lifespan of light switch

[vavet]

We were debating the value in switching the lights off in our office kitchenette area. People are in and out of there constantly getting water, retrieving or storing food in the fridge, using the microwave, toaster, or Keurig. There are two 4 foot long fluorescent fixtures - probably 2 tubes each.

Does it make sense to turn the lights off when there is no one in there? It saves energy, but what's the lifespan of the switch?

There used to be a belief that turning on a light bulb used more energy than if it stayed on. Not sure if that's true for fluorescents or LEDs or just incandescent bulbs.

 

[four.cycle]

^ Replace all switches and outlets when repainting a room. Always.

Then you don't have to worry about it.

And turn the lights off if you're not using them.

 

[Meursault74]

light switches are what a buck?

Leviton 15 Amp Single-Pole Toggle Light Switch, White R52-01451-02W - The Home Depot

Leviton offers a comprehensive line of UL listed products for every electrical need. Leviton's wiring devices and accessories are backed by state-of-the-art research, design, engineering, manufacturing,

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We have some that are over 40 years old based on when a remodel was done, and yes it's in the kitchen

No use even thinking about this anymore.

 

[Mike65]

Our house that we moved into 1 1/2 years ago was built in 1973 & one of the last times the inside was painted most of the outlets were painted over. So I went through the whole house & replaced all the outlets & while I was at it since all the switches were original to the house & now it has all new outlets I might as well replace all the light switches. I turn off the lights every time I leave a room, it drives my wife nuts, she will leave the kitchen & when I leave it I turn off the light, she walks back in & says why did you turn off the light? No one was in the kitchen that's why.

 

[Kuma601]

Some of the old switches and receptacles in our 56 year old home are still going. I find they are more solidly built but the later rocker deco switches are still going strong after 18 years.

Turn the lights off off when not present. My suggestion would be to swap out the fluorescent tubes for LED. Those 40 watt tubes in LED consume about 16-20 watts each. They take the on off cycles better than fluorescent does. What life spans are the fluorescent tubes getting at your place?

 

[SlappyWhite]

My house was built in 1941, I recently rewired it and many of the switches (and outlets) were original and still working (well some of the outlets were scary...).

 

[alfadan]

I replaced a light switch in my house that had been remodeled in the 70s. It had a weird feel to it; no snap at all. Took it out and it was a mercury silent light switch! So obviously reused.

 

[knobby]

Incandescent and halogen lights have a big inrush on startup your florescent and LED's do not. if you want to save some energy take a look here

Amazon.com : Occupancy Vacancy Sensor

 

[pima67]

Install a LED nightlight (or 2) and that avoids the problem.

 

[beemerphile]

I wish something like this was at the top of my worry list. Count your blessings man.

 

[Bert_]

Some hold up longer than others. This one in my house seems like it's lasted a little while.

 

[ArcReactorKC]

Our house that we moved into 1 1/2 years ago was built in 1973 & one of the last times the inside was painted most of the outlets were painted over. So I went through the whole house & replaced all the outlets & while I was at it since all the switches were original to the house & now it has all new outlets I might as well replace all the light switches. I turn off the lights every time I leave a room, it drives my wife nuts, she will leave the kitchen & when I leave it I turn off the light, she walks back in & says why did you turn off the light? No one was in the kitchen that's why.

This except the bathroom fans, the wife and kids would leave the damn things on forever. I put in timer switches but they would always choose 4 hours no matter what the reason for the fan. I finally changed them out to smart switches and started down the home assistant rabbit hole. We now have lights that turn on and off automatically along with the fans. Our power usage is down and I don't yell "TURN THE DAMN FAN OFF!" five times a day anymore.

 

[smschriefer]

This except the bathroom fans, the wife and kids would leave the damn things on forever. I put in timer switches but they would always choose 4 hours no matter what the reason for the fan. I finally changed them out to smart switches and started down the home assistant rabbit hole. We now have lights that turn on and off automatically along with the fans. Our power usage is down and I don't yell "TURN THE DAMN FAN OFF!" five times a day anymore.

I had the same issue, but I found some that did 10, 15, and 30 minutes. We'd be gone for a weekend and come home to the sound of the bathroom exhaust fan. I still haven't started down the home assistant rabbit hole, but I have thought about it. The closest I am is thermostats and exterior lights being timed.

