# Outlet attachment to turn electrical devices on and off **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [August 13, 2015, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/outlet-attachment-to-turn-electrical-devices-on-and-off/727719 "2015-08-13T03:04:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Wesley\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wesley_clark/32/20581_2.png) [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2015, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/outlet-attachment-to-turn-electrical-devices-on-and-off/727719/1 "2015-08-13T03:04:19Z")
I’ve got a lamp that is about six feet tall next to a chair, I don’t like having to get up to turn the light on and off but the outlet is near the chair. Are there devices I can plug the lamp into, which I can then use to turn the light on and off that way? I know there is the ‘clapper’, and I know there are [remote controlled devices](http://www.maxximastyle.com/wall-timers-switches/wireless-remote-outlet-control-system?gclid=CNj6y6CJpccCFQIEaQodQ-oOmQ). But I’m looking for more a piece of 6’ extension cord with a switch or knob somewhere in the cord that I can use that switch/knob to turn the light on/off from my chair. Does anyone make those? If not I may get one of the remote control devices instead. ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2015, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/outlet-attachment-to-turn-electrical-devices-on-and-off/727719/2 "2015-08-13T03:11:16Z")
Like [this](http://www.amazon.com/Woods-Extension-Switch-Remote-15-Feet/dp/B000KKND86/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1439435450&sr=8-4&keywords=extension+cord+with+remote)? ---
**Author:** ![Machine\_Elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2015, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/outlet-attachment-to-turn-electrical-devices-on-and-off/727719/3 "2015-08-13T15:28:57Z")
Plenty of [wireless-remote switched extension cords here.](http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=wireless+remote+switch+cord&rh=i%3Aaps%2Ck%3Awireless+remote+switch+cord) I’ve got a couple of this sort of thing in my home for lamps too; a wireless remote is great because you can put it anywhere. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2015, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/outlet-attachment-to-turn-electrical-devices-on-and-off/727719/4 "2015-08-13T15:31:42Z")
Here’s one where the switch is a dimmer: [Amazon.com](http://www.amazon.com/Lutron-TT-300H-WH-Electronics-Plug--Dimmer/dp/B0000BYEF6/ref=sr_1_sc_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1439479789&sr=8-1-spell&keywords=extension+cord+with+dimmer) I have a few of these. They’re not CFL or (most) LED compatible, but I’m a hard core Luddite incandescent user. ---
**Author:** ![UberArchetype](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/2bfe46/32.png) [@UberArchetype](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UberArchetype)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2015, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/outlet-attachment-to-turn-electrical-devices-on-and-off/727719/5 "2015-08-13T15:38:48Z")
WeMo: [http://www.belkin.com/us/Products/home-automation/c/wemo-home-automation/](http://www.belkin.com/us/Products/home-automation/c/wemo-home-automation/) Turn stuff on and off from almost anywhere on the planet. Anywhere you can get an Internet connection, that is. ---
**Author:** ![gnoitall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bb73d2/32.png) [@gnoitall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnoitall)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2015, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/outlet-attachment-to-turn-electrical-devices-on-and-off/727719/6 "2015-08-13T16:02:08Z")
> [@UberArchetype](#): > > WeMo: > > [http://www.belkin.com/us/Products/home-automation/c/wemo-home-automation/](http://www.belkin.com/us/Products/home-automation/c/wemo-home-automation/) > > Turn stuff on and off from almost anywhere on the planet. Anywhere you can get an Internet connection, that is. Or, more tellingly, [anywhere a hacker can get an Internet connection](http://www.networkworld.com/article/2226371/microsoft-subnet/500-000-belkin-wemo-users-could-be-hacked--cert-issues-advisory.html). The Internet of Things: given the current state of network security, a mind-bogglingly bad idea. ---
**Author:** ![gotpasswords](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c57346/32.png) [@gotpasswords](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gotpasswords)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2015, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/outlet-attachment-to-turn-electrical-devices-on-and-off/727719/7 "2015-08-13T18:14:50Z")
I’ve used both the wired and wireless things, and prefer the wireless. If you want to put the control on a tabletop, you need to figure out how to hold the wire in place, but the wireless remotes can sit anywhere and not get tangled or tripped on. If you can wait a couple of months, there should be several options of both types popping up next to the Christmas light displays. Otherwise, can you add an inline switch to the lamp cord at a convenient height? Or change the socket to one with a twist knob or pull chain? ---
**Author:** ![Doctor\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doctor_jackson/32/32_2.png) [@Doctor\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doctor_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2015, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/outlet-attachment-to-turn-electrical-devices-on-and-off/727719/8 "2015-08-13T19:01:21Z")
Or there is [this](http://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/store/product/tapper-9-foot-indoor-extension-cord/1011967396?skuId=11967396&mcid=PS_googlepla_nonbrand__&adpos=1o2&creative=43742659909&device=c&matchtype=&network=g&gclid=COWxnpffpscCFYEvgQodGpcA6g) type, which is “old technology” and very cheap. ---
**Author:** ![Marion\_Wormer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d07c76/32.png) [@Marion\_Wormer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marion_Wormer)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2015, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/outlet-attachment-to-turn-electrical-devices-on-and-off/727719/9 "2015-08-13T19:56:45Z")
There’s [lots](http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_c_0_19?url=search-alias%3Dtools&field-keywords=extension+cord+with+switch&sprefix=extension+cord+with%2Caps%2C214) of different kinds. I agree w/ a previous poster, the Lutron one is very nice. My mother uses those, but the foot tap ones have their uses. ---
**Author:** ![usedtobe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ec9cab/32.png) [@usedtobe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/usedtobe)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2015, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/outlet-attachment-to-turn-electrical-devices-on-and-off/727719/10 "2015-08-14T00:45:33Z")
Find a proximity switch - wave hand to activate. I’m lazy - you google ---
**Author:** ![Misnomer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/misnomer/32/14897_2.png) [@Misnomer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Misnomer)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2015, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/outlet-attachment-to-turn-electrical-devices-on-and-off/727719/11 "2015-08-18T16:22:06Z")
I recently got a $14 [Etekcity wireless remote outlet](http://www.amazon.com/Etekcity%C2%AE-Wireless-Controlled-Electrical-Included/dp/B0087EIDRS/) so I could turn on/off my bedside fan without getting up. It works perfectly. I put a second one in my third bedroom, with another fan plugged into it for when I’m on the treadmill.