Is it possible, safe and allowed to have the following light switch setup?

[JohnW2]

as with Himaginn's similar suggestion

The difference in that earlier diagram being that operating the "everything" switch would actually turn off the accent lights if they were already on by way of their own switch.

Sure and, conversely, with your arrangement 'unoperating' the "everything" switch would not turn off the accents lights if they were already on by virtue of their own switch ... a bit of a "six of one, half a dozen of the other", I reckon - but, as I said, I doubt that either would be a sufficient inconvenience to outweigh the simplicity and cheapness of being able to use a standard 2-gang, 2-way, light switch (rather than my suggestion!).

Kind Regards, John

 

[PBC_1966]

Using a DP "everything" switch with one pole paralleled across the "accent only" switch would give exactly the same result as my arrangement anyway - If the "accent" switch is on, then the accent lights will remain on regardless of the position of the "main/everything" switch.

 

[JohnW2]

Using a DP "everything" switch with one pole paralleled across the "accent only" switch would give exactly the same result as my arrangement anyway - If the "accent" switch is on, then the accent lights will remain on regardless of the position of the "main/everything" switch.

That's very true, thereby underlining the fact that you approach is simpler and cheaper than mine. I should have thought of it myself - I did initially play around with some scribbling with two 2w switches, but for some reason did not arrive at the (your) solution which 'works'!

Kind Regards, John

 

[ban-all-sheds]

Option 1: two gang switch one switch turns on the accent lighting, the other switch turns on the accent lighting and the main light which will trigger the extractor.

Disclaimer: I've not read the 3 pages of posts following this, but my immediate thought is are the people in your house so dim that they could not cope with a 2-gang switch, one gang doing the accent lighting, and the other doing the main light, and would not be able to decide what to do?

 

[ban-all-sheds]

As I understand it, the OP wants to be able to use the "main + acc" switch to switch both on (and both off), regardless of the position of the second switch?

As I understand it there are lots of 2G switches with the rockers so close together that they can be operated simultaneously by one finger.

 

[ban-all-sheds]

You need lightwave rf wireless switching.

Nobody needs that.

Simples

Quite the opposite.

 

[PBC_1966]

As I understand it there are lots of 2G switches with the rockers so close together that they can be operated simultaneously by one finger.

MK:

Crabtree:

 

[Midas Man]

You need lightwave rf wireless switching.

Nobody needs that.

Simples

Quite the opposite.

Yes he may and yes it is.

How do you know what he does and doesn't need?

 

[PBC_1966]

How do you know what he does and doesn't need?

Id like to have one of the following two options:

Option 1: two gang switch one switch turns on the accent lighting, the other switch turns on the accent lighting and the main light which will trigger the extractor.

Option 2: Some kind of off on1 on2 wall switch or three position switch to accomplish option1, so the first push or position of the switch is accent lighting on, the second push or position is all on. third push or position is all off, however id like to be able to get from accent to off without having to go through all on. mainly to avoid triggering the extracts, for middle of the night visits to the bathroom, or relaxing quiet baths.

No mention of wanting/needing some unnecessarily complex radio-controlled switches just to turn a few bathroom lights on and off.

 

[ban-all-sheds]

Yes he may and yes it is.

How do you know what he does and doesn't need?

I know what "need" means.

And I know what "want" means.

And I know how the two differ.

He does not need wireless switching.

And if you think that lightwave rf wireless switching and programming the receivers is simple compared to two lights and a 2G switch wired in the normal way then you are, at the very least, rather odd.

 

[rsgaz]

AFAIAA, one cannot even get DPDT switches (other than massive 'changeover switchgear' jobs

Clipsal do a DPDT module for their version of a grid switch...

http://www.clipsal.com/Trade/Products/ProductDetail?CatNo=30MD2

Seeing as you can fit up to five into a single gang faceplate, you'll be able to knock up any kind of wierd and wonderful wiring ideas no problem!! Just can't seem to find a UK stockist for the module though.

Gaz


Edit: That module is for their "30 Series", but that faceplate is from their "E series", so don't think they're compatible after all. Just need Clipsal to stock their "30 series" in the UK. Did manage to find a 20 gang faceplate for their 30 series while searching though!!!!

 

[ban-all-sheds]

As I understand it there are lots of 2G switches with the rockers so close together that they can be operated simultaneously by one finger.

MK:

Crabtree:

Thanks for that - I didn't think it was necessary to find photos, so common are switches like that, and given the lateness of the hour ICBA.

Hopefully the OP can now see how with a bog-standard 2G switch and bog-standard circuit design, he can have one-press operation of lights A or lights B or lights (A and B)

 

[DeadBeat]

thanks for all the effort and i enjoyed the discussion ill take all into consideration and let you know what i end up with.

I actually already do have smart things and some of my lighting is automated, but i dont really feel i have a use case to automate anything in the bathroom. not for the cost anyway.