Is it possible to disable light on mirror?

[MariaDIY]

We just moved into a new apartment where the bedroom is ‘open plan’ with the bathroom. In the bathroom, there are 2 large powered bathroom mirror which we love. However, there is a power-on touch switch on the front of the mirror which is very brightly illuminated. This touch switch is illuminated all the time, whether the mirror itself is illuminated or not.

So much so that in the evening, it illuminates our bedroom and we are not at all pleased with so much light during the night.

So we are looking for a way to switch off the illuminated power-on switch. As there is still a symbol at this location on the mirror, we do not actually require the power-on switch to be illuminated in order to locate it on the mirror.

Would anyone have ideas on how to disable the illuminated power-on switch, while still allowing the mirror to be illuminated when desired?

I have opened up the mirror and I have attached pics of what the electrical panel inside looks like. The mirror was purchased in The Netherlands, but the wiring looks quite universal.

I have found other posts with similar questions, however the electrical panels looked far easier than this one. The solution in that case was to cover a sensor with electrical PVC tape. I do not see an abvious area on our panel to do this.

Many thanks in advance for any suggestions and help.

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

A circle of black tape?

 

[MariaDIY]

@Harry Bloomfield . Thank you for your suggestion! Could you elaborate further? Where would the circle of tape be positioned on the electrical panel without disabling other functions and/or causing electrical issues down the line?

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

@Harry Bloomfield . Thank you for your suggestion! Could you elaborate further? Where would the circle of tape be positioned on the electrical panel without disabling other functions and/or causing electrical issues down the line?

On the mirror, over the light.

 

[MariaDIY]

Not the preferred option for us. You will see the black tape very clearly on the outside of the actual mirror (and ofcourse the mirror glass is not black). I hope there is a hobby engineer on this forum with ideas how to organise this fix on the INSIDE of the mirror electrical panel

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

Not the preferred option for us. You will see the black tape very clearly on the outside of the actual mirror (and ofcourse the mirror glass is not black). I hope there is a hobby engineer on this forum with ideas how to organise this fix on the INSIDE of the mirror electrical panel

Might that no involve you, in actually doing the 'engineering', supposing someone makes an alternate suggestion, no involving tape? Would you be able to accomplish that?

 

[Rodders53]

Do you have the make and model number of the mirror?
Do you have the user manual/instructions for it.

Some may be able to disable the indicator by a press-combination such as a long press when off, perhaps?

Otherwise the only non-destructive way to disable is to switch off the mains supply in all probability.

IF that small pcb can be carefully prised off the 4 fixing posts you may be able to find the led on the other side of the PCB? There's no markings on that side for a led that I can spot.

Note it is also the capacitive touch sensitive panel for the mirror so meddling could have unwanted consequences, if clumsy or unlucky and doesn't re-fit as designed.

 

[MariaDIY]

THank you @Rodders53. Unfortunately, there is no model or brand on the the actual mirror, nor a manual available. The mirrors were already hanging in the apartment we just moved into.

I am too a little concerned to try and lift the PCB. I can see the switch light clearly under the PCB and wondered if there are any areas at the bottom of the PCB (areas around R7, Q2) where we could disable anything, without removing the PCB?

 

[Rodders53]

Nope. It's remove the pcb to find the led to remove it and the light or nothing. Randomly cutting items will just break something else rather than the illumination of that dot.

I have to ask are you the owners of the property or renting it?
The Landlord may have the manuals or the details of maker.

Also when you say 'new apartment' is that a brand new building (where the builder/developer should supply the information, or just 'new to you' where you may be able to ask the previous owners?

The cover the spot with an opaque disc is the simplest solution. Or switch the mirrors off at their mains input somehow.

Almost all the mirrors I've seen have the switch spot(s) illuminated all the time as a 'finder' in the dark, even in hotels where those in a bedroom (rather than separate bathroom) have on/off switches next to them.

Another solution is an eye mask in bed.

 

[securespark]

Change the mirror?

 

[morqthana]

Gaffer tape

 

[robinbanks]

agree with rodders; prise the board off those 4 pegs and maybe colour the LED in a bit with a sharpie to dim it

Alternatively aluminium tape on the outside of the mirror (you don't want black but maybe silver will be better) or a sucker cup you can stick on at night and remove in the day