How to change a switch with two. How to replace an old switch with a new one. Single key light switch

How to change a switch with two.  How to replace an old switch with a new one.  Single key light switch
How to change a switch with two. How to replace an old switch with a new one. Single key light switch

It is easy to replace the switch with one of the same number of contacts and type of installation. Switches according to the type of installation are for outdoor and internal wiring. Switches differ greatly from each other in the number of disconnected contacts, and in order to replace a single-key switch with a two- or three-key switch, you will need to lay one or two additional wires from it, respectively, to the lamp.

Find the tool you need.

Pockets should contain:

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

Take safety precautions when working with electricity.

It is necessary to wear shoes with thick insulating soles. Go to the electrical panel and turn off the electricity supply to your apartment, near the electric meter. It's as simple as unscrewing the fuses, turning off the circuit breaker, or turning the handle of the package switch.

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

For additional safety, you can lay a rug made of insulating material. 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 remove the decorative cover.

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

Unscrew 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. There is no need to completely unscrew the screws on the expansion tabs; just loosen them and the inside of the switch will come free.


Take out inner part device. Pull it out as far as the length of the free wires allows.

Install a new switch.

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

The insulation on the wires should be removed by approximately 6 - 7 mm, for fastening without bends, and stripped by 18 - 21 mm, when twisting it into a ring. It is convenient to bend the ring of wires over the screw with which it will be pressed.

The most important thing is to find the phase wire. Place bare wires away from different sides and make sure that they do not sag or touch the wall. Turn on the voltage temporarily. Use the indicator to find the wire that has voltage and mark it.

Connect the wires correctly. There are switches with marks where you need to connect the phase; this “L” mark is located on the base of the device. The icons “1”, “2” or an arrow indicate the mounting points to which the outgoing wires to the lamp are connected.

There are no markings, then we connect the phase wiring to the central contact, in the middle between the other two wires. In a single-key switch, the phase must be supplied to the fixed lower contact, although this rule is not strictly controlled.

Clamp the wires with screws, and check that the wires are securely fastened 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.

Reinstall the switch. Pay attention to the correct installation of the switch. The keys should turn on when they are pressed at the top.

Align the switch horizontally and secure it. Screw the mounting frame to the installation box or secure the switch with expansion lugs. If you can’t secure it securely with the paws, then put a plastic ring cut from a bottle, pipe, or anything else into the socket.

Finish your work. Fix the decorative trim first. Don't be stupid, place it correctly if it says "ON", "OFF" or others. Place the keys evenly along the decorative overlay and press them into place.

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

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

Connecting such a switch will be a little more difficult, but once you understand the theory and wires, you can do it yourself.

First, let's remember school course electricity and try to draw a lighting diagram for the room. For household alternating current, lamps (in our case, lamps) are connected in parallel, and the switch is disconnected from the energy source.

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

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

L - “phase wire”, N - “zero”

From the common input to the distribution box in the room, 2 wires come - “zero” and “phase”. The “zero” wires from both lamps also come here. In the box, all the “zero” wires are assembled into one twist.

Now let's deal with the “phase”.

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


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

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

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

Then we make sure to turn off the machine on the electrical panel, thereby protecting our place of work.

Before installing the switch, we had already laid all the wires and now there are 3 terminals 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 wires do not touch each other, but at the same time there is free access to them.


Now we turn on the machine and carefully (!), observing the rules of personal safety, use the indicator to determine the “phase” wire from the box (the red LED on the indicator will light up). Turn off the machine and mark the wire.

It is this output that we connect to the common terminal of the switch, tightly tightening the fastening screw.


We connect the remaining terminals in the same way to the other two clamps.

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

Kinds

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

  • Switches for hidden wiring are inserted into a pre-made recess in the wall with a plastic or metal cylindrical socket box.
Switches for hidden wiring
  • Surface-mounted switches for open wiring are used in wooden switchboard structures. In these cases, the wires are often mounted on the wall surface or laid in special plastic cable channels.

Switch installation diagram open wiring

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

  • Screw terminals clamp the stripped end of the wire between two plates. As a disadvantage of this design, one can note the slight heating of the contacts when clamped with brass plates aluminum wire. The difference between the metals in the contact creates resistance; when current passes, the terminals heat up. For this reason, the screws must be periodically tightened to ensure more reliable contact. If the wiring in the room is made with copper wires, there will be no such problem.
  • Clamping spring terminals do not require any maintenance screw tightening. A powerful spring constantly presses on the brass plate, pressing the stripped end of the wire. In this way, 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 group of lamps that turn on simultaneously, for example, in a toilet or bathroom.

