Light switches - Paddle or Toggle - that is the question

[TeleFragger]

so I know, I know.. ive said it a few times that my wife REQUIRES Toggle switches. That gets her the approval for my automation... not the fact of what I can do with it but simply she HATES decora switches.

with that.. I am curious on this... so thought id do a poll as HST has their switches with double tap and other features not found in GE/Jasco/Zooz switches.
I asked HST if they were going to do Toggle and they said not at this time.. so I'm curious, as it has been some time...

how many other people require toggle.. to put it out on paper (web)...

[drhtmal]

It really is a matter of preference. Beauty is in the eye if the beholder.

My preference is to have all outlets and switches look the same so it is all Decora for me.

If you really want to start a argument ask which way the ground pin should be oriented for a duplex outlet. Up or down? Or which way the cover plate screws should be oriented. North/South or East/West?

[randy]

We are quite dependent on multi tap, which I cannot see working with a toggle. My wife preferred toggle years ago, but realized that paddles were actually a lot easier. Now she wants all Decora. I even had to switch out standard duplex outlets for Decora.

[simplextech]

How about we throw in the mix the touch controls or the Caseta line up?

[msinklair]

I will use toggle if the rest of the building is toggle. If it's already a mix, then Decora. I use a bit of Caseta and Maestro already. Most of the existing residential I work on is already Decora. Add in keystone jacks, GFCI, and USB combo receptacles, decora becomes more desired.

What I am wishing for more now is color options. Before I moved here I rarely used colored wall plates and devices. Now, close to 40% wants a color scheme to work with.

[drhtmal]

How about we throw in the mix the touch controls or the Caseta line up?

Those are still mostly Decora style.

[drhtmal]

Anyone remember the double push button switches that were used in real old houses with knob and tube wiring? My great grandmother always wanted them and hated toggle switches.

[joegr]

Or keypads

[upstatemike]

Anyone remember the double push button switches that were used in real old houses with knob and tube wiring? My great grandmother always wanted them and hated toggle switches.

My whole house is knob and tube wiring and i still have plenty of double button switches in ceramic housings. I don't really consider my house to be all that old (less than 200 years is nothing) and I would probably just automate the old switches with Z-Wave dongles if the boxes were larger. I also have a fuse box with open un-insulated knife switches which makes changing fuses a high adrenaline adventure.

[langenet]

If you really want to start a argument ask which way the ground pin should be oriented for a duplex outlet. Up or down? Or which way the cover plate screws should be oriented. North/South or East/West?

I believe in the province of Quebec Canada, the ground pin has to point in the direction of the sourcing power. I believe this is the case for commercial buildings as well...

[Fellhahn]

I saw this image recently:



And thought that triple configuration would be quite good for a scene controller. 1, 2 or 3 taps, plus a press and hold for each key = 12 possible combos. Currently on the HST 200 series we have 1 - 5 taps plus a press and hold on two keys = 12 combinations as well.

Advantage of the triple key is not having to go to 5 taps. I like having the option of 4/5 tap on the switches I have now, but to be honest I only use them for obscure, rarely run events. And my wife never uses them.

[drhtmal]

I saw this image recently:



And thought that triple configuration would be quite good for a scene controller. 1, 2 or 3 taps, plus a press and hold for each key = 12 possible combos. Currently on the HST 200 series we have 1 - 5 taps plus a press and hold on two keys = 12 combinations as well.

Advantage of the triple key is not having to go to 5 taps. I like having the option of 4/5 tap on the switches I have now, but to be honest I only use them for obscure, rarely run events. And my wife never uses them.

If only it were that easy to design and manufacture this stuff at an obtainable price point and bring it to market

[ericg]

I have the triple in a bathroom. I would love to be able to replace it with a "triple HS-WS200+," but I don't think such a thing exists. I don't have enough space to install 3 each, HS-WS200+. Any suggestions would be welcome....

[drhtmal]

I have the triple in a bathroom. I would love to be able to replace it with a "triple HS-WS200+," but I don't think such a thing exists. I don't have enough space to install 3 each, HS-WS200+. Any suggestions would be welcome....

Install a 3 gang box.

[ericg]

Install a 3 gang box.

I don't have the space. There is a window to one side of the existing box, and a wall corner to the other side. I'm pretty sure that's why the builder used the triple in the first place.