I have 3 outside lights the switch for which is in the airing cupboard, far from convenient. it handles about 1KW
I would like to replace the switch which has about 6 wires to it with something that can be switched at a distance like a solenoid using much lighter cable.This would allow me to run a wire to the kitchen without major work.
Do such things exist ?, what are they called ? I've looked on ebay and everything is for cars.
Thanks
Parts
Try the term "contactor" instead, a lot will be DIN rail mounting, but you should find a wall mounting one, whether any will fit in a backbox with a blank plate is a different matter ...
Have you looked for *relays* rather than solenoids?
Another thought . . .
Are you switching all 3 on and off in one go - i.e. are they all wired together in parallel?
If so, could you wire them into a 13A plug, plugged into a socket? You could then use a remote controlled plug-in switch unit (as sold by the likes of Maplin) and switch them wirelessly from the kitchen - or anywhere else within wireless range.
Incidentally, 1kW is only just over 4 amps at 230 volts - so you don't need a massive cable for it anyway - 1 mm^2 is quite sufficient.
Commonly called a relay or contactor. They are the same sort of thing - but relays normally have low voltage coils which would mean using a transformer. Contactors usually 240v coils. But a simple one - just the equivalent of a 6 amp off/on switch, ie SPST, can be hard to find and too bulky to fit a switch box.
There are plenty of 230 V AC coil relays around, e.g. the good old octal-base ones:
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