DEWENWILS HRLS12B Remote Control Light Socket Kit: how it works

The DEWENWILS HRLS12B is a kit that adds a wireless wall switch to a light that doesn't have one. It includes one wall-mounted switch and two sockets that screw into a standard E26/E27 fixture, with the bulb then screwed into the socket. It is aimed at pull-chain lights, ceiling fixtures and lamps where reaching the switch is awkward, and it needs no wiring.

How the kit works

Each socket contains a small radio receiver. You screw it into the fixture, screw a bulb into it, and the wireless switch then turns the light on and off by radio signal (RF). The switch can be mounted beside a door or a bed, and it can be detached and moved. DEWENWILS says the fixture can still be operated manually, which means the original pull chain or switch continues to work.

Because nothing is wired into the wall, it avoids opening up walls or hiring an electrician for a new switch run. Even so, it is a good idea to switch the power off at the breaker when you screw things into a live fixture, and to follow the manual.

Replacing a pull chain

Pull strings tend to break or stick over time, and are hard to find in the dark. DEWENWILS suggests a wall switch in their place, and says this suits older adults, children and people with limited mobility. Put the switch at hand height beside the door or bed, and a closet, pantry, attic, basement or laundry room light becomes easy to reach.

Range and signal

DEWENWILS rates the RF signal at up to 100 feet (about 30 m) in open areas, and says it works through walls and doors without interference from other appliances. In real homes, thick walls and metal can shorten the range, so the open-air figure is a maximum rather than a guarantee.

Programming and expanding

The switch and receiver can be programmed. The brand says several devices can be controlled from one switch, or one device from several switches, if they are of the same model. That allows, for example, two-way control of a hallway light, or one switch for a pair of lamps. The kit includes two sockets, so you can control two lights from the start.

Fixtures it does not suit

DEWENWILS notes the sockets do not fit enclosed, narrow lighting fixtures, and they do not work with dimmer switches or motion-detector lights. The socket adds length between fixture and bulb, so a shallow glass shade may not fit. It is listed as ETL listed. The kit weighs 0.4 lb (about 180 g).

What to check before you buy

• Fixture type: confirm that the fixture has an E26/E27 base and enough room for the extra socket length.
• Bulb and wattage: check the maximum bulb wattage in the manual, and whether it suits LED bulbs.
• Dimmers and sensors: it is not meant for circuits with a dimmer or motion detector.
• Wall switch: if the fixture is also wired to a standard wall switch, that switch must stay on for the remote to work.
• Range: test the distance from where you plan to mount the switch.
• Batteries: check what battery the switch uses and how it is changed.

The short version

• A wireless wall switch plus two screw-in E26/E27 sockets; no wiring needed.
• Replaces or adds to a pull chain or hard-to-reach switch.
• Rated by DEWENWILS at up to 100 ft in open areas.
• Programmable: several lights from one switch, or several switches for one light.
• Not for enclosed narrow fixtures, dimmers or motion-detector lights; ETL listed.

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