How to connect a pass-through switch (light control from two or more points). How to connect a pass-through switch from two places Connection diagram for a pass-through switch from 2 places

Prices for housing and communal services increase every year, which makes us think about saving, including electricity. Moreover, this applies to places that people had never even thought about before. For example, lighting of stairs and landings in multi-storey buildings. In the recent past, when electricity prices were meager, staircases were illuminated 24 hours a day. This problem is also relevant in private houses that have more than one floor connected by a staircase. To save money, you have to turn off the lights, but to do this you need to either go down the stairs again or go up them. This is extremely inconvenient, so sometimes they simply don’t turn it off and it burns until the morning, when it doesn’t get light.

For the convenience of lighting in such areas, so-called “pass-through” switches were developed. They are also called “duplicate” or “change-over”. They can be distinguished from classic switches by the presence of a larger number of contacts. Therefore, in order to connect them, you need to know the circuit, and even more so, be able to understand the principle of their operation. Naturally, this is not entirely simple, but it is absolutely possible.

On the key of the pass-through switch there are two arrows (not large), directed up and down.

This type is a pass-through single-key switch. There may be double arrows on the key.

The connection diagram is not much more complicated than the connection diagram for a classic switch. The only difference is in the larger number of contacts: a regular switch has two contacts, and a pass-through switch has three contacts. Two out of three contacts are considered common. In the lighting switching circuit, two or more similar switches are used.

The differences are in the number of contacts

The switch works as follows: when switching with a key, the input is connected to one of the outputs. In other words, the pass-through switch is designed for two operating states:

The input is connected to output 1;
The input is connected to output 2.

It has no intermediate positions, therefore, the circuit works as needed. Since the contacts are simply connected, in the opinion of many experts they should have been called “switches”. Therefore, a transition switch can be safely classified as such a device.

In order not to be mistaken about what kind of switch it is, you should familiarize yourself with the connection diagram, which is present on the switch body. Basically, the circuit is available on branded products, but you won’t see it on inexpensive, primitive models. As a rule, the circuit can be found on switches from Lezard, Legrand, Viko, etc. As for cheap Chinese switches, basically there is no such circuit, so you have to connect the ends with a device.

As mentioned above, in the absence of a diagram, it is better to call the contacts at different positions of the key. This is also necessary in order not to confuse the ends, since irresponsible manufacturers often confuse the terminals during the production process, which means that it will not work correctly.

To ring contacts, you must have either a digital or pointer device. The digital device should be switched to dialing mode. In this mode, short-circuited sections of electrical wiring or other radio components are determined. When the ends of the probes are closed, the device emits a sound signal, which is very convenient, since there is no need to look at the device display. If you have a pointer device, then when the ends of the probes are closed, the arrow deflects to the right all the way.

In this case, it is important to find a common wire. For those who have the skills to work with the device, there will be no special problems, but for those who have picked up the device for the first time, the task may not be solvable, despite the fact that they only need to figure out three contacts. In this case, it is better to first watch the video, which clearly explains and, most importantly, shows how to do it.

Connection diagram for two pass-through switches

Such a scheme can provide significant assistance in organizing lighting on the stairs (in a two-story house), in a long corridor or in a passage room. It can be quite convenient to organize lighting in the bedroom when one switch is installed at the entrance to the bedroom, and the other next to the bed. In this case, you won’t have to constantly get out of bed to turn off the main light.

Electrical diagram for connecting two pass-through switches

The connection diagram is very simple and clear: a phase is supplied to the input of one of the switches, the input of the other switch is connected to one of the wires of the chandelier (lamp). The second end of the lamp is connected directly to the neutral wire. The N1 outputs of both switches are connected together, as are the N2 outputs.

The scheme operates quite simply. If you look at the diagram, in this position the light source is turned on. When you subsequently switch any of the switches, in any order, the lamp will turn off and on.

To make it more clear, you should carefully look at the figure.

Wiring between two pass-through switches.

If such switches are installed indoors, the wiring should be done as shown in the figure below. Modern requirements allow wiring at a distance of 15 cm from the ceiling. As a rule, wires are laid in special trays or boxes, and the ends of the wires are concentrated in installation (distribution) boxes. This approach has undeniable advantages. The main thing is that a damaged wire can always be replaced. The connection of wires in installation boxes is carried out using special clamps (contact blocks). At the same time, twists are also allowed, which are then necessarily soldered and reliably insulated.

