Night light and security light

[Jupiter01]

Looking to be some advice on an idea that I have. Will probably have further detailed questions.

My kids have a habit of having some light switched on upstairs when they go to bed. We tend to switch the light on in our spare bedroom which is further away from their bedroom to provide a small amount of light. I prefer this to a lamp in their room as that just keeps them up for ages! Just me or does anyone else have kids like that?!

Admittedly, we’ve also got used to some light on our landing overnight. The spare room has a led bulb and an led down light which operate on the same switch.

My landing had 5 downlights and is way too bright to use for this purpose. The are operated from a single switch (2 way) at the top of the landing.

I am considering a new downlight in the middle of the current landing downlights. This could then have a 1watt bulb and be used instead of the current lights.

Additionally, I would like to use this light on a scheduled basis and use this schedule when I am away on holiday. Or alternatively have an app where I can switch it on/off as I choose.

A bit on the current setup: I have done all the wiring myself and understand this. One of my downlights in the landing has the loop (live in and out + switch).

Also, can I make the current switch a two gang and have a smart and regular switch in there?

Apologies for the long post but thought I’d provide some context. Would welcome your thoughts on this.

 

[ericmark]

I have something similar, it is waiting to be fitted, needs ladders as top of stairs. I want enough light to see to go to bathroom at night, but more light with normal use, at the moment I have a smart bulb so we can switch on/off with phone and adjust output, but not very good as want to be able to use wall switch.

This is the lamp waiting to go up, wife likes the dangle bits that attach, but I have split the lights one inner and four outer and intend to use colour changing inner lamp. To do this I am using a smart relay, this means the light switch and phone work like a two way switch, so can turn off with switch and back on with phone, and also set times for auto switch on/off, not decided yet if going to replace the single gang switch with double, or only have wall switch work outer lights.

It seems our smart bulbs have a default setting, they remember if set to colour changing when switched on/off with light switch, but not dimming setting, or off setting, so switch off at wall then on switching on again full output on even if was switched off on app.

Smart light switches seem to default off, and smart bulbs default on. So a power cut for few seconds all smart bulbs switch on and all smart switches turn off.

As to if all makes are the same I don't know?

 

[SFK]

As a side effect I have found emergency down lights also work well as night lights (the link for reference only as I do not buy these from eBay). I use these to provide light for stairs if there is a power out.

The 'working' green LED makes for a good night light.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/384247439047?hash=item5976ee9ec7:g:IOkAAOSwNGBe4iO7

 

[JohnD]

Ah, lovely complexity!

I have a small table lamp on the top landing with an 8W LED bulb, and a time switch.

The cost of running it is so low that the timeswitch is hardly worthwhile.

 

[Taylortwocities]

I bought a couple of plug in night lights from IKEA. One each in the sockets at top and bottom of the stairs. Job done for £6 (for two!!) no ladders, no wifely conflicts!
https://www.ikea.com/gb/en/p/moerkraedd-led-nightlight-with-sensor-white-40350124/

 

[Jupiter01]

I have something similar, it is waiting to be fitted, needs ladders as top of stairs. I want enough light to see to go to bathroom at night, but more light with normal use, at the moment I have a smart bulb so we can switch on/off with phone and adjust output, but not very good as want to be able to use wall switch.

This View attachment 248606 View attachment 248607 is the lamp waiting to go up, wife likes the dangle bits that attach, but I have split the lights one inner and four outer and intend to use colour changing inner lamp. To do this I am using a smart relay, View attachment 248608 View attachment 248609 this means the light switch and phone work like a two way switch, so can turn off with switch and back on with phone, and also set times for auto switch on/off, not decided yet if going to replace the single gang switch with double, or only have wall switch work outer lights.

It seems our smart bulbs have a default setting, they remember if set to colour changing when switched on/off with light switch, but not dimming setting, or off setting, so switch off at wall then on switching on again full output on even if was switched off on app.

Smart light switches seem to default off, and smart bulbs default on. So a power cut for few seconds all smart bulbs switch on and all smart switches turn off.

As to if all makes are the same I don't know?

would this mean that I could have a regular switch on the wall and the relay manages everything from the loft?
Also, does the app work from outside the home and does this require any extra kit?

 

[Jupiter01]

As a side effect I have found emergency down lights also work well as night lights (the link for reference only as I do not buy these from eBay). I use these to provide light for stairs if there is a power out.

The 'working' green LED makes for a good night light.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/384247439047?hash=item5976ee9ec7:g:IOkAAOSwNGBe4iO7

How would this be switched and scheduled etc?

 

[ericmark]

would this mean that I could have a regular switch on the wall and the relay manages everything from the loft?
Also, does the app work from outside the home and does this require any extra kit?

The relay is actually in the lamp, but near enough the loft, and would be easy to fit a box in loft to hold it. There is a regular switch on the wall, but it switches extra low voltage not the normal low voltage, in my case I need a zigbee hub to connect it to the internet, and I can control the light as long as I have mobile phone coverage.

With me it started with Lidi, they were selling off some zigbee lamps cheap, what I had not realised was they needed a hub, but it was not that expensive so got one. I think to date just seven devices, one which is a really handy remote control, I use an app called "Smartlife" and it works some items direct and some through zigbee hub and I can't remember which are which.

I tired to use Smartlife on the PC and it is a pain, it needs Bluestacks emulator running and takes an age to boot, Smartlife is not fast booting up either, which is why I like being able to use wall switches and remote controls as well.

 

[SFK]

How would this be switched and scheduled etc?

They don't. - green led glow all the time.
It was an accidental benefit (for me).
Needed an emergency light for the stairs.
But have found that emergency lights almost always
have a green led status light that is on all the time and provides a great night light for the stairs.
For me two birds with on stone).
Sfk

 

[scbk]

Plug in lamp, small led bulb, timer socket, job done for £10-£20

 

[Jupiter01]

A thought: I have a socket in my loft. Could I have a ceiling light (low wattage) and then plug this into a socket with a 3amp plug?
The socket could have one of these smart plugs that I can then schedule and operate via the mobile.

I can then set a schedule for this to remain on through the evening and overnight hours.

 

[Taylortwocities]

Yes, of course. Or a smart lamp. Eg Philips hue.

 

[Jupiter01]

Yes, of course. Or a smart lamp. Eg Philips hue.

I am wondering whether it's worth the effort of having a light switch on the wall, given all the extra work it will require. I could buy a downlight which takes a 1.5W bulb, pop a hole in the ceiling and run a flex into the attic socket which has one of the smart plugs to aid scheduling and remote activation. The likelihood is that it will be needed through the night whether we are in the house or not.

Something like this unless there is an alternative recommendation:
TP-Link Tapo Smart Plug Wi-Fi Outlet, Works with Amazon Alexa (Echo and Echo Dot), Google Home, Wireless Smart Socket, Remote Control Timer Switch, Device Sharing, No Hub Required - Tapo P100 (4-Pack) - Amazon.co.uk

 

[Taylortwocities]

You don’t need a switch. A smart socket will sort it.

 

[Jupiter01]

Would a 1mm 3 core flex with a 5amp fused plug suffice? I don’t have a 3amp in the shed.