Bob Eager wrote:
On Mon, 06 Aug 2012 10:50:16 +0100, The Natural Philosopher wrote:

sandwiches between the switch and it's back box, complete with two
neons, for this very purpose.
I was going to suggest that (we have one on the first light switch
as you enter the house).

But as a modification, if he's running a neutral to the switch, it
can go between switched line and neutral. A one-wire choccy block
will do the job.
If he just goes across the switch, he won't need to do any
modifications and run in a neutral though - I don't know how hard it
is for him to do that.
Yes, but the modification gives him what he originally wanted - the
neon lit when the switch is ON.


Yes indeed. I *don't* want the neon on when the light is off. I'm
pretty sure I've got two neutrals joined by a choccy connector (or
even a crimp maybe) in the back box - so providing a neutral won't be
a problem.

I'd thought of getting a neon from Maplins and mounting it in the
switch, but I'd rather have something which looks as if it's meant to
be there.

I've just ordered one of these from Ebay, which seemed worth a punt
for a couple of quid including postage!
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/350530562491?
ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2648
If that's no good[1], I'll go for one of the switches suggested by
Owain.


[1] There may be a reason why they're selling them off cheap!
I was referring to one of these - which can be fitted to the existing
switch.

http://tinyurl.com/c4vfndf




I don't see what the problem is

Just use a stock switch - unless you need an intermediate or changeover
type it does exactly what is wanted....I've got several here controlling
extractor fans.

I know...but he was looking for a possible alternative. The neon-round-
the-edge allows retention of the existing switch, maybe for aesthetic
reasons.
All ranges of switches up to an including gold plated brass will have
somewhere a double pole with neon in the range. I have such.

Switches with built-in neons tend to be double pole

yes

and heavy to
operate.

Not in my experience.





--
To people who know nothing, anything is possible.
To people who know too much, it is a sad fact
that they know how little is really possible -
and how hard it is to achieve it.