Abstract: A touch switch device includes a touch plate 3 or other touch member arranged, when touched, to interrupt the passage of an oscillating signal from a DC powered oscillator 31-34 to a charging circuit 36-39, including a capacitative store 38. The charging circuit responds to this interruption to initiate discharge of the charge store, and a control, including an inverter 44 and a flip-flop 46 controls a switch 48 to change from one state to another upon a change of charge state, in this case a recharge, of the charge store. A circuit 51-54 supplies a reset signal to the flip-flop during an initial preset period immediately following the switching on of power to the device, to inhibit this change of state of the switch 48 during such period.