Illuminated wall switches for LEDs and CFLs?
Last Post 27 Apr 2018 08:00 PM by sailawayrb. 10 Replies.
Printer Friendly
Sort:
PrevPrev NextNext
You are not authorized to post a reply.
Author Messages
ICFHybridUser is Offline
Veteran Member
Veteran Member
Send Private Message
Posts:3039

--
14 Jan 2018 07:36 PM
Does anyone know of illuminated wall switches (preferably Decora) that are suitable for LED or CFL lighting?
The ones I pulled out of stock do funny things.

I need night-lighted wall switches with low drain.
Dana1User is Offline
Senior Member
Senior Member
Send Private Message
Posts:6991

--
14 Jan 2018 10:33 PM
Switches are tolerant of a wide range of load types as long as the current and voltages used are within spec.

What sort of "...funny things..." are you attributing to the Decora switch?
ICFHybridUser is Offline
Veteran Member
Veteran Member
Send Private Message
Posts:3039

--
16 Jan 2018 12:25 PM
I suspect these switches MO is to drain a tiny bit of current across what used to be a filament and is now some electronics. The lamps occasionally flash when they are not supposed to be on and the illuminated switch flickers annoyingly. I don't recall this happening with incandescents.
sailawayrbUser is Offline
Veteran Member
Veteran Member
Send Private Message
Posts:2270
Avatar

--
16 Jan 2018 03:50 PM
The Lutron Claro Illuminated Decora switches are supposedly rated for LED/CFL in addition to incandescent/halogen. Model numbers are CA-1PSNL (single pole gloss finish), SC-1PSNL (single pole satin finish), CA-3PSNL (3-way gloss finish) and SC-3PSNL (3-way satin finish).
Borst Engineering & Construction LLC - Competence, Integrity and Professionalism are integral to all that we do!
ICFHybridUser is Offline
Veteran Member
Veteran Member
Send Private Message
Posts:3039

--
17 Jan 2018 01:49 PM
That is great. Thanks, I will check them out.

This whole situation came to a head over the counter of the electrical supply house where I am explaining the problem to an employee. He's smirking because of course I don't know what I'm talking about. I had to listen to his stock lecture on how dimmers are the only thing that have any issues with LEDs and CFLs, etc., etc. I'm explaining that this is about illuminated switches, not dimmer switches so now I get the lecture on how he has 35 years experience and there is nothing about an illuminated switch that would do that. He's put hundreds of them in and they sell thousands here and there has never been any problem.....yadda, yadda, yadda.

At this point, an electrical contractor pipes up with how they put those illuminated switches in all the time and everything's fine and homes have lots of LED and CFL lighting in them now so they'd know if there was a problem and maybe I should have a professional install them.

So, now, they've got me saying "Well, maybe I got a bad batch. Give me ten of them and I'll give it another try."

Luckily, before I left the counter, I was able to show them where it is now printed on the box "Not for use with LED or fluorescent bulbs."

Sorta makes you wonder what's happening in all those new homes they installed these in.
ICFHybridUser is Offline
Veteran Member
Veteran Member
Send Private Message
Posts:3039

--
22 Jan 2018 06:35 AM
Success!
The Lutron switches work well with the LEDs and CFLs.
They have a fairly dim red glow right at the center of the rocker for illumination and are a bit more "snappy" than the Levitons and others I've had.
Thanks again for finding them, sailawayrb!
sailawayrbUser is Offline
Veteran Member
Veteran Member
Send Private Message
Posts:2270
Avatar

--
23 Jan 2018 02:31 AM
You are most welcome and I am glad you like them.
Borst Engineering & Construction LLC - Competence, Integrity and Professionalism are integral to all that we do!
newbostonconstUser is Offline
Advanced Member
Advanced Member
Send Private Message
Posts:735

--
19 Apr 2018 12:11 PM
We are finishing wiring now and Lutron has a new motion 3-way dimmer. Works pretty good but with led's but turning it off at the rocker 3-way switch takes like a minute to dim all the way to off. They claim they work with both old style rocker 3-ways and their "companion switch" We ordered their "companion switch" but still have to try it.

We put motion in kitchen, hallways, bathrooms, closets, and family room(put a switch override to force it off in this room). I love the Lutron motion, they work very well and have pretty good setting you can use. Like only function at night, sensitivity, and time delays. But one short and the switch is fried....they are not forgiving at all.

The only downside is you can't sneak around your house at night without every light coming on. The other night we heard a noise and I was Elmer Fudd'in it around to investigate. So, you are sneeking at your best and bam the lights come on....dough....

"Never argue with an idiot. They will only bring you down to their level and beat you with experience." George Carlins
sailawayrbUser is Offline
Veteran Member
Veteran Member
Send Private Message
Posts:2270
Avatar

--
20 Apr 2018 07:08 PM
They make electrical outlets that have dim nightlights that can be triggered by motion or just turn and stay on at night. These work well for areas you might want to sneak around at night without turning on the brighter house lights and waking people up.
Borst Engineering & Construction LLC - Competence, Integrity and Professionalism are integral to all that we do!
newbostonconstUser is Offline
Advanced Member
Advanced Member
Send Private Message
Posts:735

--
25 Apr 2018 01:14 PM
With motion the lights come on no mater what. We tried the night lights and they don't fit over the 20 amp outlets we are using.
"Never argue with an idiot. They will only bring you down to their level and beat you with experience." George Carlins
sailawayrbUser is Offline
Veteran Member
Veteran Member
Send Private Message
Posts:2270
Avatar

--
27 Apr 2018 08:00 PM
Something like this is what I was suggesting:

Eaton Nightlight/Receptacle Combo

This one is 20A, but there are more options in the 15A versions too.
Borst Engineering & Construction LLC - Competence, Integrity and Professionalism are integral to all that we do!
You are not authorized to post a reply.

Active Forums 4.1
Membership Membership: Latest New User Latest: hudson2000 New Today New Today: 0 New Yesterday New Yesterday: 2 User Count Overall: 34707
People Online People Online: Visitors Visitors: 114 Members Members: 0 Total Total: 114
Copyright 2011 by BuildCentral, Inc.   Terms Of Use  Privacy Statement