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Can Someone Explain These Light Switches to Me?

1,803 Views | 13 Replies | Last: 2 mo ago by ConroeAg
combat wombat™
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AG
The ones with the little blue light underneath. They don't toggle all the way up or down/on or off like other switches.

One of the switches is for my foyer lights; the other two are for outdoor lights. . The blue light is on if the foyer light is off and vice versa.I'm guessing the blue light is just an indicator so I know whether the light is on/outlet is live.

Then there's a little tab to the left of the little blue light. Does it serve a purpose?

I have another one of these where the little blue light seems to be burned out. I have to go out to see if the light is on/off.

Then I have a toggle switch with no blue light at all. And by toggle switch, I mean that it doesn't flip all the way up or down.
BenTheGoodAg
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AG
Smart switch? Instructions Here
Sweet Kitten Feet
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S
Yep, smart switches. I have many installed in my house. Depending on brand and type you can control them with a hub like Hubitat, Home Assistant, or if they are Wifi you can use Alexa or just the app they belong to. But they still work just like normal switches and you can toggle that blue light on or off if it bugs you. Those look like the GE or Enbrighten ZWave and Zigbee switches that I use.
javajaws
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AG
Somebody has a serious case of OCD lining up those screws!
Cromagnum
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AG
javajaws said:

Somebody has a serious case of OCD lining up those screws!


The switches don't work properly unless they are all lined up north / south like soldiers in a row.
combat wombat™
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AG
javajaws said:

Somebody has a serious case of OCD lining up those screws!


that's funny, I didn't even notice that to pointed it out..
AgResearch
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AG
javajaws said:

Somebody has a serious case of OCD lining up those screws!


My electrician lined up all screws on every outlet and switch in the house in the N/S orientation. Hundreds of screws aligned properly.
UnderoosAg
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AG
It's also a cheat to see if anyone has been into a box or messed with anything.
http://i.imgur.com/H6jmyPq.png
Rattler12
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UnderoosAg said:

It's also a cheat to see if anyone has been into a box or messed with anything.
It also makes all of the light switches and cover plates in the house feel better about themselves and their jobs if all the screws are lined up N/S
Lone Stranger
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You people and your urban legends. Every good jack leg electrician knows the screw slots go vertical so the dust doesn't settle and accumulate on the slot like it would if placed horizontal.
ChoppinDs40
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AG
Smart switches are the best. Timers for my landscape lights, carriage lights, patio lights and Christmas light plug.

Enjoy!

I prefer the tplink Kasasmart ones as they don't need a hub.
Sea Speed
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AG
OP about to open a whole new world of home automation she didn't even know existed.
combat wombat™
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AG
After you mentioned the OCD directional screws I walked around the house, checking all of my light switches and power outlets. Every single one has the line in the screw aligned vertically. Even the ones mounted under the kitchen cabinets that you can't see. All of the screw heads have the line aligned "vertically".

Except the ones on my newly replaced kitchenbacksplash.
ConroeAg
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javajaws said:

Somebody has a serious case of OCD lining up those screws!
But they're not all perfectly vertical, and once I saw it, I definitely would have had to "fix" that before I could go on about my day.
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