Enablers Lamp Switch Turner

Bought this for my 91 yo mother because her grip isn't strong enough on the floor lamp Ott light she uses for reading. I did need to wrap the little switch with duct tape as suggested by another reviewer, and it needed several layers of tape at that. Also, the tape is a bit soft, so I had to squeeze it hard to get all the air and "mushiness" out of it. But then I got this little gadget on there and it works very well. My mother is very pleased and no longer almost knocks the lamp over in trying to turn it off and on. Thanks for having this out there for us!

DISAPPOINTED: We have 4 styles of lamp switches, all just a bit different from each other. These did NOT fit a single one. It was too thick for three of them so that the stem of the switch couldn’t screw in far enough to make contact to turn on the light. The 4th wasn’t fat enough to have the adapter grab onto it for turning. THE KICKER? They aren’t returnable. This is a brand new experience for me. I’ve shopped extensively from Amazon for both work and personal use. I will definitely make note of that detail in the future. So, I toss them or start carving on them to see if I can whittle away enough to get the stems to screw-in all the way, etc. YOU WONT KNOW IF THEY FIT YOUR LAMP EITHER until you order them. THEN, if they don’t? YOU'RE OUT OF LUCK.

Every time I purchase new lamps, I try to find new switches like these for them. This time, I finally purchased an extra eight or ten so I could make sure I had covered all the lamps I forgot to count and still have some left over. I am almost sixty, but I have been using these for at least fifteen years! These did not come with instructions, but with my experience, I realized that some lamps were easy to fit and on other lamps I had to unscrew the switch, put it through the opening, and then screw it back into the lamp. I do not have arthritis in my hands, but my hands are often swollen with fluid retention. GREAT PRODUCT!

Enablers Lamp Switch Turner. Some lamp light switch knobs turn easily, some don't. This device is easily pushed onto the plastic turn knob on a lamp fixture and snaps into place. Just be sure to stop as soon as it snaps into place. If you push it all the way in, it will be loose, so pull it back a little bit. If it is still loose, put some tape over the small knob, then push the large knob over it. No tools needed. With three large surfaces, it works even better than a metal key replacement knob. Like the look of a brass key replacement knob? On Amazon, see the Westinghouse Lighting 70160 Socket key Brass, buy from GATZIE'S $4.97 (free shipping). Even better, to get the best deal on a large black replacement switch, on Amazon see the Maddak Big Lamp Switch, from Therapy Connection, package of 3 for $24.69 (free shipping). To get strength back in your arthritic fingers, while watching tv, try squeezing a sponge or a brush handle, or even your clenched fist, as hard as you can. Relax and try again and again, moving your arm up and down and turning your hand left and right. Then try to quickly squeeze and release. Over a period of a month or so, move up to things offering resistance, like Gripmaster hand exercisers (or any sponge or spring exercisers). You can squeeze them on the tips of your fingers, and the first or second pads of your fingers. On Amazon, see the Gripmaster Original 5 pack, $46.40(free shipping) from Weiss Medical. When you are ready for something really strong, try the Cando Fixed Grip exerciser, set of five, $31.35 (free shipping), also from Therapy Connection on Amazon. They are also sold a little cheaper by Isokinetics, Inc. , $30.75 (free shipping), on Amazon. Due to arthritis, I had lost the use of all but the thumb and first finger of my left hand. Over a period of six months of hand exercises (a few minutes on each hand), I have regained the full use and strength of all the fingers on my left hand, even if some of the little finger joint pain is still there to remind me not to slack off in doing my hand exercises. Folks, while watching tv, you probably aren't doing much of anything else anyway, so at least do something worthwhile by doing exercises to help in regaining the use of your fingers and hands! 02/18/14 Update: Over time, with use, you will inadvertently push the Enabler too far onto the brown lamp turn switch, and the Enabler's internal ridges will lose contact with the ridges on the lamp turn switch. This will result in the Enabler's internal ridges wearing down, becoming loose, and no longer being able to turn on the light. As a field engineering user fix, before you install the Enabler, unscrew the brown lamp turn switch, put two flat 1/4" x 10/16"W (or wider) flat washers (not lock washers) onto the shaft of the brown lamp switch, and screw the brown lamp switch back onto the light fixture. The washers should be loose and not trapped between the brown lamp switch and the brass (or aluminum) wall of the light fixture. Then, push the Enabler switch onto the brown lamp switch until it comes up against the washers. The two flat washers will maintain the proper setback distance between the light fixture and the Enabler, and keep the Enabler from wearing out its internal ridges. It should now last many years without wearing out. I downgraded the Enabler to four stars due to the user fix needed. The manufacturer should include the necessary two washers with the enabler.

Out of the four Lamp Switch Turners I ordered, only one fit the four lamps I have.. I would not recommend this item because all switch turners are not the same. Some turners are either too small or two large and are not a good fit.

Directions: "Simply push onto existing switch….." I laughed. That involved using a thumb which wasn't going to happen. Nothing is simple anymore. But I am independent. I could unscrew the switch knob, stand it up on a firm table and push down the Lamp Switch Turner with the palm of my hand. After a few tries, as it was somewhat difficult to get the lamp switch knob to hold still, it did lock over the lamp switch knob. Then I had to screw them back in. I turned and turned until I finally was turning straight. Once on I had to straighten the Turner. I added the Lamp Switch Turner to two lamps—one round and the other with ridges. They work great!

You have to squeeze a bit to keep it in place when turning on sticky lamps. Means I have to think about it each time, and doesn't 'just work'. But with a light squeeze it makes turning older stiff knobs much easier.

This is another product that is a live saver for people with limited use of their hands. I have two lamps in my den with skinny switches. Before I got this product, I would spend several minutes each night trying to turn the lights off. No more! Easy to grip and turn, the switch turner from Apex solved my problem.