Touch Plate Lighting Repair and Troubleshooting in San Diego

Touch plate lights stuck on, stuck off, or not responding? Our electricians know these systems, and we know how to find the parts that are hard to get.


Touch plate lighting was installed in many nicer homes from the 1940s through the mid-1980s. It is an aging low-voltage system, and repairing it takes experience. We can repair or rewire just the touch plate portion of your home, build custom solutions for the parts that have failed, or rewire the whole home if that's the right call. Not ready to rewire? You don't have to be.


Touch plate lights not working?

Call SRP Electric now. Don't open the panel yourself.

(858) 900-8535

Emergency service available. Same-day service offered.

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What is touch plate lighting?


Touch plate lighting is an old-school, low-voltage lighting system. The wall switches don't feed the lights directly. They send a small control signal to relays, typically housed in a relay panel, and the relays switch the lights on and off. The thin control wire is a big part of why these systems were popular, because it saved a lot on wire expense.

Many nicer homes from the 1940s through the mid-1980s were wired this way.† Today the parts are aging, and the replacements are hard to find.

Why touch plate systems need experience


Touch plate problems can come from aging relays, a worn power supply (the transverter), a switch that sticks, or damaged low-voltage wire. Several of these look the same from the wall, so the real cause has to be found on-site before anything is replaced. Guessing wastes money and can make the problem worse.

Our solutions: repair what needs repair


A full rewire isn't the only answer. We know how to offer the right solution for your home.

Partial rewire

We can rewire only the touch plate portion of your home, or a section of it, instead of the whole house.

Custom solutions

When the existing system can be saved, we build custom solutions for the parts that have failed.

Full rewire

If you're ready to modernize, we can rewire the home and move past touch plate for good.

Partial solutions are backed by our warranty.

Hard-to-get touch plate parts


Relays, transformers, and touch plate switches are hard to locate, and most suppliers in San Diego don't carry them.† We know how to get parts for the relay, the transformer, and the touch plate switch itself, so your repair isn't held up by a part nobody has in stock.

Don't wait on an overheating system


Older touch plate systems wear out, and worn parts can overheat. Overheating is a fire hazard, so a unit that runs hot needs prompt attention, not a wait-and-see approach.

  • If you see smoke, sparks, flames, or melted plastic, leave the building and call 911 from a safe location. Then call a licensed electrician right away.



Signs it's time to call


  • One or more lights, or a whole room, won't respond or stays stuck on or off.
  • A switch doesn't return to its normal position after being pressed.
  • The transverter feels warm or hot.
  • You're uncomfortable working near the relay panel.
  • You see smoke, sparks, flames, or melted plastic. Leave the building and call 911 first.



What happens when you call

Call or request a quote

Call (858) 900-8535 or request a free quote online.

On-site evaluation

A licensed electrician schedules an on-site evaluation of your system.

Upfront pricing, then the work

You see the pricing before any work begins. Our work is backed by our warranty.

Why homeowners choose SRP Electric


  • Licensed, bonded & insured (License #1008960)
  • BBB A+ rated, with 1,000+ online reviews across Yelp, Facebook, Google, and BBB
  • Upfront pricing before we do a job
  • Warrantied work
  • Same-day service and emergency service available
  • We make safety our #1 priority, both for our workers and making your home as safe as possible.
  • Military, senior, educator, and first responder discounts
  • No job is too big or small.

Touch plate questions, answered

  • Why did my touch plate lights stop working?

    Usually it's one of a few things: aging relays, a worn power supply, a switch that sticks, or damaged low-voltage wire. Several look the same, so we find the real cause before recommending a fix.

  • Can I fix touch plate lights myself?

    We don't recommend it. Opening an electrical panel can expose you to lethal shock or arc flash, and a wrong part can make the whole system fail. Leave the repair to a licensed professional.



  • Can you repair just part of my touch plate system?

    Often, yes. We can rewire only the touch plate portion, or build custom solutions for the parts that have failed. Partial solutions are backed by our warranty.

  • Are older touch plate systems a fire risk?

    Worn parts can overheat, and overheating is a fire hazard. If you see smoke, sparks, flames, or melted plastic, leave the building and call 911 from a safe location, then call a licensed electrician right away.

  • Can you get hard-to-find touch plate parts?

    Yes. We know how to get parts for the relay, the transformer, and the touch plate switch itself.

  • How much does touch plate repair cost?

    It depends on what has failed and which solution fits your home. We give upfront pricing before any work begins, so you approve the cost first.

  • Do you handle emergency calls?

    Yes. Emergency service is available. Call (858) 900-8535 now.