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

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

There are switches of more complex and expensive designs:

  • Touch (capacitive) 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 clap or voice command;
  • With remote control they have several functions: switching on by groups, changing brightness and others.

The principles of their operation and the features of connecting them yourself deserve consideration in a separate topic.

Dismantling

When making renovations in an apartment with your own hands, at the stage of replacing switches, pay attention to the safety rules. First of all, at the distribution board, 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 old-style switches for hidden wiring, the mounting bolts are located on the front panel and are easily accessible. In new models they are located under the keys of the switch buttons, which are simply pryed off with a screwdriver and removed. By unscrewing the fastening screws and removing the top cover, you will see the switch structure fixed in a cylindrical frame.

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

IN classic version upon contact with terminal thumb must be kept on the top of the handle, where a contact is provided to provide a control circuit. If the screwdriver indicator light on one of the contacts lights up, switchboard The circuit breaker is not turned off.

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

Remove the two screws of the sliding strips that secure the switch frame into the wall socket. Unscrew the screws on the terminals, freeing the wires; if the ends have burnt insulation, bite off that area with wire cutters. Mark the phase wire by bending it, or glue it with electrical tape for ease of further connection.

Switches for open wiring are dismantled using the same method, the difference is that they do not have a locking mechanism with sliding bars. 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 switch terminals, the phase (red wire) to the contact marked L1. Blue or black wire - to the contact marked L2. Insert the switch into the socket, secure the housing with sliding bars and screw in the screws.

Turn on the network at the distribution board and check operation. It happens that turning off is carried out by pressing the key up, turn the switch body over or swap the wires. If everything is fine, screw on the decorative cover and secure the switch key.

Installation with two buttons

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

The colors of the wires do not always correspond to their intended purpose: red is phase, and blue or black is neutral. In private houses and old buildings, everything can be the other way around or the same color. In some cases, there may be no phase to the switches; the neutral one is switched on. Everything needs to be checked with indicator devices.

Replacement.

He will tell you how to properly change a switch in a house or apartment and what rules should be followed. Every owner can do this.

Based on the above information, following safety rules, you can change ordinary 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 it at home.

More information

Switch failure can occur due to various reasons: from short circuit to banal wear of the box. In order to replace it, you can call an electrician, but if you wish, this work can be done yourself. There is nothing difficult about 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 involves electricity, it is necessary to take care of safety measures. In this article you will find a detailed answer to the question of how to change a switch with your own hands.

Preparing for work

Before you start replacing the switch, you need to make sure that this is the reason. Often the “culprit” is the cartridge, so you should first check it with a probe or multimeter, after first unscrewing the lamp.

Also make sure that there is light in the other rooms.

After making sure that it is the switch that is faulty, it needs to be removed. It should be remembered that the light switch is replaced in a de-energized apartment, so it is necessary to turn off the voltage supplied to the room with a switch. Warn everyone at home that you are working with electricity and at this time they should not turn on any electrical appliances, much less touch the switch.


Let's first figure out how to change a 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 will need to unscrew the 2 mounting screws.

The switch mechanism with one key is fixed inside the socket box with spacer tabs. It has a pair of screw terminals with cable cores connected to it. The position of the legs can be adjusted, if necessary, using screws located on the left and right sides.

Before removing the mechanism, you need to determine which conductor the phase fits into it. For this we need a probe screwdriver. By touching the contacts one by one, we check for voltage. Then the device key should be switched to another position, and then checked again.

The supply 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 wire should go to the lighting device.

Phase determination is performed on a switch that is energized, so extreme care must be taken when performing this procedure. Only after its completion must the room be de-energized by turning off the switch or unscrewing the plugs.


Having de-energized 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 box, having first unscrewed the screws of the spacer tabs.
  • After this, you need to separate the wires, starting with the phase wire. 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 you connect a new device, you need to prepare it for installation. The procedure for this is as follows:

  • Using a flathead screwdriver, remove the key.
  • Unscrew the screws to gain access to the mechanism. The design of these devices varies, but they are connected according to the same principle and are fixed to the socket box using spacer tabs. The movement of the latter is ensured by screws.

A pair of screw clamps and a pressure plate are provided to secure the wires. With their help, you can loosen the fastening, or, on the contrary, press the wires harder. From one to two wires can be connected to each contact.


Installing a new switch

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

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

After this, the switch must be inserted inside the socket box and secured using 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 body over.

