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As I rewire my room, I'm going to add some pin spots in the ceiling to illuminate artwork on the walls. I would like to have them switched, but not with a regular sized commonly available switches. Instead I'd ideally like small round toggles or push-button switches placed near the artwork itself unobtrusively.

So far, my searches result in either bigger switches, ones for small electronics devices, automotive switches or ones intended for low voltage cabinet lighting. What term should I be searching for to find what I'd like? In an ideal world, they would be manual with a wifi option and possibly a dimmer option, but I'd settle for just a simple psh-button on/off.

Alternatively, if you have a suggestion for a work-around I'd appreciate that too.

isherwood
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Trevor
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6 Answers6

34

Low voltage is the key. LEDs are naturally low voltage devices. That is different from traditional incandescent. While incandescent bulbs can be low voltage (e.g., in cars), they require a lot of power, which means either higher voltage (safety issues) or higher current (wire size issues). LEDs can produce a significant amount of light using low voltage and low current, so you get to use small wires and use safer low voltage components.

There are packaged low voltage lighting systems, but for a real custom system, as you describe, you can essentially plop a right-sized, UL/ETL/similar listed power supply somewhere and then run low voltage wires to that power supply without (at least in most jurisdictions) the same restrictions as with 120V or 240V power. The end result can be a mimic of a traditional lighting system, with each switch controlling a light or set of lights, to an intelligent system with a microcontroller wired up to several switches and lights, to a WiFi/remote controlled "do anything" system.

manassehkatz-Moving 2 Codidact
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It's not really a matter of the switches. House wiring needs to connect in approved boxes, which in turn need to be accessible. The somewhat large plate is a symptom of those requirements.

I suggest that you consider either relocating the switches to a less conspicuous area, or using remotely-controlled smart switching. You may find modern smart bulbs in a configuration you can use in your fixtures, or you may find control modules that can be installed inline.

isherwood
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5

Low voltage, individually addressable, smart LED bulbs would probably be the way to go. They could all be fed from one transformer to simplify the power requirements

You can get a small, discrete, momentary contact switch to locate next to each piece of art. This would allow you to get creative with, for example:

  • A single tap to toggle the light for this art piece
  • A double-tap for 3 spots on
    • This one
    • One artwork to the left
    • One artwork to the right
    • A long tap to turn them all off

Other options available and limited only by your creativity.

FreeMan
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3

If you're looking for a subtle artistic way to control 120V lights, here are some options.

I have to get it out of the way... there is exactly what you are asking for: An electrical switch that is installed in a junction box and beautifully and artistically buried in drywall with no face plate. It's gorgeous, one of a kind, and it's insanely expensive. But if you're building a sort of art gallery in your home, you may be willing to do something like this. Here's a photo of their outlet, because their switch is so subtle it just looks like a circle and gives no sense of scale.

Or, go with a 100% low voltage solution which you can control with switches from automotive or industrial, you can use touch, proximity, whatever you want and you don't need boxes, covers, etc.

enter image description here. enter image description here

Some electronic switches have very limited current capacity so you'd have to use a relay as with the next suggestion for 120V lights.

Or, with 120V lights use relays. See this answer to my question about controlling a closet light. You could use the same relay, which would have to be installed in the light's junction box, and a pair of LV wires going to wherever you want the switch. You could use that relay's included magnetic reed switch, hidden in the plaster of your wall, with a clever and pretty magnetic toggle that you design. Or you could replace the reed switch with any kind of switch at all. Doorbells, Automotive, electronic, you could put capacitive switches in the frames of your art, foot plates, you name it.

enter image description here

Or Put motion sensing switches (normal 120V ones in normal boxes) in the ceiling above your art.

enter image description here

isherwood
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jay613
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Use smart spots. You can buy smart spots that can be operated with small battery powered remote switches that just send a radio signal. I use zigbee, that standard that is also used by Philips Hue and Ikea Tradfri because I think it is one of the most stable ones. It also gives the option to dim the spots or change white balance or color, depending on which spots you buy.

Orbit
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It's not readily available (or certified) outside Aus/NZ, but Resene SmartTouch or a similar product could work.

It uses a conductive paint with a cable back to a control module (which could be located behind a normal light switch, or e.g. in a box in a ceiling space). Capacitive coupling is used to detect when people touch the surface, similar to touch lamps or cellphone screens.

That area could be an unmarked area of wall, or something visible with e.g. a colour change, a symbol, or a sticker.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=92RfqQ7PffU

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yfT5AVvfu6Q

SomeoneSomewhereSupportsMonica
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