The output of the second switch is connected to one of the conductors going to the lighting lamp. The white conductors are the wires connecting the outputs of both switches.

Wiring in residential premises

You can find out how the ends of the wires in the junction box are connected by watching the corresponding video.

Three-point lighting control option

If there is a need for remote control of the lamp from three places, then you will also have to purchase a cross switch. It switches not one, but two contacts at a time, so it has two inputs and two outputs.

How to connect all three switches can be seen in the figure. This is somewhat more complicated than the previous case, but you can understand the principle of operation.

Electrical diagram for switching on a lamp from three places.

To connect an electric light source, according to this diagram, you must perform the following operations:

The neutral wire is connected to one of the lamp wires.
The phase wire is connected to the input contact of one of the pass-through switches.
The free wire of the lamp is connected to the input contact of the second switch (pass-through).
The two output contacts of the pass-through switch are connected to the two input contacts of the crossover switch.
The two output contacts of the second pass-through switch are connected to the two output contacts of the crossover switch.

The diagram is the same, but it is shown more clearly where exactly to connect the wires.

Which terminals are the wires connected to?

This is approximately how you should route the wires around the room.

Based on a circuit for three control points, you can assemble circuits for 4 or 5 points. In such cases, it is necessary to increase the number of crossover switches. They should always be installed between two pass-through switches.

Scheme of organizing on/off lamp for 5 points.

If you remove one of the cross switches from this circuit, you get a 4-point option, and if you add one cross switch to it, you get a 6-point option.

Two-key pass-through switch: connection diagram

In order to control the operation of two lamps from several points, there are two-key pass-through switches. They have six contacts. The main thing is to identify common contacts. They are determined according to the same principle as when searching for a common contact in single-key pass-through switches.

In a circuit that uses two two-key pass-through switches, significantly more wires are used.

The phase wire is supplied to the inputs of both switches, and the other inputs of the switches are connected to one of the ends of one and the other lamp. The free ends of the lamp are connected to the neutral conductor. The two outputs of one switch are connected to the two outputs of the second switch, and the other two outputs of that switch are connected to the other two outputs of the first switch.

Switching light sources according to the principle “approach, turn on, pass, turn off” is one of the options for the efficient use of electrical energy. The functionality of such a control system is provided by the same traditional devices - switches, but structurally somewhat modernized.

Switching modernization allows you to connect a pass-through switch from two or three places in order to control the light source from each individual point. Agree, this solution is especially convenient for long rooms, for example, a corridor.

We suggest you understand the principles of connecting a pass-through switch to two and three control points. The article provides working diagrams for organizing light groups, and also describes the features of the implementation of switching projects.

The logic of saving energy spent on lighting devices or others is explained by simple user actions.

If a lighting device is needed, electricity is supplied to it by simply closing the switch contact. Otherwise, the opposite action is performed.

Light source switch - interpreted in electrical slang - a pass-through switch. Provides a fundamentally new approach in terms of operation of electrical sections of networks intended for the installation of lighting devices (+)

However, let’s assume that the premises (residential or other purposes) are passable. Then the user will turn on the lights at the entrance, but when leaving the room through another door, he will no longer be able to de-energize the circuit. There is irrational use of electricity.

But the situation is easy to improve. And the option of connecting from two places in the room for a pass-through mode scheme will help to do this.

Long corridors of premises for different purposes are potential objects for the installation of control systems for light sources from different places. It is during the operation of such premises that the pressing issue of energy saving is raised.

For example, there is a room with a functional purpose - a corridor. It is required to control the general group of lamps for this room from two points - at the first (passage) door and at the second (passage) door.

Switching light from two places

The lighting of the project corridor consists of two light groups, so in this case it is logical to use two two-key switches for control.

Accordingly, in addition to them you will need:

two socket boxes;
one ;
three-core cable.

The meterage of electrical conductors should be calculated after drawing up the diagram and layout of the wiring. It is recommended to purchase a cable with a small reserve.

