6 ms·

Just a rambling note: that kind of light switch used in the article header is the kind of timeless design I dislike. When the light bulb needs to be replaced I

Just a rambling note: that kind of light switch used in the article header is the kind of timeless design I dislike. When the light bulb needs to be replaced I can't tell anymore which position is on or off and if I am getting a burn when screwing the replacement in. It's even worse when there are multiple switches for the same light bulb :D. Funny thing is that the same experience is conveyed through skeuomorphic interfaces more often than not. /rambling_off

the_mitsuhiko 8y ago
I consider that a feature in a way. For a very long time I had the opinion because the German plugs are reversible they are inferior in design however what I learned is that it encouraged safer device design because it both line and neutral are not exposed on devices as a result. Similar rules apply to bulbs: since you generally cannot tell safely if a a switch is on or off it encouraged the installation of RCDs and mandatory wiring plans that let you switch off parts of the installation.
lb1lf 8y ago
Oh, in Norway at least, I believe the norm is to wire the light switches so that when it tilts inwards (top part closest to the wall), the light is on. I haven’t looked up the electric code to see whether it is a requirement, but it definitely is considered best practice. I’d suspect other countries, too, to have some sort of preference, whether codified or not.
- jamescostian 8y ago
  In America we tend to do the same. Problems arise when you have multiple switches toggling a single light though. If one switch is ON and the other is OFF and the light is ON, then when you flip the OFF switch to ON the light will turn OFF. And when they are both ON, to actually turn the light ON, you need to flip one of the switches to be OFF
- huhtenberg 8y ago
  Not just Norway, it is exceedingly common everywhere in the world. Down is off, up is on. Alternatively - press on the down part to switch off, press at the top part to switch on.
  - JensRex 8y ago
    It's the opposide in Denmark. Top pressed in, the switch is off. https://i.imgur.com/TWH1YjY.jpg https://i.imgur.com/TWH1YjY.jpg
    - maaaats 8y ago
      Off-topic, but I find the sockets and switches in Denmark to be weird. They are so different from the ones in Norway and Sweden. Maybe newer houses are more similar to here, but I've mostly seen those you posted in Denmark. The socket is basically just two holes.
      - JensRex 8y ago
        This system of sockets is unique to Denmark, and it is still used. However, the Schuko system was allowed to be installed, a few years back. Source: Me, danish electrician.
  - daurnimator 8y ago
    It's the opposite in Australia: "down" is on; "up" is off. This is nominally off: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Light_switch#/media/File:Australian_Architrave_2_Gang_Switch_Plate.jpg https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Light_switch#/media/File:Austr...
ronilan 8y ago
It is very common to have multiple switches controlling the same light (example: two switchs on both side of the bed controlling a single ceiling light). The position of an electrical switch is not designed to signal the status of what it controls. Source: I was an electrician apprentice in my teens. Edit: wiki (https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Multiway_switching https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Multiway_switching)
- 13of40 8y ago
  If my electrician installed half of the single switch circuits with the switch upside down I wouldn't ask him to come back for the next job.
  - akvadrako 8y ago
    Within a house they should be consistent. But I have some American friends in Europe with their switches wired the US way.
  - ronilan 8y ago
    You are missing the point, it’s a feature not a bug. Single-switch is commonly installed with the top-pressed-in meaning “on”. For multiway-switch the position is not a status indicator. Both types of switches can be present in multiple places around the house. Thus, position of “a switch” is not an indicator. Example: my living room light panel (Vancouver, build circa. 2005). All lights are on in both pictures: http://imgur.com/8CTZOHZ http://imgur.com/8CTZOHZ
    - arbie 8y ago
      In some hotels of the world, light switches always go back to their default position upon toggle. It is counterintuitive that there's one and only one affordance to turn off a light and to turn it on.
- mirimir 8y ago
  Using lighted switches, I'm pretty sure that one could have both switches lit when the light was off, and both switches dark when the light was on.
coldseattle 8y ago
Light switches should disappear. Lights should turn themselves on as needed or when asked to.
- marcosdumay 8y ago
  "Computer, turn the lights on" Star Trek is not anymore what it used to be.
  - TeMPOraL 8y ago
    It's "Computer, lights!" and we're still not close to Star Trek, because our computing is ridiculously fragmented. Instead of a unified, configurable system doing our bidding, we have a whole ecosystem of apps that try to be everything but helpful. Can you imagine captain Picard saying, "computer, tell Hue to turn on the lights", or "computer, tell Northrop Grumman® Unified Weapons Platform™ to charge Phasers™"?
    - izacus 8y ago
      "Hey Google, turn on the lights!" works just fine.

