SIGforum
Need Help Finding a Source for a Home Light Switch

This topic can be found at:
https://sigforum.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/320601935/m/8230051815

November 12, 2025, 11:46 AM
LS1 GTO
Need Help Finding a Source for a Home Light Switch
Trying to find a interior home light switch, white and rectangular like in the link, which is lit ONLY when switch is in the ‘ON’ position. DO NOT want a switch which is lit all the time.

Switch will control garage lights but, wife and i tend to (read, "always seem to") forget to turn off the lights and inevitably leave the lights on all night / day.

Anyone have a source for this?

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Le...-TM870WCP6/315696079

Thanks






Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.



"If dogs don't go to Heaven, I want to go where they go" Will Rogers

The definition of the words we used, carry a meaning of their own...



November 12, 2025, 11:53 AM
HRK
Try to wire it backwards, that may turn the internal the light on when you want it.

Presume this is an interior switch that you want to be able to see if the lights in the garage are still on without opening the garage door, or, walking over to the switch to check.

By that logic, if the light is off, then by design the lights in the garage are on, so if you don't see the light, does it not provide the same result? Big Grin

Look for a Smart Switch for that, Eaton has one on sale, it has the LED status indicator light, you can program and run it from your recliner, just pull up the app, turn it on or off and go back to your show.

I'm replacing all ours so we can control them by voice or app.

Link Eaton Smart Switch
November 12, 2025, 11:55 AM
SPWAMike0317
Perhaps this one?

These rocker wall switches illuminate to help locate them and their controls. Rocker switches have large operation buttons that are more accessible than toggle wall switches. They stay in the on or off position until they are manually changed. Pilot light switches illuminate when they're under load and stay off when they are not. Illuminated rocker wall switches provide power to electric devices and equipment in dark or poorly lit areas like basements, hallways, bathrooms, closets, and outdoor locations.

https://www.grainger.com/produ...oahJNYhoCvzcQAvD_BwE



Let me help you out. Which way did you come in?
November 12, 2025, 12:27 PM
LS1 GTO
Grainger one remains lit all the time, not what i want (switch is in the living room area) but, i may need to explore with wiring one backwards.

Wife feels i am overthinking it (we are prepping to sell in February/ March timeframe) but i’d prefer to sell what i want to live with and bring here 24 years, i have a feel for what is needed.






Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.



"If dogs don't go to Heaven, I want to go where they go" Will Rogers

The definition of the words we used, carry a meaning of their own...



November 12, 2025, 12:37 PM
PASig
Not sure that exists. I have the lighted rocker switches in our bathrooms which is nice when you have to get up in the middle of the night.

Another workaround is maybe put a Waze camera in there aimed at the lights and you can get in the habit of checking the phone app to verify the lights are out.


November 12, 2025, 12:44 PM
BigSwede
"garage lights" Inside or out? We have dusk til dawn lightbulbs on the outside of the garage, switch stays on


What about a motion sense thingy controlling the lights?


November 12, 2025, 12:56 PM
HRK
quote:
Originally posted by BigSwede:
"garage lights" Inside or out?


Good question, I use FEIT Electric WiFi Bulbs for the two garage and one front porch outdoor lights.

I can set a timer for them to come on, dusk to dawn or specific 5pm on, midnight off which I do for the front porch, change colors for holidays or change the intensity.

A plus is when you move, you take the bulbs with you...

Link
November 12, 2025, 12:59 PM
Patrick-SP2022
How about this "pilot light" switch.
"Pilot Light Illuminated when load is On"

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Le...2W-5628-2W/301446381




November 12, 2025, 01:00 PM
LS1 GTO
The lights are inside the garage. Switch is inside the house. Garage is attached with a door into the house






Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.



"If dogs don't go to Heaven, I want to go where they go" Will Rogers

The definition of the words we used, carry a meaning of their own...



November 12, 2025, 01:05 PM
LS1 GTO
quote:
Originally posted by Patrick-SP2022:
How about this "pilot light" switch.
"Pilot Light Illuminated when load is On"

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Le...2W-5628-2W/301446381
.


That’s what i’m looking for but, it that unlit light is visible, i’m gonna be directed to install the old switch.

(I’m smart enought not to argue with her about this and what looks good. lol)






Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.



"If dogs don't go to Heaven, I want to go where they go" Will Rogers

The definition of the words we used, carry a meaning of their own...



November 12, 2025, 02:04 PM
sandman76
I had that same thing going on with the basement lights. I put a countdown timer at the switch location and it works pretty good.


_______________________
“There is more stupidity than hydrogen in the universe, and it has a longer shelf life.”
― Frank Zappa
November 12, 2025, 04:18 PM
tsmccull
I installed countdown timer switches for all our bathroom fans for similar reasons (wife would always leave them running with just the on-off switch). That might work for your garage lights - set to an hour or two or three and forget about having to turn them off.
November 12, 2025, 08:27 PM
petr
Nevermind. Already linked above.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: petr,
November 13, 2025, 02:37 PM
sigmonkey
Granger illuminated decora light switch

Granger has one that lights with load, off with no load.

The switch is solid white with "light through" when on, so no ugly Cylon Toaster Eye scaring your wife...






"the meaning of life, is to give life meaning" Ani Yehudi אני יהודי Le'olam lo shuv לעולם לא עוד
November 13, 2025, 02:41 PM
selogic
Use a motion detector light fixture in the garage .
November 15, 2025, 09:18 AM
220-9er
Not exactly what you asked but another non-electronic solution with an additional benefit.
I have a Peep hole in my door that goes to my garage, since I sometimes have the overhead door open but the walk through door into the house locked.
At night I can see light from a distance if the interior light's left on.


___________________________
Avoid buying ChiCom/CCP products whenever possible.
November 15, 2025, 09:22 AM
Cookster
Check out the Lutron catalog if you have not already -

https://www.lutron.com/us/en


__________
"I'd rather have a bottle in front of me than a frontal lobotomy."
November 15, 2025, 11:46 AM
whanson_wi
If you cannot find one you like, try one of these - turn it into a switched outlet, and have a nightlight in the outlet. You could use a Christmas colored bulb in the nightlight to catch your attention.

https://www.amazon.com/BESTTEN...1L87/ref=sr_1_2_sspa


===
I would like to apologize to anyone I have *not* offended. Please be patient. I will get to you shortly.