After making sure that everything is in order, replace the switch key and screw on the cover. When installing a key, you need to make sure that the pins on it fit into the button 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 procedure for performing 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 keys, the phase is connected to terminal L3, and the other two cables go to terminals L1 and L2. Switches with three keys are connected by 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-key switch is clearly shown in the video:

Conclusion

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

It is easy to replace the switch with one of the same number of contacts and type of installation. Depending on the type of installation, switches are available for external and internal wiring. Switches differ greatly from each other in the number of disconnected contacts, and in order to replace a single-key switch with a two- or three-key switch, you will need to lay one or two additional wires from it, respectively, to the lamp.

Find the tool you need.

Pockets should contain:

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

Take safety precautions when working with electricity.

It is necessary to wear shoes with thick insulating soles. Go to the electrical panel and turn off the electricity supply to your apartment, near the electric meter. It's as simple as unscrewing the fuses, turning off the circuit breaker, or turning the handle of the package switch.

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

For additional safety, you can lay a mat of insulating material over 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 remove the decorative cover.

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

Unscrew 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. There is no need to completely unscrew the screws on the expansion tabs; just loosen them and the inside of the switch will come free.


Remove the inside of the device. Pull it out as far as the length of the free wires allows.


Install a new switch.

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

The insulation on the wires should be removed by approximately 6 - 7 mm, for fastening without bends, and stripped by 18 - 21 mm, when twisting the ring. It is convenient to bend the ring of wires over the screw with which it will be pressed.


The most important thing is to find the phase wire. Move the bare wires further away in different directions and make sure that they do not sag or touch the wall. Turn on the voltage temporarily. Use the indicator to find the wire that has voltage and mark it.

Connect the wires correctly. There are switches with marks where you need to connect the phase; this “L” mark is located on the base of the device. The icons “1”, “2” or an arrow indicate the mounting points to which the outgoing wires to the lamp are connected.

There are no markings, then we connect the phase wiring to the central contact, in the middle between the other two wires. In a single-key switch, the phase must be supplied to the fixed lower contact, although this rule is not strictly controlled.

Clamp the wires with screws, and check that the wires are securely fastened 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.

Reinstall the switch. Pay attention to the correct installation of the switch. The keys should turn on when they are pressed at the top.

Align the switch horizontally and secure it. Screw the mounting frame to the installation box or secure the switch with expansion lugs. If you can’t secure it securely with the paws, then put a plastic ring cut from a bottle, pipe, or anything else into the socket.


Finish your work. Fix the decorative trim first. Don't be stupid, place it correctly if it says "ON", "OFF" or others. Place the keys evenly along the decorative overlay and press them into place.

I've probably encountered a problem while making repairs. how to change a switch. It doesn't seem like a tricky thing, but

It’s scary, there’s still electricity, suddenly you won’t be able to deal with the wires. Well, it’s not clear what to connect where and what to screw to what.

In fact, there is nothing complicated here and there is nothing to be afraid of, everything is as simple as hammering a nail into a wall. After reading this article, in which everything in detail stated, you will never have a question again, how to change a 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 install the new one.

Dismantling the switch

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



Before us is a single-key switch mechanism. It has two contact screw clamps to which the wire strands are connected.



The mechanism is fixed in the socket box using spacer legs, which are adjusted using two screws located on the left and right.



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

Being extremely careful not to touch the live contacts with your hands, we take turns bringing the indicator first to one, then to the other contact. Switch the switch key to another position and check again.

You need to find such a position of the key when the phase is on only one contact; in this position it is in the “off” position. In this way, the supply phase conductor of the wire will be found. The second wire, without voltage, will go to the lamp.


Before further work When replacing a switch, you need to take care of safety of this event, to do this, you need to turn off the supply of electricity to the apartment (unscrew the plugs or turn off the circuit breaker in the floor or apartment switchboard).

We turn it off, check that there is no voltage, and only after that we continue dismantling the switch.

We unscrew the two screws of the spacer tabs and pull the mechanism out of the socket.


Disconnect the wires. First the phase wire. We unscrew the contact screw, remove the wire and mark it with insulating tape.


Then disconnect the second wire, freeing the mechanism.


Straighten the wires.


Dismantling completed.

We are preparing

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


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


Unscrew the two screws located diagonally.


Now the mechanism is available to us. Single-key switch mechanisms can be various designs, but they have the same connection principle. There must be two contact clamps and spacer tabs for attaching to the socket box.


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


They set the metal fixation claws in motion.


And two contact screw clamps for connecting wire cores.


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

Each contact provides connections from 1 to 2 wires.


How to connect a light switch?

