I want to fit some lights inside a long dark cupboard in the eaves of the house

I want the lights to be on a timer – as in you hit it and it goes off after 5 – 10 minutes as lights that cant be seen when the doors shut get forgotten about.

Doesnt need to be adjustable i just want to press on – and it will go off after a time.

It does need to work with LEDs – and thats the sticking point. I can get switches that do this with a regular bulb but all seem to state wont do it with LED

You sure you don’t want a PIR so it doesn’t go dark when you are at the back of this long dark cupboard?

OR put the switch outside the cupboard and use a switch with an illuminated indicator to show it is on (are they neon? probably not these days)

A pneumatic delay switch should do it. Its just a switch so doesn’t care what the load is. Doesn’t need a neutral either, which some timers do. Might make wiring easier.

or have a look for pneumatic time delay switch

Edit: Dammit beaten to it whilst googling what they were called

These two reckon they can do LEDs….

http://www.astra247.com/15257/LGA-Selectric/Time-Lag-Delay-Switch-Electronic-Push-In-Timer/?gclid=CPaopdynrMwCFUwq0wodn3kGQw

http://www.cpelectronics.co.uk/green-i/products/timers/time-delay-switch

These two mention the addition of load capacitors to facilitate low energy loads (such as LEDs)
The Elkay link below has the capacitor section under accessories at the bottom.

https://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Products/DNTLSW10.html

http://www.elkay.co.uk/product_range.asp?id=1

cheers stumpy .

the whole it doesnt care what the load is – is a red herring.

Been here before with PIRs – residual current means the led unit flashes 24/7.

the whole it doesnt care what the load is – is a red herring.

Not if it is actually a switch with moving contacts. Your PIR was probably a transistor

thats where i was at till last night when i went to order and found that most on screwfix stated “not suitable for LEDS” – with reviews backing up tht they were flashing on some – which left me confused…..

so a pneumatic is a moving contact and relies on the air pushing the switch back out to break that contact – and i should be good with one of them ?

Can’t you just put a normally open switch on the door. That way the lights come on when you open the door and go off when you close it. I have put them on all the cupboards and wardrobes in my house and they are brilliant.
Something like this

https://www.ryness.co.uk/surface-door-switch?variant=801&kw=&fl=1000&ci=62953890983&network=pla&gclid=CO_vzPOyrMwCFYu6GwodIGsFaA

Also known as a push to break switch

Edit: These are the type I have which are better than the one above

https://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Products/FM143.html?ad_position=1o1&source=adwords&ad_id=45425533757&placement=&kw=&network=g&matchtype=&ad_type=pla&product_id=FM143&product_partition_id=75763193748&test=finalurl_v2&gclid=CLbYm9WzrMwCFcG6Gwodh5QNHA

Bookmarked this thread! I want to do the same when I wire in my towel rail – hit the button for an hour’s warmth/towel drying.

sounds great andy – how ever in my house there is as much chance of the door being left “ajar” as there is the light being left on….before we know it we have both the light on and the door ajar…. at least i would know the light was on 😀

Jon Taylor – Member

Bookmarked this thread! I want to do the same when I wire in my towel rail – hit the button for an hour’s warmth/towel drying.

Now that sounds like a good idea! Could do a similar thing with one of those Claas Ohlson boot driers in the garage!! Now there’s a plan….

I’ve got a bog standard LAP PIR sensor from screwfix in my garage, switching two LED tubes, it works fine. You can hear it tick so it’s definitely using a relay rather than solid state.

This one

‘Tis only a tenner, so there’s no harm in trying it!

You need to train a kitten and keep it in a box, then it can switch the light off for you:

[video]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N6beIZ4SITc[/video]

(tune in for more useful advice at the same time next week folks……. 😉

Something like a Click Inels wireless switch would work for both the light and a towel rail.
Not cheap though.