 

[cybrdyke]

The one thing that kills fluorescent lamps is turning them on & off repeatedly. Depending on what kind of ballast you have will make a big difference. If you have an instant start electronic, then your lamps will definitely be affected by on/off cycles. If you have the old magnetic Rapid Start ballasts, they're a little better. If you have Programmed Start ballasts, then that's about the best you can get.
CD

 

[The Cobbler]

Our warehouse for a volunteer group I'm involved with, we put a motion sensing switch set to 5 minutes shut off . it also controls the fan .
mind you, the switch was $9 so a long payback, but it seems to work for what we want it to do

 

[whateg01]

Install a LED nightlight (or 2) and that avoids the problem.

Isn't that what the light in the range hood is for?

 

[Metal-Marc]

Just leave the lights on, and worry about other things.

 

[xjfish]

I have a working rotary switch in my home that is likely around 100 years old, love it. I do have one 60+ y/o traditional style toggle that I have debated on replacing due to age but keep because I love the positive detent and snap... I question myself of that one as it is used quite a bit. Have replaced most.

 

[Ole Slewfoot]

1952 house,some seem more worn than others. Apparently so kets wear out first, had to replace a couple of them.

 

[Stuart in MN]

Some hold up longer than others. This one in my house seems like it's lasted a little while.

I still have one of those, it was installed in 1913.

 

[vavet]

I wish something like this was at the top of my worry list. Count your blessings man.

This is not my top worry in life. It's just an impersonal one that I felt comfortable sharing and thought y'all might find interesting. I've been quite fortunate in my life, in a lot of ways. Your point is taken. I have the mental energy that I can use for a purely academic exercise.

Just leave the lights on, and worry about other things.

Y'all are right.

 

[Chukster]

Some hold up longer than others. This one in my house seems like it's lasted a little while.

Yup, this. House I grew up in which is somewhere near 200 years old (2 sections; 1 older, post & beam & 1 newer, regular studs) still has 2 of those for an upstairs hallway. Sister lives there today. Tho I wouldn't want to try replacing either, even with repro; that cable's got to be in awful condition. Probably wired in 1910 or 20s, plus or minus?

 

[American Locomotive]

4, 4ft T8 bulbs left on for 12 hours a day, every day will use about $100/year in electricity (double that in cali and new england).

I'd probably put them on a motion switch, but that's just me.

 

[Copymutt]

This, perfect application.

 

[3baygarage]

Some hold up longer than others. This one in my house seems like it's lasted a little while.

Looks familiar. There were one or two left around the house I grew up in. One may have been functional.

I always like the push on/off light switch that doubles as a dimmer when turned. It never had a knob all those years. One day the on/off gave up the ghost. I found an identical replacement from a used hardware seller at the flea market, also had no knob.

 

[mikedodge]

Like someone else said turning fluorescent lights on and off constantly is hard on them and there's also a certain point where if they are constantly being turned on and off they use more power then being left on a while. You'd be better off either putting it on a motion switch so they stay on for something like 30 minutes at a time or leave one light on for the evening if people are really going in and out of there that often. Or change it out to LED.

As far as wearing out the switch who cares, they're cheap to replace.

 

[nadogail]

When you are getting free electricity you can have a different perspective about it’s use.

Having been raised by Depression Survivors I soon learned that Empty Rooms Love Dark.

With Solar Photovoltaics and LED’s I still remember my father yelling “Turn Off The Lights!”

 

[CJ7VFR]

...and LED’s I still remember my father yelling “Turn Off The Lights!”

I have replaced just about every incandescent bulb in our house with LED bulbs, and my wife will still shut off the lights as she walks around the house, just like her dad told her to do when she was little. I don't mind so much, except when she does this leaving a room that I am still in! Jim

 

[rlitman]

Incandescent and halogen lights have a big inrush on startup your florescent and LED's do not. if you want to save some energy take a look here

Amazon.com : Occupancy Vacancy Sensor

Inrush CURRENT does not equate to significant ENERGY, because the duration is too short to matter. I do agree that a occupancy or vacancy switch is a good idea.

The one thing that kills fluorescent lamps is turning them on & off repeatedly. Depending on what kind of ballast you have will make a big difference. If you have an instant start electronic, then your lamps will definitely be affected by on/off cycles. If you have the old magnetic Rapid Start ballasts, they're a little better. If you have Programmed Start ballasts, then that's about the best you can get.
CD

They say that each switch cycle consumes about 1 hour from the expected lifetime of a fluorescent lamp due to cathode erosion. Switch to LED tubes and forget about this concern.

As for switch life, that depends on the load. Many switches will last indefinitely. At work, I saw a switch (I think about 7 years old at the time of the incident and used for the most part only once daily) explode in a fireball when turning on a large bank of 277V fluorescent lamps. I replaced the switch and cleaned up the scorch marks, and it's been fine ever since.