Lamp I can leave on when out? With low/no fire risk?

[1CocklodgerHouse]

I’ve found I find it quite horrible to come home to a dark house in the evenings. But I’m stuck on a lamp I can leave on when out as I’m worried about overheating/fires (and also cost). I’m looking for a rechargeable light with a timer but can’t seem to find one, only motion sensor lights and touch lamps. Ideally I want a timer so I don’t have to turn it on every time I leave the house.
Do these exist? Or would you feel comfortable leaving on a normal lamp with an LED bulb?? Fairy lights with a timer are lovely but I’ve heard they are the main cause of winter fires

Next have a number of battery powered lamps . I got one for Dm yesterday as she has no socket in her hallway . It has a 6 hour timer .

How about LED pillar candles with rechargeable batteries? We have some from IKEA in lanterns in the garden so you can’t see that they are plastic unless you look very closely 😂 that have an internal timer so they come on at the same time every day for 6 hours. They gently flicker too, which is quite cosy looking.

Quality of lamp, led bulbs and your wiring/consumer unit will ensure there is no risk of a fire.

Nothing with a battery in it, left on charge.

Have had lamps on timers for literally decades. Never had a fire or any issues. Occasionally a bulb will blow in a ceiling fitting which fuses that particular circuit, but easily remedied. I have had a fire from a Beko freezer and also an alarm box which was in our airing cupboard.

I really do mean this in a gentle way but genuinely this is a lot of anxiety about an extremely rare event. Think of when you’ve been out and about - how many businesses leave lights on, hospitals have lights on 24/7, lots of homeowners leave lights on or have set timers. Now think of how many house fires have happened where the news has said the light bulb was the cause (vs candles, hobs, fat driers etc).

my witing is from decades ago and has passed all its electrical checks apart from one bit which we replaced - old enough that running main cables outside of the walls just stapled to the beams was within code. If you had a new fuse box done anytime recently the electrician runs a check against everything which is how our problem was picked up and that was causing an intermittent trip.

That sounds like a good option if I don’t go for a plug. Could I ask which one you got that has the timer please

I have Tapo bulbs and plugs. They are incredibly easy to set up.

There are some lovely sets of candle lights on Amazon
battery operated and you can have a timer
I have a few of them scattered around the house and they are lovely

@LeroyJenkinssss Yeh these replies are showing me it’s something that’s not really worth worrying about! I genuinely thought leaving lights on was a big no-no but I don’t know where I’ve got that from

Also look at the solar centre
I have a few of three big garden cubes in my garden
but you can use them indoor and just charge them up
they are big enough to use as a small table / stool

Smart bulbs and Alexa work for us. I have a routine set up, but you could also turn them on via the app just before you go into the house.

I have one of these plug in nightlights LOHAS-LED Night Light Plug in Wall, [1 Pack] Vintage Night Light with Dusk to Dawn Sensor, Adjustable Brightness 0-100LM, Warm White 3000K, Dimmable Night Light Hallway Bedroom Stair Bathroom Toddler [[https://amzn.eu/d/0DHoHHI amzn.eu/d/0DHoHHI nightlight]]

It has a sensor on so only comes on between dusk and dawn. I just leave it plugged in all the time, never had a problem. Great if you get up for the loo during the night too!

Use smart plugs with normal lamps plugged in.

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https://amzn.eu/d/0DHoHHI

I have about a dozen lamps round the house with 3 or 5W led bulbs in, all on smart plugs so they come on at sunset every day, whether I'm here or not. No fires yet...

LED bulbs in new or old use 1/25 the energy and same heat output, low to no risk of starting a fire no matter how long you leave it on.

My uncle is a fireman and the biggest cause of house fire is lamps. Also someone mentioned salt lamps be very careful if you have pets as they are really bad for animals.

Purely due to being tight with electric, we have some of those stick on push lights with a built in sensor beside both exterior doors. (Jml/b and m type ones). They light up for about 3 minutes. Enough to open and shut /lock the door and flick on the big light.

I have battery candles in my living room window which work on a 6 hour I 1i hour off timer. You an pretty much buy these anywhere now.

People have been using plug timers for decades - there has been no widescale house fires. Before smart bulbs it was the norm (and still is for most people) when on holiday. Our local police recommend having lights on when not home.

You seem usually anxious about something that lots of people already do.

My lounge lamps are LED ones and plugged into Tapo timer plugs which I control from the app. But they are on every day at a set time and go off every day at a set time, I rarely use the "big light". I have lived in this house for 14 years and have done this since then. I also have a lamp on timer in the hall too.

Mine do not get hot to touch. My wiring has been checked and certified safe a couple of years ago, I don't overload sockets and I have no pets.

I always thought the biggest fire risk was a tumble dryer or washing machine. My Dad still unplugs his TV when he goes to bed because his house was hit by lightning in 1946. I couldn't even get to the TV plug.

I have so many lamps scattered around my flat and many of them are on from the moment I wake up until I go to sleep, not once has any of them started a fire. As a previous poster said, battery powered things are more of a worry really.

@Biffsboys

Did you notice how long they should last before the batteries need changing?

I could do with a couple for the hallway too as the twit that designed it decided you don't need plugs in the hallway. But I don't want to be going through loads of batteries. I've been looking at rechargeable led lights, but not found any I like yet.

i also need a rechargeable/battery light for the bathroom until the electrician is back. He can't put sockets in the hallway I've asked, something to do with (blah blah blah legislation)

Meanwhile the fire service data shows 49% of domestic fires are caused by cooking appliances…

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5a75a0c5ed915d506ee8046f/infographic-detailed-analysis-fires-attended-fire-rescue-england-1617.pdf

We have light activated lamps, so they come on when dark and go off in the morning

I also leave lights on, never worried about it