Can’t find your light switch in darkness? Fumbling around more often than you like? Say hello to Lite-A-Switch, an LED faceplate with three lights on each side of the switch, which not only let you know where it is, but also provide enough light to navigate a room without having to turn the room light on. The LED lights are on when the room light is flipped off and are turned off when the room light is on, so there’s no electricity powering them unnecessarily.

The product claims that installation only takes five minutes. It took me longer than that, but that’s because I had no idea what I was doing and had to ask for help. The website provides a detailed installation guide for those who need it. Unfortunately, these cannot be installed at RIT because the power supply needs to be cut off to the room before installation.

There are two styles of Lite-A-Switch: One is called the Starlite Series, which has LEDs that are visible squares on the faceplate; the other is called the Moonlite Series, and it has LEDs which shine through the solid plastic of the plate. The lights come in three colors: blue, green, and white. The faceplates are white, almond, and beige, with a black series to be released soon. They are designed for two-way f lip switches, plugs, and rocker style switches. Some designs are available for dual switches, but only in certain colors and series.

The product works exactly as intended, without flickering, dimming, or causing problems with the lighting. Also, the LEDs provide enough light that once your eyes adjust to the darkness of the room, it’s plenty to see with, so that you can walk comfortably across a room without tripping over things. Another nice thing about this product is that the estimated life is 10 to 11 years with constant use. If you leave the room light on during most nights, this will extend the life of the LEDs.

They’re really cool looking, and useful, too. I’m not sure if I want one badly enough to pay $17 for each and every room, but I still think it would be nice to have a few more. Overall, I’d recommend giving one a try.

Haven’t had enough yet? See the light at: liteaswitch.com