"ceiling" pull switch for exterior use?
 

Is there such a thing as a "ceiling" pull switch for exterior use
please? I've looked at TLC-Direct, CEF etc but can't find one.

In case I'm barking up the wrong thingie, I was hoping to use one fitted
to the soffit over the porch for an external light for an elderly
relative. She does not want a PIR 'cos of the local cats etc burning her
electricity. There is no convenient internal place for a switch. I was
hoping to avoid running conduit for an external switch (both because I
am lazy/useless and because it would be unsightly). I'd also inclined
against remote control as it'd mean her taking the zapper with her when
she goes out - just something more to forget/lose.

--
R

"ceiling" pull switch for exterior use?
 

neverwas wrote:
Is there such a thing as a "ceiling" pull switch for exterior use
please? I've looked at TLC-Direct, CEF etc but can't find one.

In case I'm barking up the wrong thingie, I was hoping to use one
fitted to the soffit over the porch for an external light for an
elderly relative. She does not want a PIR 'cos of the local cats etc
burning her electricity. There is no convenient internal place for a
switch. I was hoping to avoid running conduit for an external switch
(both because I am lazy/useless and because it would be unsightly). I'd
also inclined against remote control as it'd mean her taking the
zapper with her when she goes out - just something more to
forget/lose.

Have you considered a dawn/dusk light with a low energy lamp? We have one
outside with an 11w lamp, cheap enough to run, on when its dark.



--
Dave - The Medway Handyman
www.medwayhandyman.co.uk

"ceiling" pull switch for exterior use?
 

In article ,
neverwas wrote:
Is there such a thing as a "ceiling" pull switch for exterior use
please? I've looked at TLC-Direct, CEF etc but can't find one.

In case I'm barking up the wrong thingie, I was hoping to use one fitted
to the soffit over the porch for an external light for an elderly
relative. She does not want a PIR 'cos of the local cats etc burning her
electricity. There is no convenient internal place for a switch. I was
hoping to avoid running conduit for an external switch (both because I
am lazy/useless and because it would be unsightly). I'd also inclined
against remote control as it'd mean her taking the zapper with her when
she goes out - just something more to forget/lose.

My thoughts are a porch light only switched from outside would be of
limited use. If you can find your way to the porch in the dark finding the
switch would be as difficult as putting the key in the lock? And you might
want to switch it on from inside to see who's at the door?

A remote would make more sense. Put it on the house door keying. Something
the size of a car remote wouldn't be too arduous to carry in the handbag.

However, if a pull switch was situated under the porch and protected from
driving rain I'd say an ordinary one would be ok.

--
*If a turtle doesn't have a shell, is he homeless or naked?

Dave Plowman London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.

"ceiling" pull switch for exterior use?
 

In article ,
The Medway Handyman wrote:
Have you considered a dawn/dusk light with a low energy lamp? We have
one outside with an 11w lamp, cheap enough to run, on when its dark.

Nothing that's on when not needed is cheap enough to run for many old
ladies. My mother used to unplug the bedside clock radio when not used as
a radio because it obviously used electricity. And kept a battery digital
LCD clock there so she could check the time at night. Wouldn't be
persuaded that switching on the light to do this - and the cost of the
batteries - was more than the clock radio used.

--
*Where do forest rangers go to "get away from it all?"

Dave Plowman London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.

"ceiling" pull switch for exterior use?
 

Have you considered a dawn/dusk light with a low energy lamp? We
have one outside with an 11w lamp, cheap enough to run, on when its
dark.

Thanks. I'll try her on that but as a pensioner on a low income who has
also been subject to the full energy conservation indoctrination I don't
have high hopes. (She is also good at mental arithmetic so she'll
probably work out the annual cost faster than I can in Excel.)

I ought also to have said that I'd assumed even the PIR option needs a
switch somewhere accessible to comply with the regs. Or not?
--
R

"ceiling" pull switch for exterior use?
 

My thoughts are a porch light only switched from outside would be of
limited use. If you can find your way to the porch in the dark
finding the switch would be as difficult as putting the key in the
lock? And you might want to switch it on from inside to see who's at
the door?

Fair points but the hall and kitchen lights let her see who is at the
door from window (although as a rule she does not even go to the door at
night unless she is expecting someone). The light is to replace a
battery powered light she has on the porch wall to see to use her keys
when returning in the dark in the winter.

A remote would make more sense. Put it on the house door keying.
Something the size of a car remote wouldn't be too arduous to carry
in the handbag.

