How to replace a switch in an apartment. Replacing a light switch in an apartment is a simple instruction of complex work for beginners. The order of work

In the process of life, one has to face the need to replace the switch. This can be at work, in an office space or apartment, most often due to a repair or a faulty switch. In any case, if there is a desire to master the technique of replacing switches with your own hands, so as not to resort to the services of an electrician, it will be useful for you to read this article.

Work principles

In order to replace the switches and prevent mistakes that can lead to undesirable consequences:

short circuit;
failure of lighting devices;
burnout of wiring in walls and junction boxes;
worst-case scenario - electric shock to a person

you need to familiarize yourself with the principle of operation of the switches, safety precautions, remember the diagrams of their inclusion in the electrical wiring circuits, study the rules for dismantling, installation and connection, take into account the design features when installing new switches of various types.

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Switches are divided according to the method of mounting on the wall:

Switches for hidden wiring are inserted into a recess made in advance in the wall with a cylindrical plastic or metal socket.

Surface mount switches for open wiring are used in wooden switchboard structures. In these cases, the wires are often attached to the wall surface or placed in special plastic cable ducts.

Products are divided according to the design of the terminals for fixing the ends of the wiring:

The screw terminals clamp the stripped end of the wire between the two plates. As a disadvantage of this design, one can note the insignificant heating of the contacts when the aluminum wire is clamped by brass plates. The difference between the metals in the contact creates resistance, when the current passes, the terminals heat up. For this reason, the screws must be tightened periodically to ensure a more reliable contact. If the wiring in the room is made with copper wires, this will not be a problem.
Spring clamp terminals do not require preventive screw tightening. A powerful spring constantly presses against the brass plate, which presses the stripped end of the wire. Thus, high-quality contact is constantly maintained.
Switches are divided by the number of buttons: one-button, two-button and even three-button. One button turns on a light source with a single or a group of lamps that turn on simultaneously, for example, in a toilet or bathroom.

Almost always in the hall, lighting structures have several groups of lamps that can be turned on separately or all together using different buttons of one switch. Here are the simplest light switches that are often used in the domestic environment of apartments and private houses.

There are switches of more complex and expensive designs:

Sensory (capacitive) ones are triggered by a light touch with a finger;
With a dimmer - by changing the resistance, you can achieve a smooth increase or decrease in brightness;
Acoustic switches are triggered by a pop or voice command;
With remote control, they have several functions: switching on by groups, changing the brightness and others.

The principles of their work and the features of connecting with your own hands deserve consideration in a separate topic.

Dismantling

When making repairs in an apartment with your own hands, at the stage of replacing the switches, pay attention to the safety rules. First of all, on the switchboard, turn off the circuit breaker, from which the lighting group with the switch to be dismantled is powered. By de-energizing the circuit, you will eliminate the possibility of electric shock.

On older flush-mounted circuit breakers, the fixing screws are located on the faceplate and are easily accessible. In newer models, they are located under the toggle buttons, which are simply pry off with a screwdriver and removed. After unscrewing the fastening screws and removing the top cover, you will see the circuit breaker structure fixed in the cylindrical frame.

In the classic version, when in contact with the terminal, the thumb should be held on the top of the handle, where a contact is provided to provide a control circuit. If the indicator lamp of the screwdriver on one of the contacts lights up, the circuit breaker on the switchboard is not turned off.

Turn off the switch of the required group, if there is no voltage at the terminals of the switch to be removed, proceed with further actions.

Unscrew the two screws of the sliding strips securing the breaker frame to the wall socket. Unscrew the screws on the terminals, freeing the wires; if the ends have burnt insulation, nibble off that section with pliers. Mark the phase wire by bending it, or glue electrical tape for easy connection.

Switches for open wiring are dismantled using the same method, the difference is that they do not have a locking mechanism with sliding strips. Then the screws are unscrewed, pressing the switch structure to the wall.

One button connection

Strip the insulation at the ends of the wires, connect 5 mm sections to the terminals of the switch, the phase (red wire) - to the contact marked L1. Blue or black wire - to the contact marked L2. Insert the switch into the socket, fix the case with sliding strips, screwing in the screws.

Switch on the mains at the switchboard and check the functionality. It happens that the shutdown is carried out by pressing the key up, turn the switch body over or swap the wires. If everything is normal, screw on the decorative cover, secure the switch key.

Installation with two buttons

The difference in connection with a one-button switch is that three phase wires are connected to terminal L3 and two wires to L1 and L2. The three-gang switch has four wires: one phase and three contacts for different connection groups. The rest of the method of removal, installation and connection for hidden and external wiring switches remains the same.

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Basic requirements for work on the replacement of electrical equipment

There are a number of requirements for conducting repair work on electrical equipment. Their implementation will ensure the safety of the entire work process.

It is important to take into account that each installed device is partially different in the principle of installation according to its distinctive features.

Replacing the one-button switch

Experts consider it to be the easiest removal / installation option. The connection diagram of the luminaire through a one-button switch is shown in the figure.

But it is still important to consider a number of actions, and the topic of the day how to change the switch will disappear by itself. To dismantle the light switch, you must sequentially perform:

removing keys using a screwdriver;

Installation of a new circuit breaker to replace the old one is carried out in the reverse sequence of the above steps.

The place of work must be de-energized;
We check the integrity of the insulation on the wires;
Preparing a new switch for installation;
We adjust the required length of the wires;
If necessary, we strip the wires from insulation;
We connect the wires to the switch;
We check the quality of the tightening of the contacts;
Once again we check the correctness of the assembled circuit;
We install the insides of the switch into the socket;
We set the switch to the level;
We fasten the switch with screws to the socket;
We install the decorative cover and the switch keys in place.

After installation, we check the work done by turning on the electricity supply.

Replacing a one-button switch with a two-button

Craftsmen faced with the installation of simpler equipment probably know how to replace a switch with more keys.

Suppose you have decided to replace your old one-button switch with a multi-button switch for better or more economical light distribution in the room.

