I have a device with a button, but the device must remain downstairs and i'm upstairs and remain there for long periods of time. I don't want to come down stairs every time I want to push the button. So i'm thinking maybe an electrician can open up the device, remove the push button, put in 2 long wires that go all the way upstairs, and those wires will have a switch on the end.
Is it possible to replace a push button system like that?
It should be easy enough to do yourself. But more information is needed about the device and its button. It's possible that the button has multiple contacts. It may even connect one or more pairs, and
*disconnect* one or more other pairs of terminals. It could even activate a relay. Is it a momentary action or a 'toggle' button? And is it carrying mains or low voltage current?
Taking the simplest scenario of just a low voltage, momentary action, normally open button, then, yes, a long pair of wires as you've described to a similar in parallel button upstairs would do the job. And I suppose your local electrician will quickly recover from the surprise of being asked, and charge exorbitantly!
If it were my project, I'd design a solution using a wireless door-bell, as I've done for several other similar requirements.
Well if the 'device' (would be handy to know what it is, when you post) is amenable to 'opening' you could have the afore mentioned wires connected to a socket that would bridge the contacts of a radio remote operation device which you could then plug into it.
Hi, James. If I could be a bit of a contrarian, since everyone else is extolling the virtues of remote radio-controlled doorbells...
First, if the pushbutton is switching line voltage (110 or 220 VAC), you'll have to get an electrician (or at least someone you know is competent) to snake the wiring through the walls or through existing conduit to get to an upstairs pushbutton he would install. That's very doable. This will allow you to have your pushbutton upstairs -- at pretty significant cost.
If your pushbutton has two wires going to it, it's normally open (probably, makes contact between the two wires to let electricity flow only when you push the button) or normally closed (less likely, pushbutton is set up so that depressing the button interrupts the flow of current). If it's one of these, you're probably in luck. You can use a low voltage transformer, low voltage wiring and a control relay, and avoid a lot of the expense.
A relay is like an electrical switch, which will energize when power is applied to the coil. The good thing is, you can switch a lot of current at a high voltage with a relay that only needs a low voltage at a low current. Not only that, but you can control the low voltage with switches and other things, which saves cost in wiring. So, you could install a low voltage current limited wall wart or bell transformer next to a relay where the pushbutton is, and then just snake low voltage wiring upstairs to where you want it. I believe code on both sides of the pond permits you to wire this like telephone, doorbell or thermostat wiring (no conduit or BX cable required), because it's energy limited with no chance of starting a fire.
Since you're a newbie, you obviously shouldn't do this yourself. You'll also need an electrical box to hold and secure the relay, and you may have to install a small amount of conduit to get you from the junction box to where the current switch is.
Since you're a newbie, make sure you enlist the aid of someone who knows what they're doing. Frequently, you can find a retired electrician down the block who will give you advice (first house call) and check your work before you turn it on (second house call) for the cost of a few sixes of his favorite libation. At least on this side of the pond. I understand you have an inspection setup over there, where any major changes in wiring have to be inspected. If so, the friendly retired electrician may be able to give you some advice on that, too. On this side of the pond, something like what you're talking about would be perfectly acceptable for a "do-it-yourself-poorly" weekend warrior to try.
Either way (direct wiring or through low voltage relay), you won't have to worry about interference or mystery radio signals turning things on and off, and you won't have to worry about batteries. Either way will get you what you want, which is the ability to turn something on and off with the pushbutton upstairs.
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