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


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

Tighten the contact screw.


We check how well the contact is stretched, pull the wire, if it is not movable everything is fine, if not we stretch it some more. We remember that a poorly tightened contact is the reason for the rapid failure of the switch. Although you don’t need to be very zealous either, you can break the screw thread; on inexpensive switches it is very vulnerable. Are looking for golden mean, it went tight, that’s it, check it and move on to the next wire.


Clean it, insert it.


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

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

  • “L” (to designate L and 1), “1” (to designate 1 and 2) - contact for connecting the incoming phase, the one we marked with insulating tape.
  • “1” (to designate L and 1), “2” (to designate 1 and 2) - outgoing contact, it can also be marked with an arrow.

These designations are due to the fact that when connecting the switch correctly, the incoming phase must be a fixed contact, and the outgoing phase must be a moving one. Although with practical point For single-key switches, this is not important; the wires can be connected this way or that way.


So, we have come to installing the switch mechanism in the (mounting cup). Before doing this, you need to check whether the switch is installed correctly. To do this, apply voltage and turn the key on and off. In the on position, the key should be pressed at the top, and in the off position at the bottom.

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


Screw the protective housing into place.


Set the key. Before that we look at her reverse side, the pins on the key must fit 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 again.

To complete the work of replacing the switch we needed:

Material

  • switch - 1

Tool

  • voltage indicator
  • flat and Phillips screwdrivers
  • wire cutters
  • pliers

By replacing the switch ourselves, we saved:

  • calling an electrician to your home - 200 rubles
  • dismantling a single-key switch - 100 rubles
  • installation and connection of a single-key switch indoor installation- 150 rubles

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

Preparation

If possible, it is better to use the services of an electrician to replace the switch. Self-replacement switch may be dangerous.

  1. Before you replace the switch yourself, you must first remove the light bulb and check whether the switch is really at fault. After all, it often happens that the cartridge simply burns out.
  2. It is also necessary to establish that there is light in other rooms of the apartment.
  3. If it is definitely established that a specific switch is faulty, then it must be dismantled. However, before this, you will first have to completely cut off the power to the apartment. After turning off the switch, you should make sure that there is no voltage on the line. After this, you need to tell your loved ones not to turn on the light or turn the switch. People who are in the room must be aware that electrical work is being done.

Dismantling

  1. First, the switch keys are removed. This is usually done simply: you just need to pry them off and carefully remove them.
  2. Double keys must be removed one by one.
  3. After the keys are removed, you should remove the outer part of the box, which serves decorative decoration for the switch. As a rule, it can be removed as easily as the keys themselves. Just pry it off with a screwdriver and pull it towards you.
  4. After removing the decorative part, the master will see the screws with which the switch itself is screwed on. Use a screwdriver to remove the screws.
  5. The switch is removed from the opening.
  6. After dismantling the switch, the technician will see the wiring. They must also be disconnected. It is important to remember in what order and in what places they were installed.
  7. The wires should be insulated. After all manipulations are completed, you can even turn on the switch. Wires in this condition are not dangerous.

Since the wires must be insulated in any case, it is better to use different insulating tape for these purposes, then the wires will never get mixed up.

Choosing a new switch


When the work is completed, you can check whether the installation was carried out 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.

Touch systems and switches with LEDs are installed in the same way as a simple switch.

Video

The following video will help you understand the technology for replacing switches:

Each of us, at least once in our lives, has encountered a situation where, when we press a switch button, the lamp for some reason does not light up, and replacing it does not bring the desired result. If, at the same time, everything is in order with the switches in other rooms (the lights turn on), then the switch that does not work is most likely damaged and requires replacement.

It is believed that replacing the switch is a fairly simple operation and can be done on our own(this also applies to the case of updating an outdated model).

At independent decision If you are wondering how to replace a switch, you may need the following tool:

  • regular straight or Phillips screwdriver;
  • indicator screwdriver (phase indicator);
  • mounting knife and insulating tape;
  • pliers.

Before starting work, you first need to turn off the power in the room where you are reinstalling the faulty switch. To do this, you should find and turn off the linear circuit breaker in the hallway on the electrical panel, which is responsible for supplying power to the this room(or general machine, feeding the entire apartment).

When using conventional fuse links (“plugs”) instead of a machine, the latter are simply unscrewed from their holders. In the case when machines or inserts are installed in both supply wires (phase and neutral) - you will have to turn off both of them.

