Kinetic switches

[Cbuk2k2]

Has anyone fitted many kinetic (or similar) switches?

They just seem like a massive headache/endless call backs waiting to happen.

 

[Baddegg]

I guess the big boys will sit back and see which brand wins the market share and then buy them over. Probably too small a market for them at present.

It should be a bigger game changer than it is so far really, no mess and the switch wherever you like! I agree as you say once the technology is proven a bit more....

 

[pirate]

I believe the problem is that some folks are really happy with the tried and trusted, and they are not wrong to think that way. However, I also believe that we should embrace the new technology too. i used Quinetic in my home before I started recommending its use to others. The facts for me are that it works, and until we find a flaw, it's less destructive and much easier to install, so i'll continue to use it wherever I can. I've just been asked to advise on a renovation of an old stable, with 3' thick stone walls. Based on my experience with a similar building the "committee" have asked me to spec for the lighting and heating. I am going with LED panels, far infrared heating panels, all wiring installed behind a new plasterboard ceiling, and no switch drops on the nice stone walls. If it all goes pear-shaped in 10 years, there will be something better around, and if it lasts 10 years I will be quite happy anyway. I still occasionally use choc-bloc connectors if that is what the item is supplied with and the junctions are accessible, but those new-fangled Wagos are far better in almost all situations. It's right to be cautious, but a forum like this is a great way to share experience, and we can all learn from others. I certainly do, and some of the advice i have got on here has completely changed my views.
BTW, I still prefer hard-wired vs wireless for my computer/printer/peripherals/TV...but, where such is tricky, well the wireless option is perfect, so I use it. See what's out there, ask, and get stuck in! Oh, you want an extra light switch here? You don't want to disturb the decor or the lath and plaster? Well, there's this new thing...
No brainer, imho.

 

[davesparks]

A mechanical, hard wired, switch has been doing the job since the early days of electrical installations, its tried and trusted.
Wireless switching of any kind is much newer and people are wary of its long term reliability.

Personally I am wary of installing any new technology that tries to replace a switch with something more complex.

That's not to say I don't like these all singing, all dancing, control systems. I have made a lot of money over the last few years removing all manner of lighting control systems and replacing them with normal switches or PIRs.

 

[pirate]

I hear what you say Davesparks, and you are virtually echoing my previous thoughts...but if you don't install stuff then you will never know. Me, I hate wireless stuff to switch on lights and heating from your phone...why bother? However, a light switch you can put anywhere, with no damage to decor? Surely worth a punt, especially as many on here have used them successfully for some years...that's how stuff gets recognised, either as good or bad. Maybe one day you will try a Quinetic switch because it's the easiest option, and you might be converted!
it may not be your daily bread and butter, indeed I'm sure it isn't, but it works. Maybe in a few years we will have failures aplenty...if so, there will be something else to try, and if not, well we can go back to the old ways...but frankly, I doubt that will happen. New projects will be relying on ease of installation, old buildings being renovated will be looking for minimum disruption. All I'm advocating is to have an open mind. I recently trialled the Linian clips for T&E, which were brilliant for the particular situation, and i also installed 12 downlights using the Quickwire switch and loop and splitters...it took no time at all, and while it is more expensive, it's cheaper than the labour cost in the end. That's good for the client, and for the installer too. less time on site means another job a day. Just my view, but I am someone who likes to try new stuff, so maybe I'm the target market? I just like going in, doing a job, going home....
We are mainly talking domestic/light industrial here...where heavy industrial is involved, maybe the old ways are better?

 

[davesparks]

I hear what you say Davesparks, and you are virtually echoing my previous thoughts...but if you don't install stuff then you will never know.

Maybe one day you will try a Quinetic switch because it's the easiest option, and you might be converted!

For me it isn't worth the risk, if it fails in 2,3,5, 10 years time it will reflect very badly on me and could damage my reputation.

One day I will try them, it won't be for my regular customers though without a full discussion and agreement about what happens if it fails. It will probably be my usual test bed, also known as our office, workshop and warehouse.

Weirdly I have fully embraced the smart thermostat and have/had a nice little sideline as a nest pro installer. When I was single I was put 3/4 evenings a week installing nest thermostats for sensible money.

 

[Pretty Mouth]

I had the most maddening fault with one of those quinetic switches. The first press of the switch did nothing. Press again, it worked, and switched the light on/off. Keep pressing over and over and it would keep switching on/off, so it appeared that it worked fine. If left longer than ~30 secs, the next press would do nothing again. Press again within 30seconds and it would work, and so on.

It was used to switch lights outside a garage from a position where they couldn't be seen. My client would press the button expecting there to be light when he got to the garage, to find none. When I go to see what the problem is, I press the switch over and over and it works fine, nothing wrong. Took a while to work that one out

They have their uses but I would always prefer to use a mechanical switch

 

[BruceBanner]

Fitted last 3 years or so, solid block, stud, get the positioningv right & haven't had a call back to date. You probably jinxed me now.

 

[7029 dave]

As an old sweat, never even knew about them till about a year ago and have not used this product, but they do look good for certain situations.One of our youtube celebrities use this form of switching quite a lot on occupied rewires, no mess no chasing etc and I get that.
I would first check to see if conduits are at switch drop positions given them a tug to see if movement is present, before choosing this method, the receivers arnt cheap.
Then its also going back in the sense of octopus wiring housing the receivers boxes in the loft, boxes in the cupboard, however I would fit this switch inside the bathroom lol. (first time I have said that here)