the_mitsuhiko 8y ago

I consider that a feature in a way. For a very long time I had the opinion because the German plugs are reversible they are inferior in design however what I learned is that it encouraged safer device design because it both line and neutral are not exposed on devices as a result. Similar rules apply to bulbs: since you generally cannot tell safely if a a switch is on or off it encouraged the installation of RCDs and mandatory wiring plans that let you switch off parts of the installation.

lb1lf 8y ago

Oh, in Norway at least, I believe the norm is to wire the light switches so that when it tilts inwards (top part closest to the wall), the light is on. I haven’t looked up the electric code to see whether it is a requirement, but it definitely is considered best practice. I’d suspect other countries, too, to have some sort of preference, whether codified or not.

jamescostian 8y ago
In America we tend to do the same. Problems arise when you have multiple switches toggling a single light though. If one switch is ON and the other is OFF and the light is ON, then when you flip the OFF switch to ON the light will turn OFF. And when they are both ON, to actually turn the light ON, you need to flip one of the switches to be OFF
huhtenberg 8y ago
Not just Norway, it is exceedingly common everywhere in the world. Down is off, up is on. Alternatively - press on the down part to switch off, press at the top part to switch on.
- JensRex 8y ago
  It's the opposide in Denmark. Top pressed in, the switch is off. https://i.imgur.com/TWH1YjY.jpg https://i.imgur.com/TWH1YjY.jpg
  - maaaats 8y ago
    Off-topic, but I find the sockets and switches in Denmark to be weird. They are so different from the ones in Norway and Sweden. Maybe newer houses are more similar to here, but I've mostly seen those you posted in Denmark. The socket is basically just two holes.
    - JensRex 8y ago
      This system of sockets is unique to Denmark, and it is still used. However, the Schuko system was allowed to be installed, a few years back. Source: Me, danish electrician.
- daurnimator 8y ago
  It's the opposite in Australia: "down" is on; "up" is off. This is nominally off: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Light_switch#/media/File:Australian_Architrave_2_Gang_Switch_Plate.jpg https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Light_switch#/media/File:Austr...

ronilan 8y ago

It is very common to have multiple switches controlling the same light (example: two switchs on both side of the bed controlling a single ceiling light). The position of an electrical switch is not designed to signal the status of what it controls. Source: I was an electrician apprentice in my teens. Edit: wiki (https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Multiway_switching https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Multiway_switching)

13of40 8y ago
If my electrician installed half of the single switch circuits with the switch upside down I wouldn't ask him to come back for the next job.
- akvadrako 8y ago
  Within a house they should be consistent. But I have some American friends in Europe with their switches wired the US way.
- ronilan 8y ago
  You are missing the point, it’s a feature not a bug. Single-switch is commonly installed with the top-pressed-in meaning “on”. For multiway-switch the position is not a status indicator. Both types of switches can be present in multiple places around the house. Thus, position of “a switch” is not an indicator. Example: my living room light panel (Vancouver, build circa. 2005). All lights are on in both pictures: http://imgur.com/8CTZOHZ http://imgur.com/8CTZOHZ
  - arbie 8y ago
    In some hotels of the world, light switches always go back to their default position upon toggle. It is counterintuitive that there's one and only one affordance to turn off a light and to turn it on.
mirimir 8y ago
Using lighted switches, I'm pretty sure that one could have both switches lit when the light was off, and both switches dark when the light was on.

coldseattle 8y ago

Light switches should disappear. Lights should turn themselves on as needed or when asked to.

marcosdumay 8y ago
"Computer, turn the lights on" Star Trek is not anymore what it used to be.
- TeMPOraL 8y ago
  It's "Computer, lights!" and we're still not close to Star Trek, because our computing is ridiculously fragmented. Instead of a unified, configurable system doing our bidding, we have a whole ecosystem of apps that try to be everything but helpful. Can you imagine captain Picard saying, "computer, tell Hue to turn on the lights", or "computer, tell Northrop Grumman® Unified Weapons Platform™ to charge Phasers™"?
  - izacus 8y ago
    "Hey Google, turn on the lights!" works just fine.