When installing a switch with two buttons, it is important to consider the connection of the wires to the equipment. One wire with a phase is suitable for a two-button switch (it comes from the circuit breaker in the lead-in box). You need to find it even before the voltage is removed from the switch using a voltage indicator or an indicator screwdriver. The required number of outgoing wires from the switch to the load must be two. An individual wire is connected to each of its keys to the lamp, through which the current from the switch will flow in the future.

The sequence for installing a two-button switch is performed in the same way as replacing a one-button switch in an apartment.

How to change a switch to a touch switch

When mounting a sensor device, a number of the following steps must be performed:

turning off the electricity;
dismantling of old equipment;
removing the top of the panel;
connection of wires according to the correspondence of the terminals;
installation in a mounting box (socket) with fixation using spacers and screws.

So, in the question of how to replace the old switch with a touch switch, there is nothing difficult, you just need experience in installing a conventional push-button. The main thing is to read the instructions for connecting the touch switch.

Installing a dimmer switch

If you decide to purchase and install this type of device yourself, there is no reason to worry. It is installed in order to be able to adjust the lighting.

But many are still interested in the question of how to replace a conventional switch with a dimmer. This modified device in the installation is not much different from the installation of conventional equipment of this type. The only condition imposed by the manufacturer is the fulfillment of the rules for connecting wires to the phase and load terminals on the switch. You can also read about this in the manufacturer's instructions and in the article on connecting a dimmer.

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Principles of operation and types of switches - what you need to know so as not to harm yourself

Replacing a light switch in an apartment is a relatively quick procedure that does not require any additional tools and equipment. However, it is necessary to act as carefully and accurately as possible, since you have to deal with electricity. Wrong actions can lead to very disastrous consequences:

Fire of wiring in the switchboard and walls;
Failure of lamps and other household appliances connected to the network;
Short circuit;
The saddest development of events is electric shock.

In this regard, before starting work, it is imperative to purchase protective gloves, preferably made of rubber, to exactly comply with all the requirements and rules of electrical safety technology. In order to avoid mistakes during operation, it is recommended to spend some time studying the design features of electrical equipment, as well as memorize the connection diagrams in the wiring circuit. In some cases, you can even take a picture with your phone, so that later there will be no problems after replacing the broken device.

Due to the fact that light switches are used almost constantly, especially in the winter season, a huge number of various models have been developed, which differ in appearance, design features, and functionality. First of all, two groups of switches are distinguished, depending on the attachment to the wall:

1. Concealed wiring - a special metal or plastic socket is used, installed in the recess of the wall. It is in this place that the equipment is installed.
2. Open wiring - in this case, overhead switches will be required, which have found application in panel board products made of wood. The cable is brought out, so it has to be hidden in special cable channels so as not to accidentally damage it in the course of daily activities.

If we talk about the design of the terminals with which the device is attached to the wiring, then there are also two main groups. The first includes screw terminals - these elements are designed to fix the stripped ends of the wire located between the plates. If you use aluminum wires together with brass plates, a lot of resistance is created, which causes serious overheating of the entire equipment as a whole. To avoid this, it is necessary to constantly tighten the screws, which will ensure high-quality contact between the elements. At the same time, copper is not subject to such temperature changes, so the wiring made of copper wires does not overheat.

Naturally, changing the wiring to copper seems to be a rather complicated process. It is much easier to use clamping terminals, which are equipped with a special spring mechanism. Thanks to this, the brass plate is constantly under enormous pressure, which results in a reliable and high-quality contact. The possibility of fire is minimal, while prophylactic tightening of the screws is no longer necessary.

Based on the number of buttons, light switches are:

1. One-button - work with one light source or a group of lamps. When pressed, all lighting elements connected to this switch are turned on at once.
2. Devices with two or more buttons - with the help of such devices, you can turn on individual lamps on the chandelier. Very convenient, especially if the luminaire is equipped with a large number of lamps. In this case, you can turn on only a few lamps so as not to waste a large amount of electrical energy.

Speaking about the types of switches, it is impossible not to note modern expensive designs that are becoming more and more in demand:

With a dimmer - a rotating element that makes it possible to smoothly increase or decrease the brightness of the light;
Sensory - responsive to the palm brought up in the immediate vicinity of the equipment;
Acoustic - triggered by voice commands or claps;
Remote controlled.

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Switch replacement

1. Remove the switch key (s) by alternately prying it (s) from the edges with a flat screwdriver or spatula.

Then remove the decorative trim frame. Depending on the circuit breaker design, it can be attached directly to the circuit breaker body, or through an additional clamping plate.

Use a flat screwdriver to pry the frame or its fixing plate and pull it towards you.

It should snap off and be removed from the switch body. After you have removed the keys and frame, you will have access to either the screws that secure the electrical wires to the switch terminals, or the wires themselves.

With the switch off position, touch the indicator screwdriver one by one to all the screws, or to the bare sections of the wires, to make sure that the wires have no phase voltage and the switch can be replaced safely. The control lamp of the indicator should not light up at the same time. If the indicator light is lit somewhere, try turning off another switch on the dashboard, or de-energize the entire apartment.

After you have made sure that there is no phase voltage in the wires, you can safely continue.

2. Using a screwdriver, unscrew the screws holding the switch housing to the socket by turning them counterclockwise. If these are screws of the spacer "legs", then it is enough to unscrew them 3-5 turns (loosen the fastening).

If the switch is screwed to the socket with screws (screws), then to remove the switch, unscrew them completely.

Pull the switch out of the socket as far as the wires allow, gently straightening them.

If you have a one-button switch, unscrew the screws by 2-3 turns that screw the wires to the switch terminals and disconnect the wires from the switch.

Some types of switches can be equipped with self-clamping terminals (without the use of screws). In such terminals, the wires are inserted with some effort into the holes intended for this, without subsequently being fixed with screws. If in the place where the wires are inserted into the switch, you do not find signs of screws, try to forcefully pull on the wire, and it should pop out of the terminal clamp. Alternatively, locate and press the release button that releases the wire.

If there are more than one buttons on your switch, then mark all the wires in the order in which they are screwed to the switch. Hang tags, mark with a marker, glue different pieces of electrical tape, or in some other way mark the wires so that you can then connect them to the new switch in the same sequence. One wire (phase, if the electricians did everything correctly) must be connected on one side of the switch, the other 2 or 3 on the other.

