I've got to replace a light in the kitchen, 100W incandescent, with a
flourescent tube. Currently the switch to the light is a nifty
combined timer/switch. Bought at B&Q a few years ago. It's made by
Kingshield (Couldn't find a link). It uses the bulb to complete the
circuit and power the clock/timer. It can be set to work just as a
switch, or to come on and off at set times.

I'm loath to lose the timer functionality, but can anyone suggest a
way of getting it to work with a flourescent. My initial thought is to
use a 240V relay to switch the flourescent, and use the switch to work
the relay. Because the relay will pass a small current, the switch
will stay powered.

Good idea ? Bad idea ? Or is there a better way ?

FWIW, it's a little galling that with the immenent demise of
incandescent bulbs, and CFLs appearing everywhere, there is still
little support for them wrt to dimmers, timers, switches etc .....

Jethro wrote:
I've got to replace a light in the kitchen, 100W incandescent, with a
flourescent tube. Currently the switch to the light is a nifty
combined timer/switch. Bought at B&Q a few years ago. It's made by
Kingshield (Couldn't find a link). It uses the bulb to complete the
circuit and power the clock/timer. It can be set to work just as a
switch, or to come on and off at set times.

I'm loath to lose the timer functionality, but can anyone suggest a
way of getting it to work with a flourescent. My initial thought is to
use a 240V relay to switch the flourescent, and use the switch to work
the relay. Because the relay will pass a small current, the switch
will stay powered.

Good idea ? Bad idea ? Or is there a better way ?

Sounds like a nifty idea, if you can find a relay that will pass enough
quiescent current to power the electronics and not switch until you want
it to. Might be worth measuring the current draw of the switch when open.


--
Cheers,

John.

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Jethro wrote:
I've got to replace a light in the kitchen, 100W incandescent, with a
flourescent tube. Currently the switch to the light is a nifty
combined timer/switch. Bought at B&Q a few years ago. It's made by
Kingshield (Couldn't find a link). It uses the bulb to complete the
circuit and power the clock/timer. It can be set to work just as a
switch, or to come on and off at set times.

I'm loath to lose the timer functionality, but can anyone suggest a
way of getting it to work with a flourescent. My initial thought is to
use a 240V relay to switch the flourescent, and use the switch to work
the relay. Because the relay will pass a small current, the switch
will stay powered.

Good idea ? Bad idea ? Or is there a better way ?

FWIW, it's a little galling that with the immenent demise of
incandescent bulbs, and CFLs appearing everywhere, there is still
little support for them wrt to dimmers, timers, switches etc .....

I don't know if it is a better way, but an easier way is to buy a new
switch Sainsbury's sell some that work with fluorescents (made by
Smith's I think), though I don't know if they have the exact same
functionality.

Phil Hughes wrote:
Jethro wrote:
I've got to replace a light in the kitchen, 100W incandescent, with a
flourescent tube. Currently the switch to the light is a nifty
combined timer/switch. Bought at B&Q a few years ago. It's made by
Kingshield (Couldn't find a link). It uses the bulb to complete the
circuit and power the clock/timer. It can be set to work just as a
switch, or to come on and off at set times.

I'm loath to lose the timer functionality, but can anyone suggest a
way of getting it to work with a flourescent. My initial thought is to
use a 240V relay to switch the flourescent, and use the switch to work
the relay. Because the relay will pass a small current, the switch
will stay powered.

Good idea ? Bad idea ? Or is there a better way ?

FWIW, it's a little galling that with the immenent demise of
incandescent bulbs, and CFLs appearing everywhere, there is still
little support for them wrt to dimmers, timers, switches etc .....

I don't know if it is a better way, but an easier way is to buy a new
switch Sainsbury's sell some that work with fluorescents (made by
Smith's I think), though I don't know if they have the exact same
functionality.

Meant Homebase

In message
,
Jethro writes
I've got to replace a light in the kitchen, 100W incandescent, with a
flourescent tube. Currently the switch to the light is a nifty
combined timer/switch. Bought at B&Q a few years ago. It's made by
Kingshield (Couldn't find a link). It uses the bulb to complete the
circuit and power the clock/timer. It can be set to work just as a
switch, or to come on and off at set times.

I'm loath to lose the timer functionality, but can anyone suggest a
way of getting it to work with a flourescent. My initial thought is to
use a 240V relay to switch the flourescent, and use the switch to work
the relay. Because the relay will pass a small current, the switch
will stay powered.

Good idea ? Bad idea ? Or is there a better way ?

FWIW, it's a little galling that with the immenent demise of
incandescent bulbs, and CFLs appearing everywhere, there is still
little support for them wrt to dimmers, timers, switches etc .....

Http://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Main_Ind...Lighting_Contr
ols/index.html (with the fluorescent light adapter)
--
Robert

On 14 Apr, 22:41, robert wrote:
In message
,
Jethro writes





I've got to replace a light in the kitchen, 100W incandescent, with a
flourescent tube. Currently the switch to the light is a nifty
combined timer/switch. Bought at B&Q a few years ago. It's made by
Kingshield (Couldn't find a link). It uses the bulb to complete the
circuit and power the clock/timer. It can be set to work just as a
switch, or to come on and off at set times.

I'm loath to lose the timer functionality, but can anyone suggest a
way of getting it to work with a flourescent. My initial thought is to
use a 240V relay to switch the flourescent, and use the switch to work
the relay. Because the relay will pass a small current, the switch
will stay powered.

Good idea ? Bad idea ? Or is there a better way ?

FWIW, it's a little galling that with the immenent demise of
incandescent bulbs, and CFLs appearing everywhere, there is still
little support for them wrt to dimmers, timers, switches etc .....

Http://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Main_Ind...Lighting_Contr
ols/index.html * (with the fluorescent light adapter)
--
Robert- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

This did the trick perfectly ! And it was small enough to tuck inside
the housing - I was well made up. Many thanks.