Multiple point controlled flashing locator system

A method of testing a light bulb in an outside light socket located outside a dwelling from inside a dwelling comprising:

• providing a main switch having an input and at least two selectable output positions including an on position and a flash position;
• providing an audible alert circuit to be selectively interconnected within the dwelling to a source of power through the main switch when the main switch is in the flash position, the audible alert circuit being interconnected to an outside light socket such that when the audible circuit is connected to the power source, current flows through the audible alert circuit and through the outside light socket to emit an audible alert sound in the dwelling and illuminate an outside light bulb in the socket if the outside light bulb is not burned out and there is no open circuit preventing current from flowing through the audible alert circuit;
• coupling a control circuit to the main switch and the audible alert circuit, the control switch having a power input coupled to the power source and at least two power outputs, a first of the power outputs being coupled to the main switch input and a second of the power outputs being coupled to the audible alert circuit, the control circuit having a first state in which the power input is coupled to the first power output whereby to provide power from the power source to the main switch and a second state in which the power input is coupled to the second power output whereby to provide power from the power source directly to the audible alert circuit bypassing the main switch;
• coupling a plurality of remote switches, each at a different location within the dwelling, to the control circuit;
• bypassing the main switch and causing the audible alert circuit to be so interconnected directly to the power source by placing the control circuit in the second state in response to actuation of any one of the remote switches such that the audible alert sounds and the light bulb is illuminated regardless of the position of the main switch;
• and
• after actuating any one of the remote switches, listening for the audible alert sound absence of which indicates that the outside light may have burned out resulting in an open circuit preventing current from flowing through the audible circuit.

A multiple point controlled flashing locator system comprising:

• a main switch having an input and at least two outputs, the main switch having an off position in which the outputs are disconnected from the input, an on position in which a first of the outputs is coupled to the input, and a flash position in which a second of the outputs is coupled to the input;
• a flasher circuit coupled to the main switch second output to receive power from the main switch input when the main switch is in the flash position;
• a control circuit having a power input and at least two power outputs a first of which is coupled to the main switch input and a second of which is coupled to the flasher circuit, the control circuit having a first state in which the power input is coupled to the first power output whereby to provide power to the main switch and a second state in which the power input is coupled to the second power output whereby to provide power to the flasher circuit and bypass the main switch;
• and
• at least one remote switch coupled to the control circuit and being actuatable to cause the control circuit to be in the second state whereby the flasher circuit may be powered to cause an outside light connected to the system to flash on and off in the event that either the main switch is in the flash position or the remote switch is actuated regardless of the position of the main switch.

A multiple point controlled system located within a dwelling for testing a light outside the dwelling, the system comprising:

• a main switch having an input and at least two outputs with a flash position where the input is coupled to one of the outputs;
• a plurality of remote switches distributed within the dwelling;
• audible alert circuit means for generating an audible alert sound when current flows therethrough, the audible alert circuit means being coupled to a power source through the main switch when the main switch is in the flash position and being coupled in series with the outside light to generate sound when the light is on;
• a control circuit having a power input and at least two power outputs one of which is coupled to the main switch input to supply power to the main switch when the control circuit is in a first state, the control circuit, in a second state, coupling the other power output directly to the audible alert circuit means and bypassing th main switch, the control circuit being coupled to one of the remote switches so as to be in the second state in response to actuation of any one of the remote switches whereby absence of a sound from the audible alert circuit means in response to actuation of a said remote switch is indicative that the outside light may have burned out.