3. Examine the wires for damage. If the end of the wire is damaged, oxidized or broken, and the length of the wires allows them to be slightly shortened, then cut the broken section with side cutters and strip 5-7 mm of insulation.

Also check the socket in which the switch was attached. If it dangles in the wall or starts to fall apart for some reason, it will be better to replace it.

If everything is in order with the socket, then you can connect a new switch.

4. Remove the new switch from the package. Remove the switch key (s) by carefully hooking them over the edge. Try to do this carefully without damaging the plastic surface of the keys and frame. Remove the frame carefully. Some frame latches have rather delicate plastic latches. If you break them with careless handling, then later the frame on the switch will dangle rather unaesthetically, so do not rush. Do everything carefully.

5. Connect the wires by connecting them according to the markings you made earlier. On some switches, on the back cover, the designation of the contacts may be indicated: L and 1 , 2 , 3 ... Here "L" is a contact for connecting a phase conductor; 1, 2, 3 - outgoing contacts, which can also be marked with arrows.

Insert the wires one at a time into the corresponding slots on the switch, and fix the wires by firmly tightening the terminal screws. After you've screwed on the wires, try to pull on the wire slightly to make sure it is securely in place. If the wire pops out of the terminal, tighten the screw further next time.

If your new switch has self-tightening terminals for wires, which can be determined by the absence of screws for fixing the wires, then all you need to do is insert the end of the conductor stripped from the insulation into a special socket, and the wires will be fixed in such a terminal automatically.

6. Install the switch in place, along the way helping the wires to fit freely in the socket. Align the switch and fix it using the sliding tabs (alternately turning the fastening screws of the tabs clockwise), or screw it to the socket (if the socket has screw holes).

When installing, keep in mind that according to the rules of ergonomics, turning on the light with switches located at head level is done by pressing the top of the switch button (up - turning on the light).

Well, those switches that are installed at waist level, on the contrary, turn on the light by pressing the lower part of the key (down - turn on the light).

After securely fixing the switch in the socket box, you just have to install and fix the decorative frame, then put the switch key (s) inside the frame and put it (them) in place, gently pushing.

7. Switch on the switch on the switchboard and enjoy the work you have done!

I must say that if you nevertheless confused or did not mark the wires (if there are more than two of them), then you will need to find the phase wire. To do this, separate the bare ends of the wires so that they do not touch each other and the wall so that they can be safely touched with the indicator screwdriver. Turn on the electricity with the switch you turned off earlier.

Alternately touch each wire separately with the tip of the indicator screwdriver (do not forget to keep one finger of your hand on the contact pad of the indicator screwdriver) and find the phase wire. When you touch this wire, the indicator lamp should light up. Label this wire. Then turn off the electricity again.

The marked wire will subsequently need to be connected to the part of the switch where there is an input for only one wire (sometimes this input is indicated by the letter L on the back cover).

If none of the wires turned out to be phase, or more than one wire causes the indicator to glow, then in this case it would be better for you to use the help of an electrician to determine the correct connection option.

Dimmers

It will not be superfluous to say a few words about the installation of dimmers in this article.

A dimmer (dimmer) is an electronic device designed to adjust the power of an electric current. Usually a dimmer is used to adjust the brightness of incandescent lamps.

The dimmer is installed in the socket in the same way as a conventional light switch. A conventional monoblock dimmer is connected in the same way as a conventional light switch: with two wires.

Depending on the design, dimmers are:

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How to replace an old switch with a new one - instructions

Most often, there are situations when it is necessary to replace an outdated switch with a device purchased in a store. In addition, most breakdowns lead to the described process. And it starts with dismantling the old device.

Before getting started, remember how the switch works. Here is a pictorial drawing.

How to remove the switch

First you need to arm yourself with a screwdriver.

An indicator is best suited for these purposes. This tool has a small tip that is suitable for any bolt head with both a cross slot and a regular slotted bolt.

In addition, on occasion, you can immediately check whether there is an electric current in the contact. To do this, touch the head of the energized screw with the tip of the screwdriver, while simultaneously placing your finger on the rear end (end) of the indicator. The diode lamp inside the handle of the tool should light up at the same time.

If there is no such probe, an ordinary screwdriver with a replaceable tip will do, one in which the iron tip is pulled out of the handle and rearranged.

It's just that different switches have different bolts - both for a Phillips screwdriver and for a slotted screwdriver. And since the heads of such screws are initially hidden, it is not known in advance what type of groove.

Suppose we are dealing with an old Soviet-style device. Initially, we unscrew the bolt with which the front panel of such a switch is attached to its base.
Next, remove this cover. All the insides open to us: one, two or three keys, as well as the mechanism itself. But this applies to old, Soviet devices. With modern devices, you must first "wring out" the keys with a flat screwdriver and remove them.
And then you also need to carefully dismantle the front panel, helping from the side with a screwdriver.
Finally, you need to get the inside of the device out of the socket. This step is the same for all types of switches. There are two bolts on the sides, they attract antennae, pressing the device to the walls of the nest. It is these screws that need to be loosened.
We take out the inside out, but without effort, without tugging. Now we can see the electrical wires that are connected to our apparatus.
In many circuit breakers, the ends of the wiring are connected to the device itself via screw terminals. We loosen these nodes with a screwdriver and carefully pull out the wires.

Attention! Before making manipulations directly with the wires, it is necessary to turn off the machine supplying this electrical network, in order to avoid electric shock! Usually, the machine is located in the dashboard at the entrance, often it is intended specifically for lighting and is located among other similar ones. Although in "Khrushchevs" he, as a rule, is one for the whole apartment - both to the light and to the sockets.

Installing a new appliance

For this operation, you must also prepare a screwdriver with a replaceable tip or a probe.

We first turn off the machine in the dashboard.
We are preparing a new switch. To do this, snap off the keys with a screwdriver and take them out. Then we unscrew the screw (if any) and remove the bezel.
Before us is the inside of our newly acquired device. We insert the freed stripped ends of the wires into it and tighten the contacts with a screwdriver.
We sink the mechanism in an old glass, align it with a level or horizontally applied bottle of water.
Then we screw in the bolts all the way, which press the fastening antennae to the walls of the nest.
Install the front panel, tighten the fastening screw if necessary.
Gently insert the keys.

