Outdoor garden lighting switch

[dave7108]

I purchased this from Screwfix ages ago and never actually bothered to look at it properly. It says it's suitable for garden lights but there just seems to be a reset and test button. No off or on.

[netherfield]

Just press the orange button.

[Dog Biscuit]

It's not really a switch in the conventional sense - it's an RCD (residual current device)

f you need a proper outdoor on/off control, use a switched outdoor socket, weatherproof isolator, or proper fused spur/rotary isolator depending on what it powers.

[Mars]

It's not a switch. It's a circuit breaker device - an RCD.

[Mr Pointy]

I'm surprised that Screwfix suggest the Test & Reset buttons should be used as a switch.

[Dog Biscuit]

Mr Pointy said:

I'm surprised that Screwfix suggest the Test & Reset buttons should be used as a switch.

They probably mean it can be used as part of an outdoor supply

[Mr Pointy]

Dog Biscuit said:

Mr Pointy said:

I'm surprised that Screwfix suggest the Test & Reset buttons should be used as a switch.

They probably mean it can be used as part of an outdoor supply

[Dog Biscuit]

Mr Pointy said:

Dog Biscuit said:

Mr Pointy said:

I'm surprised that Screwfix suggest the Test & Reset buttons should be used as a switch.

They probably mean it can be used as part of an outdoor supply

Yes, you can can physically do that and operate a device - but its not the correct thing to do and not what it's designed for.

RCD mechanisms are safety devices and can wear or become unreliable if used constantly as the main control.

Will it physically work for OP as a switch - yes. Is it the correct use of a safety device? No

[Mr Pointy]

Dog Biscuit said:

Mr Pointy said:

Dog Biscuit said:

Mr Pointy said:

I'm surprised that Screwfix suggest the Test & Reset buttons should be used as a switch.

They probably mean it can be used as part of an outdoor supply

Yes, you can can physically do that and operate a device - but its not the correct thing to do and not what it's designed for.

RCD mechanisms are safety devices and can wear or become unreliable if used constantly as the main control.

Will it physically work for OP as a switch - yes. Is it the correct use of a safety device? No

I agree, the OP should have a downstream switch to do the switching. The clue is in the name.

[Dr Mike Oxgreen]

Also, the test and reset buttons are probably not water resistant per se - they probably rely on the water resistant case and cover.

So you shouldn’t be operating them with wet hands.

You need something like this, which is designed as a switch and is much more appropriate:



https://www.amazon.co.uk/BG-Electrical-WP14-01-Wea...