Replies

1. 
   JohnSprung | Nov 06, 2003 04:36am | #1

   What was done here 70 - 80 years ago when they built the nitrate vaults was to run an incandescent pilot light in parallel with the main light.  You could do that with a neon or LED.

   -- J.S.

2. 
   4Lorn2 | Nov 06, 2003 09:37am | #2

   Fairly easy, these units are available at many better electrical supply houses, if you have a neutral in both boxes. Depends on how it was wired. If there is not neutral in one or both boxes a bit of rewiring might be called for. How difficult this is depends on how difficult access is. Uninsulated walls, attic or crawl space access will make this much easier. Lack of access makes it much more difficult, but not impossible, and dearer financially.

1. 
   HammerHarry | Nov 06, 2003 08:18pm | #3

   I asked because I haven't seen one around here yet, despite going to a couple electrical supply houses.  I know I could do it wiring a small pilot light in parallel with the ceiling lights, but I'm looking for an elegant and straightforward solution.  Any suggestions on manufacturers or part no?  As I said, Leviton doesn't seem to have it....

1. 
   CapnMac | Nov 07, 2003 12:51am | #4

   Seems ike it would be easier to wire a single outlet into a box over the inside switch, and poke a nightlight into that (as the bride would not like the HD enclosure unit with a red bulb and a blinking washer over a sign reading "Light on in Garage when blinking").

   Plain sconce fixture would work, too, other than it would only be "on" when the garage lights are.  Will admit to liking motion sensing switches in the garage--much easier than tripping over the lawn mower when someone comes along and turns those ^$&* garage lights off, again!Occupational hazard of my occupation not being around (sorry Bubba)

1. 
   HammerHarry | Nov 07, 2003 03:05am | #5

   Actually, the easiest thing is a switch with a pilot light.  Two ways with pilot lights are sooooo common, I'm surprised I haven't found a 3 way.

   I have found one from Cooper, it's a beast. 

   Edited to add, now I've found Leviton's.  It's under their INDUSTRIAL selection; now I'll go to their INDUSTRIAL guys here, and look for it.  Just for anyone's information, "Illuminated" switches are lit when OFF, "pilot" switches are illuminated when ON.  For the most part.  But not always.  Depends.  Time for a beer, I guess.

   Edited 11/6/2003 7:15:05 PM ET by Cairo

1. 
   OneofmanyBobs | Nov 07, 2003 03:14am | #6

   With a 3-way,  one leg is always hot whether the light is on or not.  The switch cannot know the position of the other 3-way (or 4-way) downstream and cannot figure whether the light is on or off.  Hence, no simple lighted 3-ways.  You have to feed a wire back from the load to run a pilot light.   Then it will be the "wrong " way.  Lighted 2-ways have the light on when the switch is off.  So you can find the switch in the dark.

2. 
   HammerHarry | Nov 07, 2003 03:40am | #7

   "no simple 3 ways", actually, there are lots, now that I've looked in the Industrial side; however, you have to have a neutral in the box, which isn't always the case.  Depends on how your system is wired.  I'm lucky.  Off to the industrial shop tomorrow.

3. 
   JohnSprung | Nov 07, 2003 03:41am | #8

   It seems that you could put small neons at each switch bridging between the two runners of the 3 way/4 way system.  With the main light off, its filament would pull one runner to ground while the other was hot, and the neons would be on.  When the main light is on, one runner is hot while the other floats, so the neons would be off.  Years ago I saw a neon shunting the fuse in an EKG machine, as a blown fuse indicator.  Perhaps there are some code or UL reasons why this isn't done any more.

   -- J.S.

4. 
   CapnMac | Nov 07, 2003 08:48am | #9

   Actually, the easiest thing is a switch with a pilot light

   Yaeh, yeah, I know.  I was just thinking that 20' of romex from the garage light, then $5-6 worth of box, outlet and cover plate and a $5 elctrolumescent night light a lot simpler than a $40-45 industrial Leviton . . .

   That, and I put in a blinking light for a "DW" who thought her "DH" was a dimwit . . . (caged RD light ficture, blinking bulb & sign, all included).  Hoping to save you that.Occupational hazard of my occupation not being around (sorry Bubba)