The switch can be used.

In some modern devices described, the ends of the wires are fixed without screw connections, they are simply inserted into special holes and fixed automatically. Back the wiring is removed by pressing the special wringers with your finger.

The described work on the installation of a new device must always be carried out with the power supply disconnected.

How to transfer - instructions

Suppose we are faced with a different kind of task - for some reason, it is necessary to change the location of the device that activates the lighting in the room. Then, first of all, you need to think about the fact that in addition to the screwdriver, you will need some other tools.

First of all, this applies to the wiring hidden in the wall. Moving the switch here means chiselling the cable duct and drilling a new socket for the fixture. Therefore, you will additionally need a perforator with a channel blade, as well as a concrete crown for a perforator. You will also need a new cable, two-core with a wire cross-section of 1.5 mm, as well as a clerical knife to remove the insulation. Well, in the end, putty will come in handy for sealing the channel. Let's make a list:

perforator with a spatula and a crown,
cable 2x1.5 mm (footage depending on transfer length),
stationery knife,
putty and putty trowel.

Having prepared everything you need, we begin the process.

We remove the switch according to the previously described algorithm.
We mark the new place that was planned for our device, and also draw a line of the cable along the shortest path. For these purposes, we will use a simple pencil.
We shtrob the channel for wires with a puncher.
We drill the socket for the switch.
We take out the glass under our device from the old place and insert it into the new one.
We connect a new cable to the free ends of the old wires, while the machine must be turned off.
Here it must be borne in mind that one supply phase wire from the shield always comes to the switch, and the same one goes to the lamps. Therefore, you need to connect the brown wire to the power line, and the blue to the line of the lamps, so as not to get confused.
We put the cable in the made channel. We cover it with putty.
We install the switch according to the previously described algorithm.

When connecting the device in a new place, we use the brown wire as the lead wire, and the blue one as the output one.

In the case of open wiring, everything is much simpler: after disconnecting the supply circuit breaker, the switch is unscrewed from the wall, disconnected from the cable and attached in another place. Then the missing veins are drawn. The cable is usually hidden in a decorative box. At the end of the process, the wires are connected to the switch.

Breaker repair

More often than not, there are situations when you just need to fix the described device. To start repairing the switch, you need to prepare all the accessories that will be useful in the work.

What tools and materials will be required

Screwdriver with replaceable tip.
Indicator.
A piece of fine sandpaper.

These tools are suitable for all types of repairs.

How to disassemble

It has already been described that when dismantling the device, first remove its keys. Then the bezel is removed. When the device is removed from the socket, it is released from the wires.

After the mechanism has been disassembled in this way and at the same time removed, it must be put in front of you on the table and examined. Usually the contacts are dirty, which are located in the place where the plastic keys were. From frequent inclusions, these surfaces are also covered with carbon deposits.

It is not difficult to determine the nature of such a malfunction. You can understand that you need to clean the contacts even before disassembling the device. If, when the keys are turned on, the device does not always work, then it is quite obvious that carbon deposits appear in the corresponding places.

Cleaning contacts

It is not always possible to carry out this process. Most modern switches have a non-separable mechanism body and it is not possible to get to the contact. In such cases, it is easier to purchase a new switch, especially since it is inexpensive: about 50 rubles.

If, when examining the device, it became clear that the point of contact of the switching contacts can be reached with a screwdriver sting, then we do the following. For this operation, take a piece of sandpaper and wrap it around the tip of a small thin screwdriver. Putting the tool under the key, wipe the copper contact with sandpaper.

Even in the absence of the skin, you can clean the copper contact surface with a screwdriver, making translational movements with the tool. The sharp tip will easily remove dirt and carbon deposits.

How to assemble

To assemble the device, simply install the mechanism with well-fixed wire contacts back into the socket. Then we insert the front plastic panel. Finally we put on the keys. The switch is ready. Now you can activate the machine in the dashboard and make sure that our unit is working properly.

If no manipulations have led to the desired effect, then it is better to go to the store and purchase a new switch. And then replace the broken one following the instructions described.

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Dismantling

To install a new switch, you first need to remove the old one. And here is the first and main rule for a non-professional electrician ...

That is, the first step is to turn off the power supply. To do this, go to the hallway or apartment panel and, depending on the type of protection, unscrew the plugs or turn off the automatic fuses. Do not forget to check the switch later, if it was suddenly connected to a completely different line! And also, if we are talking about a corridor dashboard, it is highly desirable that someone should watch over it during the work in order to avoid accidental switching on. After that, you can proceed with the withdrawal.

Here again we have two possibilities - an old or new type switch. In the case of the first one, you must first unscrew a couple of bolts holding the outer cover. For new devices, simply pry the button with a flat screwdriver sting to the side and remove, and then unscrew the safety cover or snap out the spring clip.

Further, the device of mechanisms is, in principle, the same type. In the wall, and if according to the rules, then in a dielectric socket, it is held by means of spacer lugs on screws. And to release it you need to loosen these same screws. After the mechanism is removed from the "socket", you can loosen the wire clamps and move the old switch to the side.

Installation

If this is a one-key switch and it is not important for you in which direction it will turn on and off, then you can start installing a new one. Otherwise, it will take a little more time. Part of it will be spent on straightening and stripping the ends of the wires approximately 1 cm long.Then we spread them apart and turn on the shield to determine the phase wire - we bring the indicator sting in turn to all ends, and where it lights up, there is the phase. We mark it, for example, with a piece of colored tape. We need this in order to properly connect the new light switch. Turn off the power again and start connecting:

The one-rocker switch has the usual marking of the slots "L-1" or "1-2". L in the first case and "1" in the second are for the phase conductor

In a two-key, about the same "L-1-2" or "1-2-3", where L for the first and 1 for the second case go under the phase

Soviet and bad Chinese switches have no markings at all, so you have to experiment here by plugging and unplugging the power and changing wires to find the correct location.

