Carlon HW2162 Wireless Light Socket Switch
by Carlon
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List Price: Our Price: $16.93 You Save: $19.06 (53%) Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours Category: Tools See more product details |
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Tools and Hardware Reviews of Carlon HW2162 Wireless Light Socket Switch
Customer Review: bad power supply design
Summary: 1 Stars
Great idea, great basic product, battery connection problem.
Some of the units I purchased worked well but intermittently. Any that come with two 3 volt button batteries have connection problems and this causes inconsistent performance!
I soldered a 9 volt battery connector to the leads with a small hole in the back plate so I could place the battery behind the plate in the wall. The units have worked perfectly with the 9 volt batteries. The button batteries provided supply a total voltage of 6 volts, but the unit functions just fine on 9 volts.
Other manufacturers -- Zenith -- for example use 9 volt batteries in the unit and function perfectly.
If ordering from Amazon, there is no way to specify to order the different coded units (if using them close to one another) -- this applies to the Zenith units. Amazon, you are so great uaually, shame on you for this problem! They sent me 5 total units that only used two of the available codes, so only two of them worked in my application. The Carlon units are self programable and that is a plus!
Please plan to order a sample or two before planning your use of any of these units, and test them in your application before ordering more. This was some hassle for me, but ended up saving a huge rewire job in an old house!
Customer Review: Minor annoyances
Summary: 3 Stars
This is a refreshing change from the typical remote switch, which requires you to plug a cord into the actual switch. It worked perfectly. My only complaints are that it is a bit big (I could definitely see this not fitting in some applications where the bulb is recessed inside a holder, or when a tight-fitting decorative globe goes over the bulb), and my real gripe, which is the switchplate does not come with a clip-on quick-release like most of their competitors do. It assumes you want that switchplate to stay in one place. Because I had another remote switch (the "other" kind) in a basement location where I really do want the switch never to move, I permanently mounted that switch to the basement wall, and use its clip-on holder with the Carlon. The Carlon switch is a bit thinner so it's a somewhat loose fit inside the clip-on but it does work. Now the switch normally sits inside its clip-on, but it can be instantly detached and moved to another location (say, next to a sofa) if desired. Of course, most people will not happen to have an unused quick-release mount sitting around.
One star off for being too bulky for some applications, and one star off for mandating that the switchplate be permanently mounted.
Customer Review: Great concept; works sporadically
Summary: 3 Stars
The Carlon HW2162 Wireless Light Socket Switch is an easy way to add a conventional wall switch to turn on lamps or overhead lights. I am currently using this in my living room; my older home lacks switched lighting in some of its rooms. For the most part it works as described, but it gets cranky. I used it for weeks with no trouble but when I attempted to show it to relatives, it simply refused to work properly. From that point forward, it has worked on first try about 75% of the time.
It's very simple to install-choose the color of faceplate (white or ivory), use the supplied screws or double-sided tape to install the switch, and screw in the bulb base into a lamp or overhead light.
Although I'm generally pleased with its operation, this product has shortcomings. In addition to not always working on first tap, the screw-in base is fairly bulky and simply does not fit many lamps. I actually ended up purchasing another floor lamp because the height of the base plus the actual light bulb is taller than the light's globe and looks silly protruding from the lamp.
Customer Review: Great solution to a difficult problem!
Summary: 5 Stars
This remote wireless (RF) switch is made by Carlon so I know it's high quality. This was part of a job for a good client and I can't afford to use cheap junk that won't last. It even comes with an optional ivory switch plate, though I used the white one. For those who are novices at electrical work, the directions are very detailed and understandable, and they explain the principles the unit operates on quite well.
I bought this from Geroy's because Amazon refuses to ship by USPS and I live in the US Virgin Islands and have only a Post Office box - Geroy's had no problem with that and the shipping was prompt and very reasonable. Good folks to deal with, based on my experience.
I used this remote switch to permit a custom-forged wall sconce light to be switched where there were no provisions for that in the existing wiring. Instead of several hours cutting into a concrete wall and adding wiring, re-plastering, re-painting, etc., it was only a five minute task to screw in the socket and mount the switch transmitter with the included double-faced foam mounting tape. My client was delighted with the solution and so am I.
Customer Review: Poorly designed switch
Summary: 1 Stars
The problem I have with this switch is the poorly designed switch mechanism. It appears to be a rocker switch, but the rocker is just a piece of rockable plastic on the face plate, with tiny plastic nubs on the underside of each end of the rocker. The switches themselves are tiny membrane type switches mounted to a pc board that holds all of the circuitry. The board is mounted under the face plate, and the nubs on each end of the rocker are supposed to actuate the switch underneath, but they either aren't applying the pressure to the switches properly, or the switches themselves are flaky. It almost always turns on when I press it, but getting it to turn off has always been a gamble, and it now won't turn off at all.
I bought this switch because I didn't want to have to drill holes and pull wire to be able to control the ceiling light in question, but I guess I'm going to have to after all.