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Remote 12 Volt Switch

CarlS

New Member
Joined
Jan 3, 2025
Messages
4
Location
Southern Ontario
My daughter lives in a cabin in Yellowknife, North-West Territories in Canada.
The 12V ceiling lights are connected to her solar batteries without any wall switches and operate ON/OFF with a pull chain.
The 12V wiring is connected to the fixtures inside metal electrical boxes with threaded holes to support the light fixture screws.
She is looking for some more aesthetically pleasing fixtures, so that likely means getting rid of the pull chain ON/OFF switches.

I found a 12V remote relay switch that I was hoping she could use.
https://www.amazon.com/Wiring-Magnetic-Remote-Switch-Lights/dp/B0DBHF8BDQ

Is it OK to place the relay inside the electrical box?
If she places the relay inside metal electrical box, and she chooses a light with a metal cover plate on the ceiling, will the metal box act like a Faraday cage preventing the RF signal from the wall mounted remote switch from reaching the relay.

Why are these relays not available anywhere in Canada?
If this was such a good idea, why can't I find any info about it?
 
Leviton makes a 24 volt DC rated switch. I use them with 12 and 24 volt DC LED bulbs. They make them in a couple of colors, and also make Decora style also DC rated. Wire them like normal AC switches.



 
Last edited:
Thanks Q-Dog, I was expecting she would need to run wire through her ceiling and walls to add wall switches. She is handy, but with a healthy respect for all things electrical. I found the linked remote switch/relay online and recognized it would be easier. I'm trying to understand why I've never heard of anyone using it (except one YouTube video posted by an RV'er in the US)
 
Is it OK to place the relay inside the electrical box?

Yes, if the box is plastic. That curly wire on the relay is an antenna. I use a similar product and I can get 200 feet with the remote.
 
Thanks.
The existing box is metal which is the code in Canada for AC power.
Are plastic boxes allowed for 12VDC circuits?

Would the RF transmission be sufficient if she used a plastic ceiling cover on her exising metal box?
If not, I think she'll need to replace the metal box with a plastic one.

I started by looking for a remote controlled 12VDC light bulb.
I found several 120VAC remote bulbs like this

But no 12VDC. Do they exist?
 
Last edited:
The relay arrived and she placed it in the existing metal box and mounted the switch on a wall about 6ft away. Seems to be operating ok. at that close range without rewiring the box to plastic.
Thanks
 

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