Where did you put your light switches?

[dh]

I want some ideas for where the most convienent switch location for interior as well as galley lighting/fan/exterior lighting would be. I'm building composite walls, so I can put a switch on a side wall without any visible wiring.

[asianflava]

I bought LED domelights with switches on them.

[eatatjoz]

I used 110 fixtures with 12v bulbs and put ceiling fan pull chains in them.

It works out really well while lying in bed.

[eamarquardt]

I plan to add switches right to any light installed as that's where I'll be when I want to turn it on (no exterior lights). Circuit breakers will be in a central panel.

Cheers,

Gus

[bdosborn]

I bought LED domelights with switches on them.

Me too, I ditched the wall switch in favor of a switch on the light. Much easier wiring that way

Bruce.

[Looneytoons]

When I get to the point where I need to decide where to put the switches, I intend to make a cardboard mockup, crawl in, and see where they will be the most convenient.

I also have a couple of drink holders to add and need to make sure they are within reach, yet not in the way.

[Mike Angeles]

Originally, I wired a 3-way switch inside the door to the Right for the overhead, it felt awkward, So i moved to the left of the door. closer to the head of the bed. We also have reading lights on either side with individual switches.

Mike

[bobhenry]

I placed the "porch light" switches just inside the non hinged side of the door. Standing outside I reached in an placed my hand and marked the spot. I crawled in and sat up in bed and placed my hand near where the original mark was and made a minor shift to the center. I can now reach the outside light form standing outside or setting up in bed. It just felt right.

Next I layed down and placed my hand on the wall this was then the area for the inside cabin light switch.

Redneck ergonomics

We sleep head to the galley wall so head to tongue may present some door interference but if it feels right it will work.



On a similar note you notice there are 2 switches on each switch plate. The AC is a flip toggle and the dc is a rotary switch so in the dark just by feel you know what switch you have in your hand.

[bobhenry]

Galley electrical is in the 3 single boxes in the center of the wall....

Left to right a 120 volt AC duplex next the ac and dc galley light switches toggle ac and rotary dc just like inside. 3rd is a switched dc female outlet.

Were I to do it again the dc socket would be a 120 volt ac duplex outlet also.

[ajricher]

With the fixture is far easier, and in the confines of a teardrop or a TTT much easier to deal with as well.

Part of my reasoning on this was that you are most often going to turn on the light while directly next to it, so reaching up to the fixture is a triviality.

It also has the advantage that if you want to add a fixture the wiring is not switched - this way all you need to do is hook up in parallel.

Of course, fuses and/or circuit breakers should be centralized and as close to the source of power as possible...that goes without saying.

Alan

[aggie79]

This is a timely topic. I'm planning my electrical installation right now.

I had a thought (probably crazy) to place the switches in the the lower rail of my interior cabinets (at the galley wall) but I'm going to try the Bob Henry method too before I decide.

[S. Heisley]

All my interior lights have the switch on them; but the exterior porch lights do have separate interior switches so that I can turn those on without opening the door. It makes good sense to put those switches on the non-hinge side of the doors. However, because I wanted the switches to be less obtrusive and in a place where they would be less likely to get turned on accidentally, I put them on the ceiling, still by the door but near where the wall and ceiling join.

[bobhenry]

This post got me to thinking. When I built the "Barn" I goofed up .
I chose low profile 12 volt lights with the switch on the face. They look much like a dome light with the built in map lights. I cuss every time I get snuggled in and realize the switch is about 38+/- inches over my head and my arms are 28 +/- inches long and setting up just won't quite get it. So here ya are on your knees stretching for a light switch and now struggle in the dark to untangle the bedding and get back in where you were.

Do they make a 12 volt version of "The Clapper"

clap on clap off the clapper

[Arne]

I put my one switch in the ceiling, because that is where I ran the wires. I can reach it from the door and while lying in bed... All other switches are located by the mfg'r on the particular item, like reading lights, fantastic fan.

[planovet]

I put my one switch in the ceiling, because that is where I ran the wires. I can reach it from the door and while lying in bed... All other switches are located by the mfg'r on the particular item, like reading lights, fantastic fan.

Same here. My dome light, fan and reading lights all have switches on the fixtures. I wanted my porch lights to be switched inside so I put them on the ceiling. Much easier running wires that way.