Patent ID: 7504749

Claim:
An electrical switch unit for controlling the supply of electrical energy to an appliance that also has its own electrical control switch for controlling operation of the appliance, the switch unit comprising: a live input terminal, and at least one of a neutral and an earth terminal for operative connection to an electrical power supply; at least a load output terminal for operative connection to an electrical appliance; a load switch selected from an electrically and an electronically operated load switch connected between the live input and load output terminals for opening and closing a load circuit between said live input and said load output terminals, and an electronic circuit embodying timer means for controlling the load switch, wherein the load switch is a normally open switch operatively closed by the electronic circuit, and wherein a bypass detector circuit is connected in parallel across the load switch, and wherein the timer means is operative to become activated consequent on the initiation of current flow through the detector circuit to effect closure of said load switch after a time delay (that is independent of real-time), and to maintain the load switch in a closed condition for a time period selected from a predetermined optionally adjustable time period a time period enduring until current flow through the detector circuit ceases after which the load switch is operatively returned to its normally open condition.