Abstract: A telephone operated electrical switch for selectively energizing an electrical load in response to dialing of a predetermined telephone number. The electrical load may be the exterior light fixture of a dwelling, and the switch assembly may be configured to automatically flash the light on and off in response to the occupant dialing "9-1-1", so as to assist emergency response personnel in locating the dwelling.

Abstract: A switching device for flashing an installed light fixture, as for helping emergency response personnel locate a dwelling. A switch housing which is mountable within a conventional junction box encloses a switch having "off", "on", and "flash" positions. In the "flash" position, the switch cyclically completes and interrupts the installed 120 volt AC circuit so that the light fixture flashes on and off. A triac is employed as a relay for completing the circuit, and a timer-controlled driver portion is provided for actuating the triac. The triac driver actuates the triac at the beginning of each half-cycle of the AC current, in response to a low-voltage pulse which passes through a capacitor connected to the high-voltage lead. The timer may be a 555 IC timer, and a conversion network may be provided for supplying DC current for this. A piezoelectric element is also provided for generating an audible signal indicating that the "flash" mode has been actuated.