Lightwave - 16 Amp Switch

This is a boiler switch. It goes on the wall next to the boiler, takes its instruction over radio from a Lightwave thermostat or from the app, and closes a relay to tell the boiler to fire. It is the piece that sits between a smart thermostat and the heating plant, and it handles combi boilers, Y plan and S plan systems and multi-zone setups.

• What a boiler switch does, and what it does not
• The rating, read off the unit
• Systems it handles
• Hub and fitting
• Make sure this is the box you need

The face carries a power button, a Boost button that lifts the target temperature by a few degrees for one hour, and On and Off indicators so the state of the system is readable from across the room. It also has standby and away modes, so it still behaves sensibly when nobody is holding a phone.

The rating label on the back of the unit, photographed in the gallery, identifies it as the Lightwave JSJSLW920 Boiler Switch. Its contact rating is 7 A, and the contacts are volt free.

The more important point is what kind of switch it is. Its output is volt free: normally open, common and normally closed dry contacts. That means it does not carry the heating load at all. It closes a contact, and the boiler's own control circuit does the work. So it is exactly right for signalling a boiler, and it is the wrong product entirely if what you wanted was something to switch a geyser element or an electric radiator directly. For those, look at our heater switches instead, or ask us.

It needs a Lightwave hub for the app, schedules and Alexa. Lightwave's own support notes say Connect Series devices work with either the original Lightwave Link or the newer Link Plus. It mounts on a backplate with two screws rather than into a back box, and it wants live, neutral and earth, so it is an electrician's job.

What a boiler switch does, and what it does not

A boiler switch sits on the wall next to the boiler, takes its instruction over radio from a thermostat or the app, and closes a relay to tell the boiler to fire. It is the piece between a smart thermostat and the heating plant.

The important detail is the kind of output. This one is volt free: normally open, common and normally closed dry contacts. It does not carry the heating load at all. It closes a contact and the boiler own control circuit does the work.

So it is exactly right for signalling a boiler, and it is the wrong product entirely if what you wanted was something to switch a geyser element or an electric radiator directly. For those, our heater switches are the right shelf, and we would rather point you there than take the order.

The rating, read off the unit

The label on the back, photographed in the gallery, identifies it as the Lightwave JSJSLW920 Boiler Switch. Its contact rating is 7 A and the contacts are volt free.

That figure is small because a signalling contact does not need to be large. It is not a limitation on the size of boiler you can control.

Systems it handles

Combi boilers, Y plan and S plan systems and multi-zone setups. The face carries a power button, a Boost button that lifts the target temperature by a few degrees for one hour, and On and Off indicators so the state of the system is readable from across the room.

There are standby, setback and away modes, so this boiler switch still behaves sensibly when nobody is holding a phone.

Hub and fitting

It needs a Lightwave hub for the app, schedules and Alexa. Lightwave own support notes say Connect Series devices work with either the original Lightwave Link or the newer Link Plus, and it pairs with the Lightwave Home Thermostat.

It runs on 230 V with an 868 MHz radio and about 0.5 W standby. It mounts on a backplate with two screws rather than into a back box, and it wants live, neutral and earth, with five-core cable recommended. Two years manufacturer warranty. This is an electrician job.

Make sure this is the box you need

This signals a boiler. It does not switch a heating load. If you came here wanting to put a geyser element or an electric radiator on your phone, the heater switches are the right shelf and a good deal cheaper. Tell us what you are heating and we will point you at the right one rather than sell you this.

For the boiler job it wants a Lightwave hub and an electrician, with five-core cable the sensible run. Lightwave document the Connect Series at lightwaverf.com, and our other controls are in AC and heaters.