Subject: how do I push a button remotely?
From:
[email protected] (James Hanley)
Date: 12/6/2004 2:06 AM Central Standard Time
Message-id: <
[email protected]>
I have a device with a button, but the device must remain downstairs
and i'm upstairs and remain there for long periods of time. I don't
want to come down stairs every time I want to push the button. So i'm
thinking maybe an electrician can open up the device, remove the push
button, put in 2 long wires that go all the way upstairs, and those
wires will have a switch on the end.
Is it possible to replace a push button system like that?
Is it right to ask an electrician to do that?
Hi, James. If I could be a bit of a contrarian, since everyone else is
extolling the virtues of remote radio-controlled doorbells...
First, if the pushbutton is switching line voltage (110 or 220 VAC), you'll
have to get an electrician (or at least someone you know is competent) to snake
the wiring through the walls or through existing conduit to get to an upstairs
pushbutton he would install. That's very doable. This will allow you to have
your pushbutton upstairs -- at pretty significant cost.
If your pushbutton has two wires going to it, it's normally open (probably,
makes contact between the two wires to let electricity flow only when you push
the button) or normally closed (less likely, pushbutton is set up so that
depressing the button interrupts the flow of current). If it's one of these,
you're probably in luck. You can use a low voltage transformer, low voltage
wiring and a control relay, and avoid a lot of the expense.
A relay is like an electrical switch, which will energize when power is applied
to the coil. The good thing is, you can switch a lot of current at a high
voltage with a relay that only needs a low voltage at a low current. Not only
that, but you can control the low voltage with switches and other things, which
saves cost in wiring. So, you could install a low voltage current limited wall
wart or bell transformer next to a relay where the pushbutton is, and then just
snake low voltage wiring upstairs to where you want it. I believe code on both
sides of the pond permits you to wire this like telephone, doorbell or
thermostat wiring (no conduit or BX cable required), because it's energy
limited with no chance of starting a fire.
Since you're a newbie, you obviously shouldn't do this yourself. You'll also
need an electrical box to hold and secure the relay, and you may have to
install a small amount of conduit to get you from the junction box to where the
current switch is.
Since you're a newbie, make sure you enlist the aid of someone who knows what
they're doing. Frequently, you can find a retired electrician down the block
who will give you advice (first house call) and check your work before you turn
it on (second house call) for the cost of a few sixes of his favorite
libation. At least on this side of the pond. I understand you have an
inspection setup over there, where any major changes in wiring have to be
inspected. If so, the friendly retired electrician may be able to give you
some advice on that, too. On this side of the pond, something like what you're
talking about would be perfectly acceptable for a "do-it-yourself-poorly"
weekend warrior to try.
Either way (direct wiring or through low voltage relay), you won't have to
worry about interference or mystery radio signals turning things on and off,
and you won't have to worry about batteries. Either way will get you what you
want, which is the ability to turn something on and off with the pushbutton
upstairs.
Good luck
Chris