Thanks. I'll clearly have to look again/elsewhere. The few I saw for
exterior lights on the TLC etc sites seemed to have much bulkier remotes


--
R

"ceiling" pull switch for exterior use?
 

On Sat, 19 Sep 2009 11:34:17 +0100, Dave Plowman (News) wrote:

In article ,
The Medway Handyman wrote:
Have you considered a dawn/dusk light with a low energy lamp? We have
one outside with an 11w lamp, cheap enough to run, on when its dark.

Nothing that's on when not needed is cheap enough to run for many old
ladies. My mother used to unplug the bedside clock radio when not used
as a radio because it obviously used electricity. And kept a battery
digital LCD clock there so she could check the time at night. Wouldn't
be persuaded that switching on the light to do this - and the cost of
the batteries - was more than the clock radio used.

I remember one who wouldn'y buy a particular model of transistor radio
because it would 'use more battery' than another model. The basis for
this was that the offending model required the knob to be turned 50% to
get her normal listening level, but the 'other' model required the knob
to be turned 25%...for the same output.



--
Use the BIG mirror service in the UK:
http://www.mirrorservice.org

"ceiling" pull switch for exterior use?
 

"The Medway Handyman" wrote in message
om...
neverwas wrote:
Is there such a thing as a "ceiling" pull switch for exterior use
please? I've looked at TLC-Direct, CEF etc but can't find one.

In case I'm barking up the wrong thingie, I was hoping to use one
fitted to the soffit over the porch for an external light for an
elderly relative. She does not want a PIR 'cos of the local cats etc
burning her electricity. There is no convenient internal place for a
switch. I was hoping to avoid running conduit for an external switch
(both because I am lazy/useless and because it would be unsightly). I'd
also inclined against remote control as it'd mean her taking the
zapper with her when she goes out - just something more to
forget/lose.

Have you considered a dawn/dusk light with a low energy lamp? We have one
outside with an 11w lamp, cheap enough to run, on when its dark.



--
Dave - The Medway Handyman
www.medwayhandyman.co.uk



Dave - I have one (Megman) and it only goes out on a sunny day due to it
being in a lantern and under a overhang. Any ideas on increasing its
sensitivity? I have removed the red lens and trimmed away some plastic to
give it a wider view....

"ceiling" pull switch for exterior use?
 

John wrote:
"The Medway Handyman" wrote in
message om...
neverwas wrote:
Is there such a thing as a "ceiling" pull switch for exterior use
please? I've looked at TLC-Direct, CEF etc but can't find one.

In case I'm barking up the wrong thingie, I was hoping to use one
fitted to the soffit over the porch for an external light for an
elderly relative. She does not want a PIR 'cos of the local cats etc
burning her electricity. There is no convenient internal place for
a switch. I was hoping to avoid running conduit for an external
switch (both because I am lazy/useless and because it would be
unsightly). I'd also inclined against remote control as it'd mean
her taking the zapper with her when she goes out - just something
more to forget/lose.

Have you considered a dawn/dusk light with a low energy lamp? We
have one outside with an 11w lamp, cheap enough to run, on when its
dark. --
Dave - The Medway Handyman
www.medwayhandyman.co.uk



Dave - I have one (Megman) and it only goes out on a sunny day due to
it being in a lantern and under a overhang. Any ideas on increasing
its sensitivity? I have removed the red lens and trimmed away some
plastic to give it a wider view....

Dunno really, mines a Wickes jobby lantern completely exposed.

How about a small mirror?


--
Dave - The Medway Handyman
www.medwayhandyman.co.uk

"ceiling" pull switch for exterior use?
 

In uk.d-i-y, neverwas wrote:

My thoughts are a porch light only switched from outside would be of
limited use. If you can find your way to the porch in the dark
finding the switch would be as difficult as putting the key in the
lock? And you might want to switch it on from inside to see who's at
the door?

Fair points but the hall and kitchen lights let her see who is at the
door from window (although as a rule she does not even go to the door at
night unless she is expecting someone). The light is to replace a
battery powered light she has on the porch wall to see to use her keys
when returning in the dark in the winter.

Why is it being replaced?

A remote would make more sense. Put it on the house door keying.
Something the size of a car remote wouldn't be too arduous to carry
in the handbag.

Thanks. I'll clearly have to look again/elsewhere. The few I saw for
exterior lights on the TLC etc sites seemed to have much bulkier remotes

You could screw the bulky remote control to the wall, like (presumably)
the existing battery-powered light.

--
Mike Barnes

"ceiling" pull switch for exterior use?
 

In article ,
neverwas wrote:
A remote would make more sense. Put it on the house door keying.
Something the size of a car remote wouldn't be too arduous to carry
in the handbag.