When you have decided on the phase-zero, we carefully clamp the wires in the contacts in accordance with the selected scheme. In this case, it is necessary to ensure that the bare part of the wire comes out of the contact by no more than 2 mm (if necessary, cut it), and also that the insulation does not fall under the clamp. Then we go in reverse order:

- we insert the new mechanism into the socket box, carefully straightening the wires inside;

- we align it horizontally and fix it with spacer legs;

- put the main cover, snap or twist the external clamps;

- put the key in place.

After that, we apply tension and use it for our pleasure.

It is easy to change the switch to the same one in terms of the number of contacts and the type of installation. Switches by type of installation are for outdoor and indoor wiring. The switches differ greatly from each other in the number of disconnected contacts, and in order to replace a one-button switch with a two- or three-button switch, one or two additional wires will need to be laid from it, respectively, to the lamp.

Find the tool you need.

Pockets should contain:

voltage indicator, do not use it like a screwdriver; this tool is very fragile;
three screwdrivers - one with a cross blade, and two different sizes with a flat blade;
pliers or wire cutters;
stationery knife;
insulating tape;
a flashlight is always useful.

Take precautions for safety when working with electricity.

Shoes with thick insulating soles must be worn. Go to the electrical panel and turn off the electricity supply to your apartment, near the electricity meter. It's simple, you need to unscrew the fuses, turn off the circuit breaker, or turn the handle of the circuit breaker.

Protect yourself, warn all household members about your work. Write and hang a piece of paper with the inscription on the electrical panel "Do not turn on! Work in progress " ... This is especially important if you turn off the electricity on a common staircase.

For added safety, you can lay an insulating mat in the work area. This will especially save you if the apartment has a bare concrete floor.

Remove the old switch.

Open the switch. Remove the keys by prying them with a wide screwdriver and pulling them towards you with the other hand, and also take out the decorative strip.

Make sure that there is no voltage on the contacts to which the wires are connected. A must for everyone! Use a simple voltage indicator for this.

Loosen the screws on both sides where the wires do not fit. If they hold the switch body on the mounting frame, then unscrew them completely. It is not worth unscrewing the screws on the expanding lugs, it is enough to loosen them and the inside of the switch will be free.

Take out the inside of the appliance. Pull it out as far as the length of the free wires will allow.

Install a new switch.

Inspect wire ends for signs of overheating or oxidation. Cut off damaged ends before good insulation begins. If you need to lengthen short wires, then do it with a piece of wire of the same material and no less thickness. Be sure to solder the junction, for excellent contact, and insulate well.

The insulation on the wires should be removed by about 6 - 7 mm., For fastening without bends, and stripped by 18 - 21 mm., When tightened with a ring. It is convenient to bend the wires over the screw with which it will be pressed.

The most important thing is to find a phase conductor. Spread the bare wires apart in different directions and make sure that they do not sag or touch the wall. Switch on the voltage temporarily. Find the wire with the indicator and mark it.

Connect the wires correctly. There are switches with marks where you need to connect the phase, this mark "L" is located on the base of the device. The symbols "1", "2" or an arrow indicate the attachment points to which the outgoing wires are connected to the luminaire.

There is no designation, then we connect the phase wiring to the center contact, in the middle between the other two wires. In a single-gang switch, the phase must be applied to a fixed bottom contact, although this rule is not strictly controlled.

Tighten the wires with the screws, and check that the wires are secure by pulling them out of the clamps.

Make sure that the bare part of the wire does not protrude from the contact by more than 2 - 3 mm.

Refit the switch. Pay attention to the correct fastening of the switch. The keys should turn on when they are pressed down at the top.

Align the breaker horizontally and secure. Screw the fastening frame to the installation box with screws or fix the switch with the release lugs. It is not possible to securely fasten with paws, then put a plastic ring cut from a bottle, pipe or whatever else into the socket.

Finish your work. Fix the decorative strip first. Do not be stupid, put it correctly if it has the words "ON", "OFF" or others. Place the keys evenly over the decorative strip and press them into place.

The switch may need to be replaced for a variety of reasons. Sometimes the box just breaks or wears out. It won't take much time to carry out the whole range of work on your own. It is known that replacing an old switch with a new one takes no more than 20 minutes even for an unprepared person. However, before starting work, you must take precautions. In the article, we will tell you how to replace a light switch in an apartment with your own hands, consider options for one-key and two-key switches.

Preparation

If possible, it is better to use the services of an electrician to replace the switch. Replacing a breaker yourself can be dangerous.

Before you replace the switch yourself, you must first remove the light bulb and check if the switch is really to blame. After all, it often happens that the cartridge simply burns out.
It is also necessary to establish that there is light in other rooms of the apartment.
If it is precisely established that it is a particular switch that is faulty, then it must be dismantled. However, before that, you first have to completely de-energize the apartment. After turning off the switch, you should make sure that there is no voltage on the line. After that, you need to tell your loved ones that they do not turn on the light and turn the switch. People who are in the room should be aware that work is being done with electricity.

Dismantling

The switch keys are removed first. This is usually done simply: you just need to pry them off and carefully remove them.
Double keys must be removed one at a time.
After the keys are dismantled, you should remove the outer part of the box, which serves as a decorative decoration for the switch. It is usually disassembled as easily as the keys themselves. It is enough to pry it off with a screwdriver and pull it towards you.
After removing the decorative part, the master will see the screws with which the switch itself is screwed. Use a screwdriver to unscrew the screws.
The switch is removed from the opening.
After dismantling the switch, the master will see the wiring. They must be disconnected too. It is important to remember in what order and in what places they were installed.
Insulate the wires. After all the manipulations are finished, you can even turn on the switch. Wires in this state are not dangerous.

Since it is necessary to insulate the wires in any case, it is better to use different electrical tape for these purposes, then the wires will never get mixed up.

Selecting a new circuit breaker

When the work is completed, you can check if the installation was done correctly. To do this, you need to turn on the switch and turn on the electricity. In case of any malfunctions, it is better to quickly de-energize the system.

In the same way as a simple switch, sensor systems and switches with LEDs are installed.

Video

The following video will help you understand switch replacement technology:

The switch is an integral part of any lighting system. With its help, you can adjust the number of lamps turned on at the same time (for example, in a chandelier), which makes it possible to choose the level of illumination in the room.

