Q: We waste electricity leaving our hall and basement stair lights on because we don't have three-way switches at each end. Is it possible to add three-way switches ourselves? We cannot afford an electrician.—T. S.

A: Adding three-way switches (to turn a light on at either end) in a hall or stairway not only lowers your electric bills and bulb replacement costs, but it improves safety.

Installing a wireless three-way switch (TWS) is the simplest method. It uses a transmitter switch at one end of the hall and a receiver switch at the other end. It takes about five minutes to install yourself.

The small transmitter switch is powered by a 9-volt battery. It is screwed to the wall surface (no cutting) and looks like any ordinary wall switch. When you flip the switch, it sends a signal to the receiver switch. Switching either switch turns the hall or basement light on or off.

The existing hall switch is replaced by the receiver switch. It is powered by standard 120-volt house power and is wired exactly the same as the old switch. A short antenna wire hangs down and is hidden inside the wall.

Wireless lamp wall outlets are also available. A battery-operated wall switch sends a signal to a wall outlet. These are ideal for adding a switch near your favorite TV chair, near your bed, etc. The new switch can be located up to 50 feet from the wall outlet.

If you have a dark closet, garage, utility room, etc. and have to fumble in the dark for a light switch or pull string, add a battery-operated wireless in-line switch at the door. It can control a light fixture mounted anywhere in the closet or the room. It can also control a vent fan.

The same type of simple wireless technology can be used to install a back door or gate doorbell. Both the outdoor button and indoor chime (8 notes or musical tunes) are powered by long-lasting batteries. Plug-in (120-volt) chimes with a wireless outdoor switch have adjustable volume.

For more safety and security, install a do-it-yourself wireless doorbell/intercom kit. A microphone/speaker is built into the battery-operated outdoor unit so you can talk to visitors before opening the door.

Installing standard hard-wired TWS's is not difficult. Two single-pole/double-throw (SPDT) switches and three-wire cables are needed. Make sure the switches have adequate amperage ratings for the lighting load planned. Switch off circuit breakers first. NEVER work on a live circuit.

Q: I have always heard that you should keep a refrigerator and freezer reasonably full to make it operate most efficiently. How do I determine what "reasonably full" means?-J. S.

A: Reasonably full means having the shelves of the refrigerator portion almost completely covered with a typical array of various size containers, bottles and cans. It is important to allow space for air to circulate freely around inside the refrigerator portion.

Although the freezer portion needs some air flow through it too, you can pack more frozen foods in tighter. Keeping it full also helps keep the freezer portion cold if there is an extended power outage.

Write for Utility Bills Update No. 654 listing the manufacturers of wireless three-way switches, wall outlets, in-line switches and doorbell/intercom systems, specifications, installation instructions and a hard-wiring diagram for a TWS. Please include $2.00 (with checks payable to Jim Dulley) and a business-size SASE, sent to Illinois Country Living, P.O. Box 3787, Springfield, IL 62708.

James Dulley is a mechanical engineer who writes on a wide variety of energy and utility topics. His column appears in a large number of daily newspapers.

Copyright 1996 James Dulley

8 ILLINOIS COUNTRY LIVING JUNE 1996