1 Gang Retractive Light Switch - Plum

Plum is a deep, warm purple, and here it covers a flat screwless plate with no visible fixings interrupting the surface. A chrome rocker sits centred on the colour and gives the plate its one point of contrast, bright against the darker ground. The action is retractive, so the rocker springs back to centre the moment you let go rather than holding in an on or off position. The plate is square and compact, 88mm across, with a shallow profile that keeps it close to the wall.

This is the switch for lighting that is run by a controller or automation system rather than by the switch itself, where a quick press sends an instruction and the system decides what happens next. Programmed accordingly, one press can toggle a circuit and a longer hold can dim it. We would fit it in a hallway, on a landing or beside a bed where several lights answer to a single position, and it suits anyone building up a smart lighting setup piece by piece who wants the wall plate to look considered rather than technical.

The plate and rocker frame are moulded in ABS, a tough plastic that takes colour evenly and does not mark easily in daily use. It is double insulated, made for dry rooms indoors and for a normal household supply. It carries a ten year warranty. For cleaning, a soft cloth barely dampened with water is enough, then dry the plate off; avoid cream cleaners, wipes and anything with solvent in it, as these will take the sheen off a coloured finish. Plum reads almost black in low light and shows its purple properly when daylight or a warm lamp catches it, which makes it a quieter choice on a wall than the name suggests.

What does retractive mean on a light switch?

It means the rocker does not stay where you put it. Press it and it returns to centre straight away, sending a momentary signal instead of holding a circuit open or closed. It is designed to work with a home automation or smart lighting system that interprets the press.

Can I use it as an ordinary on and off light switch?

No. A retractive switch has no fixed on or off position, so it needs a controller, relay or automation module to do the switching. For a conventional circuit you want a standard rocker switch instead.

What is the current rating?

It is rated 10AX, suitable for the resistive and inductive loads normally found on domestic lighting circuits.

How big is the plate and how deep does it sit?

The plate measures 88mm by 88mm, and the depth behind it is 25mm.

What is the plate made from?

ABS, moulded in plum with a chrome rocker insert. It is a plastic plate rather than a metal one, so the colour runs through the moulding rather than sitting on top as a coating.