Work order

The sequence of operations when dismantling a “suspicious” switch is as follows:

  1. Dismantling the product begins with removing the operating key of the switch and removing it decorative panel, secured to the base with two screws. This way you have access to the terminals of the device.
  2. At the next stage of work, you should make sure that it is the switch itself that is to blame for the malfunction, and not the power supply wiring. To do this, you need to turn on the previously switched off circuit breaker and, using an indicator screwdriver, check whether voltage is supplied to one of the working terminals of the switch. When working with an indicator screwdriver, you must hold it in one hand, while touching the contact plate located on the end of the indicator handle with your thumb. Such contact is necessary for the formation of a closed electrical circuit and correct operation of the phase indicator. To avoid any troubles, it is recommended to first verify that the indicator itself is working by checking it at test points that are known to be energized.
  3. After this, you need to press the key and check for voltage at the adjacent terminal and on the wire extending towards the lighting fixture.

If the indicator shows “phase”, then the switch is working; In this case, the electrical wiring laid in the area from the switch to the lamp may be faulty. If there is no “phase” at the second terminal of the device, the switch will need to be replaced.

  1. Then you need to re-disconnect the power supply from the faulty switch and, making sure that there is no voltage (“phase”) at both of its terminals, loosen the screws securing the wires and disconnect them.
  2. After this, you need to loosen the fastening screws that secure the switch body in a special plastic (mounting) box embedded in the wall and carefully pull the switch out of it.
  3. At this stage of work, it is recommended to check the condition of the contact part of the supply wires. If the exposed sections of the wiring are slightly broken, you need to cut them off at the break point and use a knife to remove the insulation from the ends of the wire.
  4. Next, you should arrange the ends of the wires so that they can be connected to the terminals of the newly installed switch.

The switch should be installed in the following sequence:

  • disassemble the switch being installed and connect the previously prepared wires to its working terminals. In this case, you should pay attention to the fact that the stripped ends of the wiring carefully fit the terminal contacts and do not protrude outward by more than 2-3 mm (it is recommended to check the reliability of the wires in the terminal blocks by slightly tugging them away from the clamp);
  • Next you need to install the switch in its original place, in mounting box; and this should be done very carefully - so as not to accidentally damage the wires;
  • then, pressing the device body tightly against the wall, you need to tighten the screws on the spacer “tendrils” that fix it in the mounting box;
  • after this, the decorative cover is put on and the switch key is installed in place;
  • In conclusion, all you have to do is turn on the circuit breaker on the panel and check the functionality of the new device.
Author: elremont from 2-09-2014

Hi, I'm Josh, in this video I'll show you how to replace the multi-position switch on your cooktop. The hob can accommodate two various types switch, the first is a potentiometer; its handle can be set in any position within the range of its rotation. On other stoves we use a multi-position switch like this one, it has several fixed positions. The process for replacing both the multi-position switch and the potentiometer is very similar, in this video I will do it on that brand, but the process should be very similar for most stove types. Before starting work, make sure your stove is unplugged.
Most stoves turn off the same way. If you can't turn off the plug or if you want more security, you can turn off the circuit breaker in the floor panel. The stove typically fits into an opening underneath the countertop, and some are secured in place with latches for security. Check this before attempting to pull the plate out, pressing the latches from underneath if necessary. It's simple, by pressing the latches, you can remove the stove. And once you have done this, the first thing you need to do is remove the handle on the switch, in most cases you just need to pull it off, like this. After removing the handle, you need to use small pliers or wrench Unscrew the nut that holds the switch to the plate. The nut is unscrewed, now I can turn the panel over and lay it down very carefully. Now I need to detach this base panel. To do this you will need to unscrew these four screws. Let's move on and unscrew them. With these four screws removed, I can lift the panel up and move it out of the way. And down here we see the switches. Let's replace this switch. It's a good habit to take a photo electrical connections, so that if something happens, you can remember how everything was connected. But in this case, all the wires are the same color, so there is a possibility of mixing them up when replacing them. For this reason, it is best to simply move each wire from the old switch to the new one one at a time. This will make it less likely that you will confuse them. We disconnect the wire, simply tighten it and then install it on the new switch. So, once I've changed all the connections, I can remove the old switch and put the new one in its place. I want to screw the nut onto the switch shaft from the other side to make sure that it is in correct position. Now I need to attach the base panel in place and all that remains is to place the handle on the shaft. Now, if you had to tear the seal that was under the cooktop when you lifted it from the countertop, then a new seal is available on eSpares. Or you can simply use a special insert around the edge of the hob. You just need to make sure that it fits correctly in the grooves. Spare parts for hobs and other devices are available in online stores. Thank you for watching.
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