1 Gang 2 Way Light Switch - Bright Teal

Bright teal is a bold thing to put on a wall, and this switch carries it off with a screwless front that sits flush and unbroken, with no fixing heads to interrupt the colour. The rocker itself is set into a chrome insert, so there is a small glint of brightness against the blue when you catch it in daylight. It is rated 10AX for household lighting circuits, and two way switching means it can be paired with a second switch so one light answers from either end of a room, a landing or a stairway.

We reach for colour like this where a plain white plate would look apologetic: a child's bedroom, a boot room, a hallway painted in something deep, a kitchen with painted cupboard fronts to match. The plate is 88mm square, the usual footprint for a single switch, so it takes the place of a plate already on the wall without redecorating around it. It suits anyone who wants the small hardware to be deliberate rather than ignored, and we find one strong plate in a room reads better than several scattered about.

The plate is moulded in polycarbonate, which holds a solid colour far better than paint on metal and will not chip at the edges if a vacuum handle catches it. It is double insulated, and made for dry indoor rooms on a household lighting supply, so it is not one for a bathroom zone or an unheated outbuilding. To clean it, wipe with a cloth wrung out in warm water and dry it off; keep solvents, kitchen sprays and cream cleaners away, as they will haze the gloss. It carries a ten year warranty. If you like the teal but want it quieter, keep it to a single wall and let the rest of the switching stay plain.

What does the 10AX rating mean in practice?

It is the current the switch is rated to handle on a lighting circuit, and the X indicates it is suited to inductive loads such as fluorescent fittings as well as ordinary lamps.

Can I use this on its own, or does it need a second switch?

Both. A two way switch works perfectly well as a standalone switch for one light, and it can also be wired as one of a pair so the same light is controlled from two places.

What size is the plate and how deep does it need to sit?

The plate measures 88mm by 88mm, and it is designed for a back box of 25mm depth.

Is the teal painted on?

No. The plate is moulded in polycarbonate in this colour, so there is no surface paint layer to flake or wear thin at the rocker.

Will it stand up to a bathroom or an outside porch?

It is IP20 rated, which means dry indoor rooms only. Choose a properly sealed fitting for wet or exposed positions.

How should I clean it without dulling the finish?

A cloth dampened with warm water, then dried off, is all it needs. Avoid solvents, bleach sprays and abrasive creams.