The control circuit for two light groups through two-key pass-through switches looks something like this:

This is the same switch, but in terms of circuit design it is made with five contact terminals, two of which are short-circuited with a jumper. The switching group of such a switch contains four contact pads.

A widely used circuit design for residential buildings: N, L – household network; RK – distribution box; L1 – light group; PV1, PV2 – pass-through switches; PRK – cross commutator (+)

The line cross-switching device is an additional element of the circuit, which also involves the installation of two pass-through switches.

Simple single-key instruments are used.

The operating principle of the three-seater scheme is as follows:

A phase is connected to the “common” terminal PV1.
The 1st and 2nd contacts of the crossover switch are connected from the changeover contact terminals.
From the 3rd and 4th terminals of the crossover switch, connection to the 1st and 2nd terminals of the PV2 changeover contacts.
The common terminal “common” PV2 is connected to one terminal of the light group.
The second terminal of the light group is connected to the electrical zero.

Such solutions involving simple single-key devices are recommended for use in rooms where the number of inputs/outputs is equal to the number of control places.

Implementation of the circuit design according to Fig. 6 in a “natural” form. This is roughly what a completed installation looks like indoors, where a control system from three places is needed

For example, creating a similar circuit for the conditions of passing a long corridor, with 1 entrance and 1 exit, with switching in the central zone, is clearly impractical. Obviously, it makes no sense to turn off the lights when a person has only passed the first half of the corridor. Meanwhile, you can find similar recommendations from “professional” electricians on the Internet.

Schemes with control from more than three places

The number of control places is, in principle, unlimited. Another question is how complex such decisions are. The more devices are involved in the implementation of the control system, the more complex the construction scheme becomes.

The number of switched lines and contact terminals is increasing. Accordingly, costs for components and installation increase. However, projects with 4-5 control points are used quite actively. For example, this project:

It uses a pair of single-key simple pass-through switches and a pair of switches with a reversible switching function. The diagram shows only one light group. Meanwhile, it is possible to connect additional light groups.

Additional light groups

Additional light sources (light groups) can be connected via free terminals and act as light sources for intermediate transition zones. That is, in the same long corridors it becomes possible to use the circuit for a larger number of control positions.

Five-point control circuit for the light switching system: L1 – light group; N, L – network; On 1, On 2 – pass-through switches; On 3, On 4, On 5 – reversible switches (+)

In this case, light groups should be divided into action zones - entrance, intermediate, exit. With this solution, it is already possible to walk through a long corridor halfway, turn off the lights on the completed half and turn on the lights on the remaining half.

Multi-element schemes, of course, are of little use for the private residential sector, since projects of this kind rarely have long corridors or large rooms with several doors. But for the commercial sphere or production environment, solutions of this kind are in demand.

Principles of control system design

In general, there are no installation features for installing pass-through switches. All installation work is carried out in a standard manner, in accordance with the rules for installing conventional switching devices.

Classic installation detail for wiring inside walls. The socket box is installed (tightly walled up). An electrical cable is routed inside the socket box. A control device is connected (two-key)

If the budget allows, it is advisable to equip each individual device with a distribution box. Then you need to purchase small boxes according to the number of mounted switches. But the option with one RC is also not excluded.

The selection factors here are directly related to specific installation conditions. Typically, switches are installed “flush” with the wall surface - internal wiring diagram.

Meanwhile, the implementation of projects for private (country) properties often involves the installation of “overhead” (surface) installation schemes, despite the fact that this approach is considered obsolete.

For the first case, socket boxes will be required for installation. For the second - overhead plates. These accessories are necessary to securely mount switches in wall panel niches or directly on walls.

The cable is connected strictly according to the diagram indicated on the back of the device. The circuit layout of a single-key switch is simple. However, mismatch of conductors with incorrect wiring can result in failure of the device.

The electrical conductor, as a rule, is three-core cables, where two cores are needed to power the system, and the third is used to form a protective grounding loop.

Household lamps can be used without an “earth” if the body is non-metallic. Industrial lamps must have a grounding bus.

Of course, regardless of its purpose, domestic or industrial, the installed network is always connected through additional protection -. This device must be calculated based on power and cutoff current in relation to the built-through light control system.