Thanks. I'll clearly have to look again/elsewhere. The few I saw for
exterior lights on the TLC etc sites seemed to have much bulkier remotes

Something like this? :-

http://www.esr.co.uk/velleman/produc...ex_modules.htm

But probably cheaper if you build it yourself.

--
*If God dropped acid, would he see people?

Dave Plowman London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.

"ceiling" pull switch for exterior use?
 

Dave Plowman (News) wrote:
In article ,
The Medway Handyman wrote:

Have you considered a dawn/dusk light with a low energy lamp? We have
one outside with an 11w lamp, cheap enough to run, on when its dark.


Nothing that's on when not needed is cheap enough to run for many old
ladies. My mother used to unplug the bedside clock radio when not used as
a radio because it obviously used electricity. And kept a battery digital
LCD clock there so she could check the time at night. Wouldn't be
persuaded that switching on the light to do this - and the cost of the
batteries - was more than the clock radio used.


My grannie used to go round all the sockets in her house (and there
wern't that many in those days 1946ish) to switch them off irrespective
of whether there was a plug in it or not as the electricity would leak
out you see.
Don

"ceiling" pull switch for exterior use?
 

Dave Plowman (News) wrote:

Where do forest rangers go to "get away from it all?"

The city.

"ceiling" pull switch for exterior use?
 

Or just have a small LED torch on the keyring.

On the one hand all ideas are welcome. On the other hand I don't quite
see that one working for a lady of a certain age who has stick in one
hand, keys in the other hand, wanting to see how to get the keys into
the lock. On the third hand though I can see it working :)
--
R

"ceiling" pull switch for exterior use?
 

No, lights don't require isolation switches. Things producing heat or
motive power do.

Ah, thanks.

--
R

"ceiling" pull switch for exterior use?
 

On Sun, 20 Sep 2009 17:23:58 GMT, "neverwas"
wrote:


Or just have a small LED torch on the keyring.

On the one hand all ideas are welcome. On the other hand I don't quite
see that one working for a lady of a certain age who has stick in one
hand, keys in the other hand, wanting to see how to get the keys into
the lock. On the third hand though I can see it working :)

Are there not devices that you fit the key in to and it illuminates
with a button so one hand is all you need . Maybe there is also
something that fits round the keyhole and lights up.
Try websites that specialise in products for assisting elderly
people

"ceiling" pull switch for exterior use?
 

In article
,
Owain wrote:
A remote would make more sense. Put it on the house door keying.
Something the size of a car remote wouldn't be too arduous to carry in
the handbag.

Or just have a small LED torch on the keyring.

Or do it properly and have the remote switch on the light *and* unlock the
door. Cars have been doing this for years...

--
*I like cats, too. Let's exchange recipes.

Dave Plowman London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.

"ceiling" pull switch for exterior use?
 

"neverwas" wrote in message
om...
Is there such a thing as a "ceiling" pull switch for exterior use please?
I've looked at TLC-Direct, CEF etc but can't find one.

In case I'm barking up the wrong thingie, I was hoping to use one fitted
to the soffit over the porch for an external light for an elderly
relative. She does not want a PIR 'cos of the local cats etc burning her
electricity. There is no convenient internal place for a switch. I was
hoping to avoid running conduit for an external switch (both because I am
lazy/useless and because it would be unsightly). I'd also inclined
against remote control as it'd mean her taking the zapper with her when
she goes out - just something more to forget/lose.



Maybe you could site the switch inside, perhaps using a pulley wheel above
the soffit.


--
Michael Chare

"ceiling" pull switch for exterior use?
 

Michael Chare wrote:

Maybe you could site the switch inside, perhaps using a pulley wheel
above the soffit.


Or build the switch inside a suitable external enclosure. Plenty of those!


--
Adrian C

"ceiling" pull switch for exterior use?
 

Maybe you could site the switch inside, perhaps using a pulley wheel
above the soffit.

Thanks for that. It fits with where I'd got to so far which is to (try
to) fit the switch from the loft, in the space above the soffit, with
the cord running through a small plastic tube to serve as a grommet.

Or build the switch inside a suitable external enclosure. Plenty of
those!

I'd wondered about that but was unsure about the entry point for the
cord. If the cord runs freely through the grommet then the enclosure
probably isn't watertight; if the cord is snug in the grommet the switch
might not spring back.........which I guess may be why exterior rated
pull switches aren't common.

