Sunday, 21 November 2010
Wireless Remote Outlet Control
When I ordered this product, I had a tough time deliberating between the other similar products online. I "knew" I wanted something like this, but I was concerned over the various reviews on each of the comparable products -- each product having something that was bashing it a bit. The alternative product of having a remote control for my lights seemed far less attractive to me (though still more attractive than continuing to turn 4 lamps on every time I enetered this room). Side note: I've become increasingly skeptical about 'planted' reviews by the makers of products -- great reviews on their own products, bad reviews on others' products. So, this is my first time putting pen to paper and really viewing something.
I'm 30, living in an apartment in an old brownstown in Boston, and while it's a great place, 100+ years ago when the place was built, the rooms were not designed with single-switch on/off lighting.
The GOOD:
The switch works exactly like it claims to. I plugged the wireless outlet unit into an electrica outlet at one end of my room, I connected an extension cord to it, and then I plugged 3 single-bulb nouveau glass lamps into the extension cord. I then put the double-sided tape on the back of the wireless switch and stuck it to the wall on the other side of the room (right by the entrance to the room). Now, when I walk into the room the first thing I do is hit the wireless light switch and all three lamps turn on instantly. I no longer need to turn 3 lamps on manually to get good lighting! The distance from wireless base to wireless switch is probably in the 15-20ft range and I've never had any problems. The lamps turn on as if they were on a built-in switch, which is exactly what I was looking for.
The Less good:
Not clarified in the product description (to my memory it was left out / ambiguous) -- to clarify, the wireless outlet unit has a 2-pronged plug on it. It does NOT have a 3-prong plug. That is, if you were looking to plug a power bar into the wireless outlet unit, you would need a power bar / extension cord with only 2-prongs. This was a bit of a bummer for me because I actually have 4 of the glass lamps I was hoping to connect via a power bar... I'm still happy with 3 lamps, though now I almost never turn on the 4th one. All the other wireless light switches I considered clearly had only 2 prongs, but this one was ambiguous to me. So, now hopefully you will have this question answered BEFORE you buy.
Question? Feel free to ask me -- not sure I've got more to say about this product, but I'll do my best to answer. Westinghouse T00412 Light Switch Remote
Great product but if you buy more than one they have to be installed at least 50' away from eachother because when you switch one on the other will switch on too! I put one in the living room and one in my office but whenever I switch on the living room light the office light goes on too and vice versa! Too close to eachother!
Don't waste your money on this. I purchased this switch and it broke the next day. I didn't even bother complaining because it's only $20 and it's not worth it. I had to buy a new one and purchased the "handy switch" and it works great!! I have two at home and have never had any problems. It even costs less.
Not sure if this is a defective unit as many other reviews here say positive things about it. But as with the two or so other poor reviews, this works only some of the time. And only when the switch is within a few feet of the receive AND with no obstructions (e.g., the thin wall of a desk or a bookshelf). So, for my purposes this is worthless as I would have to rearrange things just to get the switch and receive approx. 5 feet from one another and with nothing in between them. Even then, it seems only every other click turns the switch on/off. Going to try returning this though it is already open.
My roommate's light switch is outside of his bedroom door, so you can imagine how frustrating that could be. My sister had one of these that she got from the As Seen On TV store a few years back and I couldn't find one there anymore, so of course I went to Amazon and found it. It works perfectly and he hasn't had any problems with conflicting light switches messing with him yet... well, other than the person outside of his door messing with it.
That's right, no more clapping. When my daughter clapped, that was my cue to turn her light off. Often inconvenient. Now She keeps this switch by her bed, reads till she's tired and then uses the remote.
Problem solved.
Product worked great for a month then randomly stopped working. range or interference is not an issue and i even changed batteries and no go. somethings messed up in the box because it no longer makes the click sound when it turns on or off.
I really like my Westinghouse remote light switch, it works well, so I don't have too squish around a chair and a table to turn on a light I use everyday. It works wonderful, even my granddaughter uses it and is so excited that the light comes on so quickly and easily.
I have had this for 2 weeks and it works just fine.
You can attach it to the wall either with the double sided tape or with the screws that comes with it.
Important to keep in mind that you can only insert a two-pronged plug into this. NOT a three-pronged plug.
If you want to connect a three-pronged power bar you would have to buy a 2-pronged to 3-pronged converter (which was less than $2 at Target).
Most power bars are three-pronged, so if you want to attach a power bar to this you would either have to use a special power bar with only 2 prongs or buy a converter like I did.'
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