Analysis of possible errors:

The appearance and implementation of devices of this kind in electrical networks may not be so significant, but it still affected the ease of use. Moreover, solutions based on pass-through switches actually lead to energy savings.

Meanwhile, the improvement of devices does not stop. New developments appear periodically, for example, similar to touch switches.

Do you have anything to add or have questions about connecting the pass-through switch? You can leave comments on the publication, participate in discussions and share your own experience in arranging an electrical network. The contact form is located in the lower block.

Let's imagine a situation: night, in front of you is a long staircase to the second floor where it is dark, like in a forest. You pressed the light switch and it became light, but when you climbed the stairs you realized that the light could only be turned off using the switch at the top...

To be able to turn lights on and off from two different locations, simply purchase an additional pass-through switch for the staircase. This is not the only solution, but by far the most popular. There are more, which are mentioned in another entry. But within the framework of this article we will examine the following questions:

Operation of staircase switches
Connection method for pass-through switches
Practical example and implementation of the switching circuit
The ability to create a lamp control circuit from 3 or more places.

So, thanks to ladder switches, you can light the same lamp from two different places. Not necessarily on the stairs. This could be any large room where it makes sense to control the lamp from two places. In general, such switches can be used to turn on/off any device from two places, not necessarily just lamps.

How do stair switches work?

A simplified diagram looks like this (take a closer look at the animation).

We provide electrical potential through the phase wire (L).
The switches are connected by two brown and gray wires (in the diagram).
The light bulb lights up when the electric current from the L-wire reaches the lamp.
The circuit can be interrupted independently using either ladder switch S1 or S2.
With the help of a staircase switch, they do not completely break the circuit, but choose which electric potential is transferred to the second switch.

Thus, a pass-through switch has one more contact compared to a single switch. In the usual one there are 2, but here there are 3 terminals for connecting wires.

The following diagram has more in common with reality. So let's see what's happening here:

The power cord is connected to switch S1.
We connect the neutral (N) and protective (PE) wires outside the circuit breakers using electrical connectors. The conductor protection connector is connected to the lamp body (or PE terminal), the neutral wire to the N terminal.
The power phase conductor (L) is connected to terminal No. 1 of switch S1. After this operation and voltage application, the electric potential will be applied to either terminal No. 2 or terminal No. 3 of switch S1.
Therefore, the 220V electric current at terminals 2 or 3 will reach switch S2.
If switches S1 and S2 are in the same positions, an electrical potential will appear at terminal No. 1 of switch S2 and the light will turn on.

In order for the light bulb to light up, it is extremely important that the circuit is not interrupted, starting from the 220 V phase supply wire (L) and ending with the lamp.

Schematic diagram of a pass-through switch

Three things have changed:

There are two cables connected from the junction box S1 to switch S2, which are used to power the other light switches.
All neutral and all protective wires are connected to two separate connectors. Since there are only two contacts in terminal No. 1 of staircase switch S1, it is necessary to use an additional electrical connector to which they will be connected: Phase power wire L, phase wires leading to other switches and power supply S1.
There is a fourth cable (black) between the S2 switch box and the lamp. This may be useful in the future, but in this configuration it is not used or associated with anything.

Step by step installation

Pass-through switch S1

Let us remind you once again that we always start any installation by turning off the voltage in the 220V network. Before starting work, use a voltage tester to make sure that there is no electrical potential on the power cables, preferably on all terminals coming out of the box.

The type of wires that come out of the box. We need a power cord and a cable that is routed to switch S2.

Let's connect all the wires right away so that we don't have to unscrew the switch again later.

Let's connect all the neutral wires to one connector, and all the protective wires to another connector. Use pliers during this operation.

When all the neutral and protective wires are connected, we put them into the electrical box. There are 5 phase wires left:

Power supply - 1 pc.
For powering other switches - 2 pcs.
For staircase switch S2 - 2 pcs.

The power cord and two cords for other circuit breakers are connected together at the electrical connector. We also connect to this connector a short cable a few centimeters long, which will be connected to terminal 1 of switch S1.

The short circuit cord is connected on one side, and the wires leading to switch S2 are on the second (top) side of the switch. Once voltage is applied, the electrical potential in the line will be transferred to either the brown or black wire depending on the position of the switch.

