QUIET pull-cord switch for bathroom

waterox · 13 Aug 2006

Hi.

I want to replace an old pull-cord lightswitch in my bathroom that has a horrible resonant springy sound everytime its pulled. It is ridiculously loud.
I searched around on the web for something QUIET and found a pull-cord dimmer which is pretty quiet and doesnt use a spring.

However, after splurging £20 on this thing I discovered that my wiring is for lamp only and not the 4-way mains AND lamp wiring which the dimmer seems to require (without ripping holes in my ceiling)

All I want really is something which will take the existing wiring (live, neutral, earth to the light socket)

Any ideas?

fireman22 · 13 Aug 2006

i fitted one of these the other day what cable/ cables have you got coming in to your pull cord at the moment? the one i fitted pull and let go the light comes on pull and let go light goes out pull and hold to set brightness

waterox · 13 Aug 2006

The existing switch has only live, neutral and earth to the lamp. This is the wiring that is available from the ceiling and I dont want to rip holes in my ceiling looking for mains cabling.

According to the instructions the dimmer needs live in as well as out to the lamp.

I tried wiring it just as lamp out but nothing happened.

fireman22 · 13 Aug 2006

cant understand what you are saying what cable / cables have you got coming out of the ceiling at your pull cord position

waterox · 14 Aug 2006

red, black, yellow/green.

Thats all.

At present they are wired into the old noisy switch which has just the 2 connections + earth.

The dimmer has "in live and neutral", and "lamp out live and neutral + earth".

Does this mean it needs mains connection as well?

fireman22 · 14 Aug 2006

the red is the live in, the black is the switched live out (thats what was throwing me with your description) yes it need live and neutral in then switched live and neutral out. i take it you cant get into attic above. if not if the cable is loose you may be able to use it as a fish to pull in new cable, if you are lucky

waterox · 14 Aug 2006

Yes, without ripping holes in the ceiling (there is a room above) I am stuck with a 2/3 wire connection instead of a 5.

The only reason I bought the dimmer switch was because it was the only one advertised as being quiet. Do you know of any bog-standard on/off switches that dont use the horrible loud spring mechanism>?

fireman22 · 14 Aug 2006

going to electrical wholsalers tomorrow will try to get some info off them look for a post reply tomorrow.

waterox · 14 Aug 2006

Thanks for your help

I will check 2moro..

ban-all-sheds · 14 Aug 2006

waterox said:
The existing switch has only live, neutral and earth to the lamp.

No - it's live, switched live and earth. There is no neutral.

Think for a minute about what a switch must do, and then imagine what would happen if you connected live and neutral to it...

waterox said:
The dimmer has "in live and neutral", and "lamp out live and neutral + earth".

Curious.

waterox said:
Do you know of any bog-standard on/off switches that dont use the horrible loud spring mechanism>?

Quality makes are reasonably quiet.

waterox · 14 Aug 2006

The manual for it is here

http://www.eterna-lighting.co.uk/docs/DIM250_manual.pdf

Which are the quality makes?

ban-all-sheds · 14 Aug 2006

waterox said:
The manual for it is here

http://www.eterna-lighting.co.uk/docs/DIM250_manual.pdf[/QUOTE]
OK - I've read that.

I suggest you now do so, particularly the bit that says "Note: The neutral terminals are provided for convenience of connection, a neutral connection is not required for operation of the switch"

Which are the quality makes?

Click to expand...

MK and Crabtree spring to mind.

Steve · 14 Aug 2006

i have a quiet on-off switch.

when the string is pulled downwards, it clicks the lights on. there is no "return click". same going off. The string only moves a little bit when you pull it. Must be a very tight mechanism.

No, you cant have it

fireman22 · 14 Aug 2006

waterox, just read your paperwork on switch and it should work with the twin cable you have, make sure the permenant live from the light fitting goes into the live in terminal of the pull cord. this probably will be the red however it may be the black (you should wrap some red tape around this)
if it doesnt work one way just swap it round

waterox · 14 Aug 2006

umm ok, where should I attach the other cable?
And should I attach the earth?

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QUIET pull-cord switch for bathroom

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