A simple one-key switch makes all the lamps light up at once, but a device with two or more keys can give energy to selected lamps.

It will be a little more difficult to connect such a switch, but having figured out the theory and wires, it is quite possible to do it yourself.

To begin with, let's recall the school electricity course and try to draw a lighting scheme for the room. For household alternating current, lamps (in our case, lamps) are connected in parallel, and the switch is connected in a break with the energy source.

We need to power two lamps from one two-button switch.

The connection diagram for these electrical appliances will look like this:

L - "phase wire", N - "zero"

From the common input to the junction box in the room, 2 wires come - "zero" and "phase". "Zero" wires from both lamps also come here. In the box, all "zero" wires are collected in one twist.

Now let's deal with the "phase".

If you look at the design of the two-button switch, you can see 3 terminals for connecting wires - one common and two separate.

The "phase" wire from the box goes to the common one, and the other two terminals are intended for the same wires from both lamps.

If everything is clear with the theory, then you can now start practice.

In the place intended for the switch, using a crown, the necessary recess is made and a socket box or a mounting box is installed.

It must be securely held in the wall, since the design of the switch has spacer fasteners, due to which the device is held in the socket.

Then, be sure to turn off the machine on the electrical panel, thereby securing the place of our work.

Before installing the switch, we had already laid all the wires and now 3 outputs are suitable for the device - one from the junction box and two from both lamps.

To do this, you first need to strip the insulation about half a centimeter on each wire, separate them in different directions so that the bare cores do not touch each other, but at the same time they have free access.

Now we turn on the machine and carefully (!), Observing the rules of personal safety, we determine the "phase" wire from the box using the indicator (the red LED on the indicator will light up). Turn off the machine and mark the wire.

It is this very conclusion that we connect to the common terminal of the switch, tightly tightening the screw of the fastener.

The rest of the leads are similarly connected to the other two terminals.

We install the switch covers in their place and turn on the machine.

Views

Switches are divided according to the method of mounting on the wall:

Switches for hidden wiring are inserted into a recess made in advance in the wall with a cylindrical plastic or metal socket.

Concealed wiring switches

Surface mount switches for open wiring are used in wooden switchboard structures. In these cases, the wires are often attached to the wall surface or placed in special plastic cable ducts.

Open wiring switch installation diagram

Products are divided according to the design of the terminals for fixing the ends of the wiring:

The screw terminals clamp the stripped end of the wire between the two plates. As a disadvantage of this design, one can note the insignificant heating of the contacts when the aluminum wire is clamped by brass plates. The difference between the metals in the contact creates resistance, when the current passes, the terminals heat up. For this reason, the screws must be tightened periodically to ensure a more reliable contact. If the wiring in the room is made with copper wires, this will not be a problem.
Spring clamp terminals do not require preventive screw tightening. A powerful spring constantly presses against the brass plate, which presses the stripped end of the wire. Thus, high-quality contact is constantly maintained.
Switches are divided by the number of buttons: one-button, two-button and even three-button. One button turns on a light source with a single or a group of lamps that turn on simultaneously, for example, in a toilet or bathroom.

Two- and three-button can be used to turn on lights in different rooms or one large chandelier in the living room.

There are switches of more complex and expensive designs:

Sensory (capacitive) ones are triggered by a light touch with a finger;
With a dimmer - by changing the resistance, you can achieve a smooth increase or decrease in brightness;
Acoustic switches are triggered by a pop or voice command;
With remote control, they have several functions: switching on by groups, changing the brightness and others.

The principles of their work and the features of connecting with your own hands deserve consideration in a separate topic.

Dismantling

Make sure that there is no voltage on the contacts, use an indicator screwdriver (now there are many different types of them with instructions attached). Modern screwdrivers with power supplies, when in contact with the phase, give out a light indication and an acoustic signal.

Turn off the switch of the required group, if there is no voltage at the terminals of the switch to be removed, proceed with further actions.

One button connection

Installation with two buttons

The colors of the wires do not always correspond to the purpose red - phase, and blue or black - neutral. In private houses and old buildings, everything can be the other way around or in one color. In some cases, there may be no phase on the switches, a neutral one is brought in. Everything must be checked with indicator devices.

Replacement.

How to correctly change the switch in a house or apartment and what rules should be followed in this case will tell you. Every owner can do this.

Based on the above information, observing safety rules, you can change conventional switches of any type with your own hands, without resorting to the services of an electrician. As practice shows, there is nothing difficult in replacing a switch; most people can do this at home.

More information

Failure of the switch can occur for various reasons: from a short circuit to trivial wear and tear of the box. In order to replace it, you can call an electrician, but if you wish, this work can be done independently. There is nothing difficult in this operation, and any adult, even without special knowledge, can cope with it in no more than half an hour. However, it should be remembered that since this work is connected with electricity, you need to take care of safety measures. In this article you will find a detailed answer to the question of how to change the switch with your own hands.

Preparation for work

Before you start replacing the switch, you need to make sure that the reason is in it. Often the "culprit" is the cartridge, so first you should check it with a probe or a multimeter, having previously unscrewed the lamp.

Also make sure there is light in the rest of the rooms.

After making sure that it is the switch that is faulty, it must be dismantled. It should be remembered that the replacement of the light switch is carried out in a de-energized apartment, therefore, it is necessary to turn off the voltage that is supplied to the room with the switch. Warn everyone at home that you are working with electricity and at this time they should not turn on any electrical appliances, and even more so - touch the switch.

Let's first figure out how to change the switch with one button.

Removing the switch

To dismantle a faulty device, you must first remove its protective cover, made of plastic or carbolite. To do this, you need to unscrew the 2 fastening screws.

The one-button switch mechanism is fixed inside the socket with spacer lugs. It has a pair of screw terminals with cable conductors connected to it. The position of the feet can be adjusted, if necessary, using the screws on the left and right sides.

Before removing the mechanism, you need to determine which vein the phase approaches to it. For this we need a probe screwdriver. Touching her contacts one by one, we check the presence of voltage. Then the device key should be switched to another position, after which it should be checked again.