The last step is to assemble and align the circuit breaker. Let's put the frame and key back. Here is another drawing of how everything should be connected in the box:

Pass-through switch S2

Let's move on to the second place (switch). We have two cables, each with 4 wires:

cable outlet from switch S1 (bottom)
cable that leads to the lamp (top)

Due to the lack of a blue conductor, the gray wire is wrapped in blue electrical tape to indicate that it is a neutral conductor.

Similar to switch S1, we connect the protective conductors with one connector and the neutral conductors with the help of a second connector.

There are 4 phase wires left, of which the black one leading to the lamp will not be used in accordance with the diagram.

We fix the wires. On the top side, connect the wires from switch S1, and the bottom phase wire goes to the lamp.

Depending on the position of switch S1, the electrical potential will be on either the brown wire (top) or the black wire. That is, depending on the position of switch S2, the guide wire to the lamp (lower brown) will be connected to one of the upper wires.

Now reassemble, put the frame and key back on.

Pass-through switch for 3 places

Is it possible to connect more switches to control the lighting of one lamp? When using only conventional step switches, it is impossible to control the lamp from more than two places. For even more places, you need to buy cross switches, which are placed between the ladder switches, as shown in the diagram.

Let's summarize the work done

Thus, a stair switch provides an inexpensive and simple way to control lighting from two different locations. However, this requires preliminary planning and the laying of additional cables between them at the stage of repair / construction of the wiring. At a later stage, this operation may be difficult - you will have to run the wire along the wall or drill a channel in it.

If you need to control one lamp simultaneously from different rooms, then use pass-through switch connection diagram. But it is quite difficult to assemble such a circuit using conventional switches; then the use of pass-through switches or switches, as they are also commonly called, is required.

To organize control of lamps from several places, such switches are used. Not only is it very convenient, but it also allows you to save significant energy.

To easily calculate the required number of lamps, use the Calculator for calculating the number of lamps.

Application of pass-through switches especially relevant for controlling the lighting of staircases. For this purpose, circuits using time relays are often used, but such circuits are less economical and reliable, and are also not very convenient to use.

People move up stairs at different speeds, some faster and others slower, so setting large time delays taking into account the reserve means reducing savings.

Connection diagram for a pass-through lamp at the bottom, one switch allows you to turn on the lamps, and going up the stairs, another switch allows you to turn them off. If you need to go down, then to turn on the light a pass-through switch is used at the top, and to turn it off - at the bottom. A similar scheme is convenient to use for lighting long corridors.

Pass-through switches will be very useful not only for owners of long corridors and high-rise buildings, they will also be very useful for residents of small apartments. For example, in an apartment there is a passage room, upon entering which the light turns on, then when you go to the next room, the light turns on in it, and in the passage room it turns off pass-through switch, lighting that has become unnecessary. This scheme is very convenient and eliminates unnecessary walking, and also saves electricity.

Or another example. When an apartment dweller enters the bedroom, he turns on the light at the door, and when he goes to bed, he turns on the sconce or table lamp to read before going to bed, but now he needs to get up, go to the door and turn off the chandelier. And if in advance install a pass-through switch at the head of the bed, then all these manipulations do not need to be done.

In order to implement such a control circuit, so-called “pass-through switches” are used, which are switches. Unlike conventional switches, they have not two, but three contacts and can switch the “phase” from the first contact to the second or third.

Any type of lamp (from incandescent to fluorescent, LED, and energy-saving) can be used as a lighting source for such a circuit. You can connect according to this scheme not only lamps, but also any other load, the inclusion of which needs to be controlled from several places.

The procedure is not much different connecting a pass-through switch from connecting a conventional switch. The only difference is in the number of wires and contact terminals supplied; there are three of them at the pass-through switch.

It is necessary to take into account in advance that a three-core wire will need to be pulled from the junction box to such a switch.

In this scheme we use two pass-through switches and a distribution box into which wires and three-core wires from switches are brought from the controlled lamp.

From the junction box, the phase wire is connected to the common input contact of the first pass-through switch. Two other (output) contacts are connected to the wires, which come from similar contacts of the second switch. Then it is connected to the wire coming from the lamp, the common (input) contact of the second switch.

