2 Gang Retractive Home Automation Light Switch - Carbon Fibre

This is a retractive rocker plate for two lighting circuits, which means the rockers spring back as soon as you let go rather than staying pressed. That brief pulse is exactly what smart relays, dimmer modules and automation controllers are waiting for, so a familiar rocker action can trigger scenes, dimming or timed lighting instead of simply breaking the circuit. The screwless front gives an unbroken face, finished in a woven carbon fibre texture with chrome on the rockers themselves.

It is one we point people towards when the lighting is being run through a hub or a bank of relays and the wall control needs to look like an ordinary switch rather than a gadget. Hallways, landings, kitchens and sitting rooms all suit it, particularly where both circuits are controlled from more than one position. The rating of 10A covers household lighting loads without fuss, and it works on a standard domestic supply. Indoor rooms only, and worth remembering that it will not latch on, so it needs a system that reads a momentary signal.

The plate is moulded polycarbonate over metal, and the textured surface is far kinder to fingerprints than a gloss face. It is double insulated and made to BS EN 60669, and it carries a ten year warranty. To clean, turn the lighting circuit off at the consumer unit and go over the face with a barely damp microfibre cloth, drying it straight away; solvents and kitchen sprays will dull the texture, so keep them clear of the rockers. The carbon look reads dark and quiet on the wall, which is useful against deep paint colours, dark tiling or a run of brushed metal appliances where a white plate would jump out.

What does retractive mean on a light switch?

The rocker only makes contact while you hold it and returns to its resting position when released. Instead of latching on, it sends a momentary pulse, which is how smart relays, dimmer modules and automation systems are told to switch, dim or run a scene.

Can I fit it as a normal on and off light switch?

No. Because it does not stay in the on position, it needs to be wired to equipment that accepts a momentary input, such as a relay, a retractive dimmer or an automation controller.

What is it made from?

A polycarbonate plate with metal used internally, finished in a carbon fibre texture with chrome rockers. It is Class 2, double insulated.

How big is the plate?

It is a square plate measuring 88mm by 88mm, with a depth of 25mm behind the face.

How many circuits will it control and at what rating?

Two gangs, each rated 10AX, on a 220 to 250V domestic supply. It is rated IP20 for dry indoor rooms.

How should I clean the textured finish?

Isolate the circuit, wipe with a slightly damp microfibre cloth and dry immediately. Avoid abrasive creams, bleach and spray cleaners, which can flatten the texture.