2016 22:23, Huge wrote:
>> Does anyone still make these? I want something that replaces a conventional
>> light switch and incorporates a timer to switch lights on and off. The
>> only one I can find is a "Greenbrook T40S-C" at £16.83 from Amazon.
>
>There is:
>
>http://www.screwfix.com/p/elkay-3-wire-touch-activated-timer-switch-mast
>er/5796g#product_additional_details_container
>
>but that requires access to a neutral.
>
>Another approach to consider would be a remote control lamp with home
>automation - so you can leave the switch on, and then automate the lamp
>instead.

Isn't it much simpler to use a cheap standalone plug-in timer and
connect it to a table lamp?

--
Jack

jim

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Sep 29, 2016, 6:18:04 AM9/29/16
to
John Rumm <see.my.s...@nowhere.null> Wrote in message:
> On 28/09/2016 21:37, tabb...@gmail.com wrote:
>> On Wednesday, 28 September 2016 07:15:19 UTC+1, harry wrote:
>>> On Tuesday, 27 September 2016 22:59:51 UTC+1, Andy Burns wrote:
>>>> Huge wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> Does anyone still make these? I want something that replaces a conventional
>>>>> light switch and incorporates a timer to switch lights on and off. The
>>>>> only one I can find is a "Greenbrook T40S-C" at £16.83 from Amazon.
>>>>
>>>> Don't seem to be many others, there's this abomination which clips over
>>>> the existing switch and manipulates the rocker(s) with motors and cams
>>>>
>>>> <http://www.dragonsandfairydust.co.uk/light-switch-timer-review>
>>>
>>> The problem is always going to be, a neutral is required to drive the motor/other device.
>>> So you are unlikely to find one.
>>> A rewire is required to achieve what you want.
>>
>> pneumatic timer switch
>
> Difficult to get it to go on and off at scheduled times though!
>


:-D
--
Jim K


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