3-Way Switching: Hard Wire Or Wireless?

[sam1952]

Good Day!

I have 2 staircases each with hard wired 2-way switches, one switch at top and other switch at bottom of each staircase. I want to add another switch to each circuit making them 3-way. At the same time I will install dimmer switches (master and 2 slaves on each circuit). I know how to do this but hard wiring will require a helluva lot of routing of cables through ceiling voids, under floors, chasing plaster walls, making good etc. Is it worth the bother? I'm tempted to go for wire free switching such as LightwaveRF but I've no experience of wireless switching. Shall I stick with good old fashioned hard wiring or launch into 21st Century and invest in wireless? Any views or experience will be appreciated.

Many thanks in anticipation.

Sam1952

 

[Murdoch]

If you have a switch at the top, and another at the bottom, why do you wasn't a 3rd ? And where?

 

[ProDave]

And don't forget you can only have 1 dimmer per light.

 

[Doc Hudson]

As a general rule hard wired anything will be more reliable and less prone to errors and faults than wireless devices. Security alarms are better wired. Doorbells are better wired, Internet connections better hard wired etc. Wireless connections can bring battery problems and risk of interference from the ever increasing number of other wireless devices in the average home.

Doc H.  

 

[Essex1]

I have never seen any wireless switch technology being used.

 

[NozSpark]

I have a Byron HE208 switch/pendant over our dining table and it works really well.

I'm sure that I could pair multiple switches with the pendant (receiver) if I wanted to

Yup,,, I've just googled the instructions and you can pair up to 6 switches with a receiver

You can also wire switches to it if you like

 

[sam1952]

If you have a switch at the top, and another at the bottom, why do you wasn't a 3rd ? And where?

Thank you Murdoch

There is a very long intermediate landing. If, as I switch on the light for the upper staircase, I realise I have forgotten to switch off the light for the lower staircase I have to retrace my steps to do that. I want to be able to switch off the light for the lower staircase at the point where I am switching on the light for the upper staircase and vice versa.

 

[sam1952]

And don't forget you can only have 1 dimmer per light.

That's true ProDave and by means of the wireless remotes you can operate that one dimmer

 

[Murdoch]

Thank you Murdoch

There is a very long intermediate landing. If, as I switch on the light for the upper staircase, I realise I have forgotten to switch off the light for the lower staircase I have to retrace my steps to do that. I want to be able to switch off the light for the lower staircase at the point where I am switching on the light for the upper staircase and vice versa.

So you don't really want a third switch you should really consider 2 way switching for both lights at the top and bottom

 

[sam1952]

As a general rule hard wired anything will be more reliable and less prone to errors and faults than wireless devices. Security alarms are better wired. Doorbells are better wired, Internet connections better hard wired etc. Wireless connections can bring battery problems and risk of interference from the ever increasing number of other wireless devices in the average home.

Doc H.  

This is persuasive reasoning Doc Hudson - thanks. But my doorbell is wireless, my internet connection is wireless, my telephone extensions are wireless, I have a wireless cctv camera, my audio system is wireless and I've experienced no problems with any of them. You are right about the risk of interference but my experience mitigates that risk. Shall I play safe and hard wire or take the risk? I'll read any further postings with interest.

 

[Murdoch]

This is persuasive reasoning Doc Hudson - thanks. But my doorbell is wireless, my internet connection is wireless, my telephone extensions are wireless, I have a wireless cctv camera, my audio system is wireless and I've experienced no problems with any of them. You are right about the risk of interference but my experience mitigates that risk. Shall I play safe and hard wire or take the risk? I'll read any further postings with interest.

I am a spark. My doorbell is hard wired. I have hard wired bt points around my house. I have hard wired at 5 around my house

 

[pewter]

Im sure i read something about remote and multiple dimming recently and was very impressed.

It might have been these guys. who have dimming packs which can take multiple dimmers.

http://www.zanocontrols.co.uk/flicker-free-led-dimming

I had to get one of the grid dimmers whoch cost me around £60.

Hard wire is best, wireless sounds easier.

What about one of those Phillips lamps that can be controlled by an iphone. That might be cheaper then damage.

 

[steptoe]

I have a Byron HE208 switch/pendant over our dining table and it works really well.

I'm sure that I could pair multiple switches with the pendant (receiver) if I wanted to

Yup,,, I've just googled the instructions and you can pair up to 6 switches with a receiver

You can also wire switches to it if you like

Ive installed a few of those byron thingies, even some dimmable ones,

in fact, I have one to install at my own place to switch a light on at far end of the garden from the house, if I ever get round to it,

they are spot on if you are stuck in a hole, but I wouldnt install as a first choice,

I am a spark. My doorbell is hard wired. I have hard wired bt points around my house. I have hard wired at 5 around my house

I too have everything hardwired where possible, even a cat5 and tv/sat to the shed, 

cuts out the issues of problems at a later stage if something that cannot be hardwired suddenly starts causing problems,

 

[NozSpark]

Well, our table is partly under the stairs which used to be boxed in...it now isn't and when the wall was removed before we moved in so was the switch wire...

So when we wanted a light I knew that they'd be a supply in the ceiling and I couldn't face chopping in for a cable and switch, and as the Byron kit was <£20 it was a no brainer

 

[Doc Hudson]

This is persuasive reasoning Doc Hudson - thanks. But my doorbell is wireless, my internet connection is wireless, my telephone extensions are wireless, I have a wireless cctv camera, my audio system is wireless and I've experienced no problems with any of them. You are right about the risk of interference but my experience mitigates that risk. Shall I play safe and hard wire or take the risk? I'll read any further postings with interest.

You are correct that wireless can work satisfactorily in many cases, but there are also numerous cases of all sorts of untraceable intermittent failures causing disruption.  However the other valid point to consider is who is taking the risk? As a tradespersons providing a service to a customer, you generally try to fit the most reliable solution to a problem within the budget so that you don't get repeated call backs about some equipment you have installed, this reflects badly on your reputation and can be costly in time doing investigations to identify the customers problem. Whereas with a DIY installation, where the DIY person is doing all the work themselves and taking all the risk of resolving any future problems, then it may be a justifiable gamble, if it all goes well it is the easiest solution. I think you also have to take into account the proximity to other neighbouring properties. Remote detached buildings are less susceptible to interference from the neighbours installing something in their properties that could interfere with your equipment.

Doc H  

 

[SLIPSHOD & SLAPDASH]

And don't forget you can only have 1 dimmer per light.

Not in this case.

The op said master & slaves, so its a 2 wire system he's using.

 

[sam1952]

Thank you to everyone who has contributed to this discussion (especially your pragmatic wisdom Doc H). I have found it enormously interesting and helpful. On balance I'm persuaded that to hard wire is best so that is what I'll do.

Regards

Sam