The second wire from the lamp is directly connected to the junction box zero

In accordance with the power of the controlled luminaire, it is necessary to select the cross-section of the three-core wire that is supplied to the pass-through switches.

Sometimes it becomes necessary to provide not two control points for lamps, but three or more. For example, on the stairs of a multi-story building, the lights on each floor must be turned on and off. With a long corridor into which the doors of several rooms open, the situation is the same.

To implement this scheme, in addition to simple pass-through switches, you will also need crossover switches. Such switches no longer have three contacts, but four - two input and two output, which represent two pairs of simultaneously switched contacts. A four-wire wire must be connected to such switches accordingly.

Connection diagram for a pass-through switch - control of a lamp from 3 places.

They are used in such a control scheme at the first and last control points of lamps - regular pass-through switches, on all others there are cross switches.

The number of control points is not limited, however, the complexity of switching in the distribution box increases due to the large number of wires connected to it. When laying them, you simply cannot do without proper marking of the wires, otherwise you can easily get confused in them.

The connection principle is as follows: the output pair of contacts of the first pass-through switch is connected to wires that go to the input pair of the next cross switch and further, up to the last pass-through switch, the common contact of which is connected to the wire going to the lamp. The phase wire is connected to the input contact of the first switch, and the second wire from the lamp to the junction box zero.

A three-core wire is pulled to each pass-through switch, and a four-wire wire to each crossover switch.

As an electronics engineer, I only discovered the existence of a pass-through switch while building a house. It seemed undignified to me to return to the hallway after turning on the living room lights to turn off the light by the front door.

In the end, I used them in four cases. It's funny, but a few years after finishing the house, it dawned on me that this should have been done three more times!

Now, based on the experience gained, I strongly recommend that you familiarize yourself with the wonderful properties and capabilities of a simple and useful device.

Pass-through switch: what is it about?

In academic terms, a pass-through switch is a device that provides independent control of lighting from different locations. For clarity, you can play: one person tries to turn on the lamp, and the other tries to turn it off. At the same time, they control the lighting from different places. It will turn out to be a fun disco with blinking lights, but it’s impossible to win!

In practice, such devices are used to turn on the lighting at one point, walk a certain area in comfort, and turn off the light at another point without going back. Hence the name - pass-through or marching switch. In this case, the whole trick lies in the design of the device.

Let's compare a regular switch with a pass-through switch

As you can see, when a third contact is added to a regular switch, it becomes a pass-through contact. Moreover, from the point of view of circuit design, such a device is correctly called a switch, since the circuit is never broken and the switching contact, in any position of the key, is connected to one of the output contacts.

Practical Application Examples

It is not always obvious where exactly lighting control should be provided. The task becomes easier if you look at practical examples.

Lighting control between garage and house

In this case, marching switches are used to provide illumination of the path between the garage and the house:

garage lighting control;
light above the garage door;
illuminated path;

Thus, you can turn on the lights from home, walk comfortably through the illuminated area and turn off the lights in the garage, or vice versa. In this particular example there are two more possibilities:

When working in the yard, you can turn on the lights;
If you are expecting guests, you can control the light outside while at home.

I added a light sensor to the lighting circuit of the local area, and the lights in the yard turn on automatically at nightfall, if necessary. Read about the use of the sensor in a separate article.

Pass-through switches control lighting in the vestibule

The dark vestibule of the house is not very cozy, and marching switches are also installed to control its lighting:

porch lighting control;
lamp on the wall;
control of lighting in the hallway.

Now we close the front door, turn on the lights in the hallway, and turn off the lights on the street and in the vestibule. To control the light on the way from the hallway, it would be necessary to install pass-through switches in all three rooms on the first floor. To avoid this, the lighting in the hallway is turned off with a timer. Read about its installation in a separate article.

We go up the illuminated stairs and turn off the lights

For staircase lighting, marching switches are a necessity:

lighting control in the living room on the ground floor;
three lamps on the staircase passage;
lighting control on the second floor landing.

The area on the second floor is small, so that after turning on the lighting in one of the rooms, you can return and turn off the lamps on the stairs. This did not suit me, and a timer was added to the switch wiring diagram. Now it can be turned off immediately, and the lighting will turn off the timer after 2 minutes.