I'm grateful for all the comments and sorry to have wasted everyone's
time - although I think there may be a future in Owain's idea of an
illuminated walking stick, especially for when the generation which grew
up with lightsabers starts to need them in numbers.
--
R

"ceiling" pull switch for exterior use?
 

On Mon, 21 Sep 2009 09:39:16 GMT, "neverwas"
wrote:

Maybe you could site the switch inside, perhaps using a pulley wheel
above the soffit.

Thanks for that. It fits with where I'd got to so far which is to (try
to) fit the switch from the loft, in the space above the soffit, with
the cord running through a small plastic tube to serve as a grommet.

Or build the switch inside a suitable external enclosure. Plenty of
those!

I'd wondered about that but was unsure about the entry point for the
cord. If the cord runs freely through the grommet then the enclosure
probably isn't watertight; if the cord is snug in the grommet the switch
might not spring back.........which I guess may be why exterior rated
pull switches aren't common.

I'm grateful for all the comments and sorry to have wasted everyone's
time - although I think there may be a future in Owain's idea of an
illuminated walking stick, especially for when the generation which grew
up with lightsabers starts to need them in numbers.


I've been looking for the same product as you to replace a PIR type
external security light by my patio that is wired directly into the
upstairs lighting circuit with no switch. It's now defunct and will
not be replaced, as it's not much fun having to wave your arms about
to keep the lights on when having a few late beers outside!

My search was also totally fruitless, and I'm resigned to fitting a
weatherproof surface-mounted mains switch at a lower level. You need
something with a specification of either IP 54, IP55, or IP56.

Like this:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/MK-56401-GREY-...QQcmdZViewItem


David J

"ceiling" pull switch for exterior use?
 

On Sep 20, 7:53*am, Donwill wrote:
Dave Plowman (News) wrote:
In article ,
* *The Medway Handyman wrote:

Have you considered a dawn/dusk light with a low energy lamp? *We have
one outside with an 11w lamp, cheap enough to run, on when its dark.

Nothing that's on when not needed is cheap enough to run for many old
ladies. My mother used to unplug the bedside clock radio when not used as
a radio because it obviously used electricity. And kept a battery digital
LCD clock there so she could check the time at night. Wouldn't be
persuaded that switching on the light to do this - and the cost of the
batteries - was more than the clock radio used.

My grannie used to go round all the sockets in her house (and there
wern't that many in those days 1946ish) to switch them off irrespective
of whether there was a plug in it or not as the electricity would leak
out you see.
Don

If you get years of muck in a socket, you some leakage often happens.
And sometimes switching the socket off stops it. Its a very trivial
amount of course, the sort of thing that's only picked up by testing.


NT

"ceiling" pull switch for exterior use?
 

On Sep 21, 1:16*am, "Michael Chare"
wrote:
"neverwas" wrote in message

om...

Is there such a thing as a "ceiling" pull switch for exterior use please?
I've looked at TLC-Direct, CEF etc but can't find one.

In case I'm barking up the wrong thingie, I was hoping to use one fitted
to the soffit over the porch for an external light for an elderly
relative. She does not want a PIR 'cos of the local cats etc burning her
electricity. *There is no convenient internal place for a switch. *I was
hoping to avoid running conduit for an external switch (both because I am
lazy/useless and because it would be unsightly). *I'd also inclined
against remote control as it'd mean her taking the zapper with her when
she goes out - just something more to forget/lose.

Maybe you could site the switch inside, perhaps using a pulley wheel above
the soffit.

Yes, but rather than a pulley tie a bit of string to the right angle
bit of the cord, and fix other end of string to something so the
string sits at 45 degrees. Now nothing will come off the pulley, jam
down the side etc.

Another possible is a pattress containing a reed switch and a relay,
and a magnet on the keyring. And brass keys :)


NT

"ceiling" pull switch for exterior use?
 

"neverwas" writes:

Maybe you could site the switch inside, perhaps using a pulley wheel
above the soffit.

Thanks for that. It fits with where I'd got to so far which is to (try
to) fit the switch from the loft, in the space above the soffit, with
the cord running through a small plastic tube to serve as a grommet.

Or build the switch inside a suitable external enclosure. Plenty of
those!

I'd wondered about that but was unsure about the entry point for the
cord. If the cord runs freely through the grommet then the enclosure
probably isn't watertight; if the cord is snug in the grommet the switch
might not spring back.........which I guess may be why exterior rated
pull switches aren't common.

What I'd try would be an axle through the side of the box with a lever
pulled by a cord on the outside operating another lever on the inside.

--
Jón Fairbairn
http://www.chaos.org.uk/~jf/Stuff-I-dont-want.html (updated 2009-01-31)