The supplying phase conductor of the cable is the one at the contact of which the probe indicates the presence of voltage; however, it is absent on the second contact. The zero core must go to the lighting device.

Phase detection is performed on a live circuit breaker, so you must be extremely careful when performing this procedure. Only after its completion, the room must be de-energized by turning off the switch or unscrewing the plugs.

After de-energizing the apartment, you need to make sure that there is no voltage at the switch, and then continue to dismantle it. In this case, you need to proceed as follows:

Remove the mechanism from the socket after unscrewing the screws of the spacer lugs.
After that, you need to separate the wires, starting with the phase one. Unscrew the contact screw, pull out the cable and mark it with electrical tape.
Disconnect the second cable from the mechanism.
Straighten the wires.

This completes the dismantling.

Preparing to connect

Before connecting a new device, you need to prepare it for installation. The procedure is as follows:

Remove the key using a flat screwdriver.
Unscrew the screws to gain access to the mechanism. The design of these devices is different, but they are connected according to a single principle and are fixed to the socket by means of spacer legs. The movement of the latter is provided by screws.

A pair of screw clamps and a pressure plate are provided to fix the wires. With their help, you can loosen the fastening, or, on the contrary, press the veins more strongly. Each contact can be connected from one to two cores.

Installing a new switch

Having prepared the mechanism for installation, we proceed directly to its connection. In this case, you need to act in the following order:

Strip the ends of the wires from the insulation by 1-1.5 cm with a knife.
Insert the cleaned core into the contact hole, while making sure that there is no insulation in the clamp. It should be remembered that the phase conductor (red) must be fixed in the socket of the contact marked L1, and the zero (black or blue) in the socket L2.
If the end of the core sticks out more than 2 mm, trim off the excess.
Tighten the contact screw.
Pull on the cable to make sure the contact is secured well. The wire must remain stationary. If not, tighten the contact more tightly. But it is important not to overdo it - you can break the thread.
Strip the next wire and insert it into the hole.
Fix in the same way, make sure that the fixing is good.

After that, the switch must be inserted into the socket and secured with sliding strips. Then supply electricity to the room and check the operation of the device under voltage.

If the light turns off when you press the up key, you should swap the cables or simply turn the mechanism case over.

After making sure everything is in order, reinstall the switch button and screw the cover. When installing the key, you need to make sure that the pins on it fit into the key grooves. This completes the replacement of the switch.

Let's move on to the question of how to correctly change a switch with two buttons or three. The order of the procedure is almost identical to that followed when working with a one-button device, with the exception of a couple of nuances. When installing a switch with two buttons, the phase is connected to the L3 terminal and the other two cables go to the L1 and L2 terminals. Switches for three keys are connected with four wires, one of which is phase, and each of the other three corresponds to its own connection group.

The whole process of replacing a two-button switch is clearly visible in the video:

Conclusion

In the presented material, we tried to make out in as much detail as possible how to replace the light switch. As you can see, this procedure does not present any particular difficulties, and our readers, having read the article, can easily cope with such work on their own, without the help of a professional electrician.

Find the tool you need.

Pockets should contain:

voltage indicator, do not use it like a screwdriver; this tool is very fragile;
three screwdrivers - one with a cross blade, and two different sizes with a flat blade;
pliers or wire cutters;
stationery knife;
insulating tape;
a flashlight is always useful.

Take precautions for safety when working with electricity.

For added safety, you can lay an insulating mat in the work area. This will especially save you if the apartment has a bare concrete floor.

Remove the old switch.

Open the switch. Remove the keys by prying them with a wide screwdriver and pulling them towards you with the other hand, and also take out the decorative strip.

Make sure that there is no voltage on the contacts to which the wires are connected. A must for everyone! Use a simple voltage indicator for this.

Take out the inside of the appliance. Pull it out as far as the length of the free wires will allow.

Install a new switch.

Tighten the wires with the screws, and check that the wires are secure by pulling them out of the clamps.

Make sure that the bare part of the wire does not protrude from the contact by more than 2 - 3 mm.

Refit the switch. Pay attention to the correct fastening of the switch. The keys should turn on when they are pressed down at the top.

Surely it happened when making repairs to encounter a problem how to change the switch... It seems not tricky, but

scary, electricity is all the same, suddenly it is not possible to deal with the wires. Well, it’s not clear what to connect to and what to screw on.

In fact, there is nothing complicated here and there is nothing to be afraid of, everything is just like hammering a nail into a wall. After reading this article, in which everything is set out in detail, you will never have a question again, how to change the switch.

So we have a switch that needs to be changed.

The first step is to dismantle the old switch, and only then proceed to installing a new one.

Dismantling the switch

We unscrew the two screws that secure the protective carbolite or plastic cover, carefully remove it.

Before us is the mechanism of a one-button switch. It has two screw terminals to which the wire cores are connected.

The mechanism is fixed in the socket by means of spacer lugs, which are adjusted by means of two screws located on the left and right.

Before dismantling the mechanism, it is necessary to determine the core along which the phase approaches the switch. We use for this, the instructions for use can be viewed by clicking on the highlighted blue link in the corresponding instructions.

With extreme caution, so as not to touch the live contacts with our hands, in turn we bring the indicator to one, then to the other contact. We switch the switch key to another position and check again.

It is necessary to find such a position of the key when the phase is only on one contact, in this position it is in the "off" position. Thus, the supply phase conductor of the wire will be found. The second conductor, without voltage, will go to the luminaire.

Before carrying out further work on replacing the switch, you need to take care of the safety of this event, for this you need to turn off the electricity supply to the apartment (unscrew the plugs or turn off the machine in the floor or apartment switchboard).

We turn off, check the absence of voltage and only after that we continue to dismantle the switch.

We unscrew the two screws of the spacer legs, take out the mechanism from the socket.

We disconnect the wires. Phase wire first. We unscrew the contact screw, remove the wire and mark it with insulating tape.

Then we disconnect the second wire freeing the mechanism.

We straighten the wires.

Dismantling completed.

We are preparing

Before connecting the switch, it is necessary to prepare it for installation. We will analyze how to do this below.

