Reddit reviews Clear Light Switch Guards, 3 - Pack | Toggle Style | Child Safety Cover | Security Light Switch Protection | Dual Access Features | Home and Office

Also: http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00DTXKOTM/ref=pd_aw_sim_75_3?ie=UTF8&dpID=41LJmyLXpBL&dpSrc=sims&preST=_AC_UL100_SR100%2C67_&refRID=1TG5SVHVG6V1V98SN8HS

>I have a few switch operated outlets in some of my bedrooms that I want to just make regular outlets.

Do you have other switched controlled lighting in the rooms, or are these designed so you can plug a lamp into them as a source of light for the room? If it's the latter, you can't remove the switch and be code compliant.

It's definitely physically possible to do what you want to do, and it will be as simple as connecting the black wires from each screw together.

Easier solution is to just put light switch locks on them.

Check this out then!
https://www.amazon.com/Light-Switch-Guard-Toggle-Shields/dp/B00DTXKOTM

> some sort of surface mount switch cover that fit OVERTOP that one, to keep it in n on state

They are called switch guards. I recently picked up these ones for the same purpose, to preventing accidental turning off of Hue bulbs to help make sure they are online. There are different styles and functions, these ones have tabs you can snap off to give easy access through the side, or leave them on and you can still get to it just have to use a screwdriver to take off the cover.

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Edit I think I misread, and you want to put a Hue switch where an existing switch is. If you are trying to replace the switch with a face plate that doesn't have a switch so you could mount the Hue switch, you'd need to do some electric work. It might be easier to use the guard I mentioned, and mount the Hue switch next to it.

Your broad options are:

1. Continue using your conventional wall switches to toggle lights. This somewhat defeats the purpose of smart bulbs, though, because you can't remotely operate them (via app, voice, sensors, schedules, wireless dimmer, etc.) when they're switched off. You'd have to turn on the switch first, and then you could use the app (or whatever) to adjust the brightness/color/scene.
   
2. Disable or prevent access to your switches and leave your fixtures in an always-on state. There are a variety of ways to accomplish this. You could tape over the switch (or use something a little fancier), or you could re-wire the circuit and completely remove the switch. A caution on re-wiring: If you ever need to shut-off power to the fixture (e.g. to change a bulb) you'd have to do it at the circuit breaker.
   
   Some folks use a variation of #2: They find creative ways to install a Philips Hue Dimmer switch over-the-top of their conventional switch, thereby preventing access to the old switch and providing convenient access to a Hue-friendly switch in its place!
   
   More recently, there are some new Friends of Hue switches starting to arrive on the market that should fit standard (US & Europe) switch plates (unlike the non-standard sized Philips Hue Dimmer switch.) You could use them the same way folks use the Philips Hue Dimmer switch, without resorting to creative 3D-printing hacks to make it fit.

Get a light switch guard.

They make ones for rocker switches also.

Install a light switch guard over the switch.

https://www.amazon.com/Light-Switch-Guard-Toggle-Shields/dp/B00DTXKOTM/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1478112560&sr=8-2&keywords=Light+Switch+Guard

Thats what I have done for switched lights that I'm using smart bulbs with.

There are proper ways to remove a switch in a circuit but without consulting an electrician that's familiar with the code where you live I'd not try to DIY it.

Search for Shabbat light switch cover. You will find a bunch of options. For instance:

https://www.amazon.com/Option-Switch-Guards-Clear-Toggle/dp/B00DTXKOTM/ref=sr_1_6?keywords=shabbat+light+switch+cover&qid=1570197758&sr=8-6

https://www.amazon.com/Option-Switch-Guards-Clear-Rocker/dp/B00DUBOSTA/ref=sr_1_14?keywords=shabbat+light+switch+cover&qid=1570197758&sr=8-14

key word here was apartment. I wouldn't be doing any electrical work if I was renting. You are just asking for a heap of trouble. I agree that smart switches are way better but for an apartment bulbs are probably the safest bet. Rocker Blocker or Toggle Blocker work if you are worried about guests hitting switches.

For toggle switches. I just use these


https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00DTXKOTM/

they're relatively cheap, easy to install, not that ugly and you can uninstall them just as easily.

In case anyone else is looking for similar,it's one of these Shabbat light switch covers.

The smart home finds a new use for what was probably only useful to observant Jews before.

I use these for Switch guards and they work great:
Dual Option Wall Switch Guards (3 Pack) Clear Toggle Style https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00DTXKOTM/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_rqy-AbP3AFFQ6

Otherwise like you said, people always turn the switches off.

Power being off is trickier. I get notices other things are offline, but that could be just my internet and/or that device being dumb.

take your salary, and the salary of everyone in that room, multiply it by the 5 times you know this is going to happen. I bet it's more than the cost of an electrician for half an hour. If your accounting is totally incompetent, the $3 solution is a switch cover: https://www.amazon.com/Option-Switch-Guards-Clear-Toggle/dp/B00DTXKOTM/ref=sr_1_11?keywords=covered+switch&qid=1555082181&s=gateway&sr=8-11

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This is a business issue 100%. At Joe user's desk is one thing, at a conference room facility, it's stupid to be set up this way. And it's laughable that someone would come to Reddit trying to woe is me my users are idiots when they can't see this.

This will probably be the cheapest option.

>From what I am reading I can just buy a Z-Wave USB stick and use it on the PC that is hosting HASS?

Yup. I have one of these, works great: https://smile.amazon.com/Aeotec-Aeon-Labs-ZW090-Stick/dp/B00X0AWA6E/

>Are there zwave switches that arent a physical switch?

How about just getting one of these? https://smile.amazon.com/Light-Switch-Guard-Toggle-Shields/dp/B00DTXKOTM/

>Are there any zwave relays?

There are, though I'm not aware of anything 12v.

https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B01G7OD1F8/

https://smile.amazon.com/Vision-Z-Wave-Micro-Switch-relay/dp/B00R883YKU/

>Any ideas on how that can be accomplished?

No idea on this on. I'm sure it's possible with HASS. At the very least you can call and external script to make said announcement. You might ask out on the forums, they have a good community: https://community.home-assistant.io/

Cheers!

Switch guards which screw onto the switch plate are available. They are made such that you cannot accidentally flip a switch but must make an effort to do so. Probably a better option than bypassing the switch.

https://www.amazon.com/Option-Switch-Guard-Clear-Toggle/dp/B00DTXKOTM

Here ya go!
https://www.amazon.com/Option-Switch-Guard-Clear-Toggle/dp/B00DTXKOTM/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1500206942&sr=8-4&keywords=switch+guard

Move the sub and invest in switch covers

That's an easy enough problem to fix, no? I bought a 9-pack of these and put them on the switches that control smart lights:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00DTXKOTM

They have tabs on the side that can be removed, so they can either be installed in "impossible to flip without poking a pencil through the hole" or "can be flipped from the side but you can't flip them accidentally".

There are other kinds available, such as those that cover the flat type of switches, larger ones that can cover dimmer sliders and other bulkier things, low profile ones that don't cover the switch but just prevent it from moving, etc.

Personally I live alone, so I just knocked out one of the two tabs on each so that I won't hit them accidentally, but I can still flip them if I need to.