I think you missed my point. Labeling the switches A,B,C will not tell you whether each one is on or off. My solution has the same problem. That is, you need a way to tell whether a switch is on or off from the switch room. If the initial state is all on or all off, it is not such a problem.

For example, assume the "warm" bulb switch is initially on. Not knowing it was on, you end up turning it off for 5 minutes, then change its state back to what will be "on". Another bulb is initially off, you change its state to "on." Now, when you go to the room, there will be two bulbs lit.

John

assuming all bulbs r in working condition....

turn on switch A for 5 mins... the bulb meant 4 switch A will warm up due to the heating properties of the filament....

the rest is history.........

 

I think Linchiek's solution would indeed work for incandescent bulbs. They're little space heaters, after all - light is a just their by-product. Even compact fluorescents get warm after a while.

do i get a SPOON?

 

assuming all bulbs r in working condition....

turn on switch A for 5 mins... the bulb meant 4 switch A will warm up due to the heating properties of the filament....

the rest is history.........

But how do you know which switch position is "on"? (emphasis added to quote)

John

 

But how do you know which switch position is "on"? (emphasis added to quote)

John

my assumption - all switches are "off"

 

We know which switches are "on" because Triggernum5 kindly told us:

I will add that the switches are wired properly.. Up is ON for each switch..

Linchiek, you may have my spoon, if Ratch ever gives it back...

 

We know which switches are "on" because Triggernum5 kindly told us:

Linchiek, you may have my spoon, if Ratch ever gives it back...

spoon pls..........

 

That would be the answer.. BTW, cfl's retain enough heat for this to work as well, my hint about this solution becoming obsolete was based on the increase in LED lighting..

 

Mia culpa. I missed or forgot that part. You get the spoon. John

 

Here is a hint.. Not long from now the solution I have may be nearly obsolete..

IOW, when incandescent bulbs are no longer with us...

 

IOW, when incandescent bulbs are no longer with us...

we still can get it Malaysia......

 

I think you guys should look beyond the simple spoon, after all it is the 21st Century, everyone knows the spork will be the rage.

 

Ratch is probably keeping my spoon on speculation of its future value as an antique.