Hey, Electrical Guys!

[Dan Schultz]

I just changed over the electrical switches in my kitchen to the new 'decorator' style...

The three-way 'decorator' switches are a royal pain because just at a glance (or feel)... it's difficult to tell which way to 'rock' the switch to turn the lights on. The old toggle switches were easy to feel and all that was necessary was to flip the toggle in the opposite direction.

I'm looking for a pushbutton-type switch with the same 'decorator' style that I can simply 'swat' when I go into the kitchen.

Anyone seen them?

[pgym]

Used to be, the convention among electrical tradesmen was, "Up is on; down is off." (Worked even with 3-way rocker switches: need more light, push the switch farther up; need less, pull it down. Only time you ran into trouble was when you had two or more switches on the same circuit.) It also used to be the convention that in a multi-switch location, the switch for the closest indoor light was mounted closest to the doorframe. Heck, in some cities/counties with strong trades unions, the building dep't inspectors enforced those conventions.

These days? Who knows: I've seen multi-switch locations where "on" is oriented differently from switch to switch.

Anyhoo, maybe reorient your switches so the "on" orientation is uniform?

[scottw]

(Worked even with 3-way rocker switches: Only time you ran into trouble was when you had two or more switches on the same circuit.)

Uh, 3-way switches ARE when you have 2 switches on the same circuit! A 3-way can't be off or on in any given position, as it's dependent upon the other switch in the leg being of or on.
Dan, I'll ask my electrician buddy about a push switch.

[Dan Schultz]

.... Anyhoo, maybe reorient your switches so the "on" orientation is uniform?

I'll bet you'd REALLY have a tough time with the concept of four-way switches!

[Carroll]

You might find something you like here... then track down a supplier once you have a part #.
http://www.alibaba.com/showroom/one-gan ... witch.html" target="_blank

[pgym]

(Worked even with 3-way rocker switches: Only time you ran into trouble was when you had two or more switches on the same circuit.)

Uh, 3-way switches ARE when you have 2 switches on the same circuit! A 3-way can't be off or on in any given position, as it's dependent upon the other switch in the leg being of or on.

Oops! Brain fart. Read three way, but "saw" three position.

Maybe a touch-sensitive switch?

[DonShirer]

Carroll:
The one-gang two-way model might do what he wants, but did you notice the fine print? (1000 minimum order!)

[scottw]

Carroll:
The one-gang two-way model might do what he wants, but did you notice the fine print? (1000 minimum order!)

Maybe buy one each for tubenetters?

[Carroll]

Carroll:
The one-gang two-way model might do what he wants, but did you notice the fine print? (1000 minimum order!)

I was just looking for product. If he knows a manufacturer and part number... a supplier is easy.