Everyone faced a situation when it was necessary to turn on the lighting in an absolutely dark room. Even if the location of the switch is known, it can be very difficult to cope with the task. And in an unfamiliar environment, searches can take a lot of time. By using a backlit switch, such situations can be avoided.
Description
Entering an unlit room, everyone intuitively tries to find a switch to turn on the light. A similar procedure is often accompanied by the fall of objects. The most unpleasant moment is a brown coating, which remains on the wallpaper around the switch and along the entire "route" to it. To wash off these traces without damaging the wall covering is almost impossible. A backlit switch will help to avoid damage to the interior and nerves.
What is the difference between such a device and a conventional lighting switching device? The main feature is only the presence of a special indicator light, which allows you to immediately find the location of the desired object in the dark. In appearance, the device does not have any differences from the usual switches. A significant advantage of such a device is the use of an LED light bulb as an indicator, which saves energy consumption.
Varieties
The modern market offers many different types of devices equipped with a light beacon. This allows each customer to choose the most suitable version of the device. Switches differ not only in external data, but also in design features. In the electric shop you can find the following types of devices:
- keyboard models - are easy to install and affordable;
- walk-through switches - allow you to activate one of the two lamps connected to them (used to illuminate long corridors and large rooms);
- push-button switch - instead of keys, such a device has buttons of various shapes.
All of the listed varieties of switches can be with or without a backlight indicator. One-, two- and three-key models are popular.
Principle of operation
Before connecting the backlit switch, you need to understand the device's operation device. As has already been found out, such a device differs from a conventional switch in one detail - the presence of an indicator. This function can be performed by LED or neon bulbs. The circuit of such an apparatus provides for the breaking of the phase wire. In the presence of illumination, a diode lamp simply connects the wire in the off position.
Why does the main light not turn on when the indicator is on? The answer to this question is quite simple. The device system provides for a resistor having current-limiting properties. The resistance of the lamp filament is much less (almost zero) than that of the indicator, so the operating voltage is supplied to the backlight of the switch with a resistor connected in series. This causes the indicator to light up. If there is no light in the backlight circuit or it will be inoperative, the indicator will also not be able to light due to a broken power circuit.
Connection
Installing a backlit switch is a fairly simple task.
The whole process will take no more than half an hour, subject to the following recommendations:
- First of all, it is necessary to turn off the power supply on the switchboard. You can only de-energize the room in which the installation will take place, or the entire room.
- We remove the obsolete device. To do this, first remove the keys, and then the frame itself. At the end, we unscrew the fasteners of the device and pull out the internal elements.
- Slightly weaken the fasteners of the contacts and release the device.
- There should be a connection diagram on the back of the new backlit switch, following which we install. Installation is carried out according to the same principle as dismantling, only in the reverse order.
- The last step is to test the device’s health and backlight. To do this, just turn on the switch.
Which lamps are suitable for switches with an indicator?
How to connect a backlit switch so that there are no problems during operation? First of all, you should find out with which lamps such electrical accessories are compatible.
Many note that when using switches with an indicator and energy-saving lamps, problems arise due to their incompatibility. The reason lies in the device of the lamps themselves. To charge the capacitor of an energy-saving lamp, even a small voltage that passes through the diode is enough. This causes the starter to fire and turn on the lights.
The start of the switching mechanism is repeated many times, which leads to flicker. Improper use of the lighting device adversely affects the duration of its service.
We are looking for a way out of the situation
How to connect a backlit switch in combination with an energy-saving lamp? Experts recommend installing an additional resistor in this case. A small current that charged the rectifier capacitor (with the lights turned off) will pass through a 2W shunt resistor.
Also on sale are LED lamps that are compatible with light indicators in switches. They already have a shunt resistor, or a soft start. Such a device does not flicker when the capacitor is discharged, but the inclusion occurs within a few seconds.
Legrand Illuminated Switches
The circuit breaker is an indispensable element of the power supply network, which must be reliable and of high quality. One of the best are devices of the French company Legrand. The manufacturer makes the basis of the device from galvanized steel for better fastening the switch to the wall. During operation, such a base is not deformed.
French backlit Valena double circuit breakers are the most popular. They have a simple wiring diagram and can be used in rooms with high humidity. The company offers electrical accessories in such series as Etika, Soliroc, Celiane, Cariva, Galea Life, Kaptika.
Viko switches
Turkish company Viko offers high-quality electrical accessories and is one of the largest suppliers of such products. The backlit Viko switches from the Carmen series have elegant, sleek shapes and are made of cream or white plastic. A light touch is enough to activate the design.
The switches have a red indicator light that is appreciated by consumers. For internal installation, devices from the Karre series are also suitable, having one or two keys, a dimmer (dimmer).