Remove the key by prying it in the center from the left or right side with a flat screwdriver.

Unscrew the two diagonal screws.

The mechanism is now available to us. The mechanisms of one-button switches can be of different designs, but they have the same connection principle. Necessarily there are two contact clamps and spacer lugs for attaching to the socket.

In our mechanism, the spacer screws are located on the left and right.

They set in motion the metal fixation legs.

And two contact screw clamps for connecting the cores of the wires.

By unscrewing or tightening the contact screw, we move the pressure plate, designed to securely fix the core in contact.

Each contact provides 1 to 2 wire connections.

How to connect a light switch?

First, you need to prepare the wires, strip the insulation of the core, remove 1 cm with a knife.

We insert it into the contact hole. If necessary, cut off the excess; ideally, it should not stick out from the contact by more than 1-2 mm. We make sure that the core insulation does not get into the clamp.

Tighten the contact screw.

We check how well the contact will stretch, pull on the wire, if it is not mobile, everything is normal, if not, we stretch it still. Remember, a poorly tightened contact is the reason for the imminent failure of the switch. Although you don't need to be very zealous either, you can rip off the screw thread, on inexpensive switches it is very vulnerable. We are looking for a middle ground, it has gone tight, that's it, we check it and move on to the next wire.

We clean, insert.

On some switches, on the back of the mechanism, there may be contact designations:

Most often, on single-button switches, the designations look like L and 1, or 1 and 2, where:

"L" (for L and 1), "1" (for 1 and 2) is a contact for connecting the incoming phase, the one that we marked with insulating tape.
"1" (for L and 1), "2" (for 1 and 2) - outgoing contact, it can also be marked with an arrow.

These designations are due to the fact that when connecting the circuit breaker correctly, the incoming phase must be a fixed contact, and the outgoing phase must be movable. Although from a practical point of view this is not essential for single-button switches, the wires can be connected this way and that.

So, we come to the installation of the switch mechanism in (mounting sleeve). Before doing this, it is necessary to check whether the switch is installed correctly. To do this, turn on the voltage and turn the key on and off. In the on position, the key should be pressed down at the top, and in the off position at the bottom.

We install the mechanism in the socket box, align horizontally and tighten the screws of the spacer legs until firm fixation is achieved.

We screw the protective case into place.

Install the key. Before that, we look at its reverse side, the pins on the key should go into the grooves on the button.

The switch is installed.

I hope the question of how to connect a light switch or replace it will not arise anymore.

To complete the work on replacing the switch, we needed:

Material

switch - 1

Tool

voltage indicator
flat and phillips screwdrivers
wire cutters
pliers

By replacing the switch on our own, we saved:

calling an electrician at home - 200 rubles
dismantling a one-button switch - 100 rubles
installation and connection of an indoor one-button switch - 150 rubles

Preparation for work

Also make sure there is light in the rest of the rooms.

Let's first figure out how to change the switch with one button.

Removing the switch

To dismantle a faulty device, you must first remove its protective cover, made of plastic or carbolite. To do this, you need to unscrew the 2 fastening screws.

The supplying phase conductor of the cable is the one at the contact of which the probe indicates the presence of voltage; however, it is absent on the second contact. The zero core must go to the lighting device.

After de-energizing the apartment, you need to make sure that there is no voltage at the switch, and then continue to dismantle it. In this case, you need to proceed as follows:

Remove the mechanism from the socket after unscrewing the screws of the spacer lugs.
After that, you need to separate the wires, starting with the phase one. Unscrew the contact screw, pull out the cable and mark it with electrical tape.
Disconnect the second cable from the mechanism.
Straighten the wires.

This completes the dismantling.

Preparing to connect

Before connecting a new device, you need to prepare it for installation. The procedure is as follows:

Remove the key using a flat screwdriver.
Unscrew the screws to gain access to the mechanism. The design of these devices is different, but they are connected according to a single principle and are fixed to the socket by means of spacer legs. The movement of the latter is provided by screws.

Installing a new switch

Having prepared the mechanism for installation, we proceed directly to its connection. In this case, you need to act in the following order:

Strip the ends of the wires from the insulation by 1-1.5 cm with a knife.
Insert the cleaned core into the contact hole, while making sure that there is no insulation in the clamp. It should be remembered that the phase conductor (red) must be fixed in the socket of the contact marked L1, and the zero (black or blue) in the socket L2.
If the end of the core sticks out more than 2 mm, trim off the excess.
Tighten the contact screw.
Pull on the cable to make sure the contact is secured well. The wire must remain stationary. If not, tighten the contact more tightly. But it is important not to overdo it - you can break the thread.
Strip the next wire and insert it into the hole.
Fix in the same way, make sure that the fixing is good.

After that, the switch must be inserted into the socket and secured with sliding strips. Then supply electricity to the room and check the operation of the device under voltage.

If the light turns off when you press the up key, you should swap the cables or simply turn the mechanism case over.

The whole process of replacing a two-button switch is clearly visible in the video:

How to replace a switch in an apartment. Replacing a light switch in an apartment is a simple instruction of complex work for beginners. The order of work

Work principles

Views

Dismantling

One button connection

Installation with two buttons

Basic requirements for work on the replacement of electrical equipment

Replacing the one-button switch

Replacing a one-button switch with a two-button

How to change a switch to a touch switch

Installing a dimmer switch

Principles of operation and types of switches - what you need to know so as not to harm yourself

Switch replacement

Dimmers

How to replace an old switch with a new one - instructions

How to remove the switch

Installing a new appliance

How to transfer - instructions

Breaker repair

What tools and materials will be required

How to disassemble

Cleaning contacts

Other possible breakdowns and solutions

How to assemble

Dismantling

Installation

Preparation

Dismantling

Selecting a new circuit breaker

Video

Views

Dismantling

One button connection

Installation with two buttons

Replacement.

Preparation for work

Removing the switch

Preparing to connect

Installing a new switch

Conclusion

Dismantling the switch

We are preparing

How to connect a light switch?

To complete the work on replacing the switch, we needed:

By replacing the switch on our own, we saved:

Preparation for work

Removing the switch

Preparing to connect

Installing a new switch

Conclusion