We go down to the basement along the illuminated stairs

We also go down to the ground floor along the illuminated stairs:

lighting control at the entrance to the basement;
lighting control in the basement.

In the base everything is a little simpler: here in one block you can turn on the lamp in any room. Thus, you can first turn on the light in one of the rooms, and then turn off the lighting on the stairs.

An example of installing pass-through switches in the bedroom

Here is a blatant example of hindsight: there are no pass-through switches in the bedroom! You have to turn off the light at the door, and then move forward by touch in complete darkness, risking running into the corner of the bed. You can, of course, turn on the sconce, and then return to the entrance and turn off the general light. The correct thing to do is:

control of lighting at the front door;
sconces by the bedside tables;
as an option, you can use lamps opposite the bed;
lighting control at the head.

About the same thing should have been done in the other 2 bedrooms. I hope the examples given will inspire you to make the right decisions.

Types of crossover and pass-through switches

Let's take a closer look at the subject of our interest. First, we will study the existing options, and then we will learn how to connect them to electrical wiring.

Main types of pass-through switches

In appearance, changeover switches vary in color and shape, and they also come in:

hidden or open installation;
single-key, two-key, three-key;
with or without backlight;
a special character on the keys may or may not be present.

Internal circuits of pass-through switches

Considering the internal diagram, we can talk about the following types:

Single-key pass-through switch. It is most often used as the first and last device in the case of 2 or more control points.
Pass-through switch with two keys. A double device is used for the same purpose to control lighting using 2 groups of lamps.
3-key pass-through switch. Used for the same purpose to control three groups of lamps.
Single-key cross or toggle switch. Used as an intermediate device in a chain of three or more locations.
Two-key cross switch. Used as a middle device in a chain of 3, 4 or more control points for two groups of luminaires.

As follows from the illustration above, in a pass-through switch, the input terminal is connected to one of the output terminals when the key is pressed. In crossover - the conductors connected to the input and output change places when the position of the key changes.

There's no point in worrying about internal circuit diversity at this point. Firstly, most often only a single pass-through switch is in demand. Secondly, something else may be required, and this will become clear from the specific options for connecting devices.

Rear view of different types of pass-through switches

The photo shows a rear view of the wiring accessories. Now you can choose and purchase the right model yourself. Unfortunately, not all manufacturers indicate the contact markings on the device body. If it is missing, you will have to use a multimeter to determine the placement of the product terminals.

Connection diagrams for pass-through switches

The method of disconnecting main switches is determined by the specific conditions of use. In several cases we will consider 2 options for connecting images. The first of them is easier to understand and is sufficient when installing devices in the case of existing electrical wiring. Another option takes into account the requirement of laying cables using junction boxes, which can actually be done in a new building or when replacing wiring.

Standard 2-point installation option

The option of controlling one or more parallel-connected lamps from two locations is the most popular and simple. There are four possible combinations of the position of the keys of the two switches: in two of them the lamp is on, in the other two it is off.

The most popular scheme for connecting two pass-through switches with one lamp

In the example with the photo of the devices at the back, the circuit is open and the lamp does not light. At the bottom of the illustration, the circuit is closed and the light is on. We can say that in this connection diagram one conventional switch is replaced by two single-key pass-through switches connected to each other by a two-core cable.

Wiring diagram for connecting two switches with a light bulb

This illustration shows the connection using a junction box. As you can see, each of the devices is connected to the box with a three-core cable.

Schemes for controlling one lamp from several points

Control from several points is necessary when moving along a long passage. For example, in a three-story house, on each floor you can control the lighting on the stairs where needed.

Option to control one luminaire from three points

To implement the independent lighting control scheme from three locations, a crossover switch is required. As in the previous version, they can be connected to each other with a two-core cable.

Installation of three pass-through switches using a distribution box

Now let's get acquainted with the electrical installation diagram, made according to all the rules, using a junction box. As you can see, to connect two pass-through switches to the distribution box you need a three-core cable, and for a crossover you will have to use two two-wire ones.

Connection diagram of four pass-through switches to control one lamp

Using the same principle, you can build a lighting control circuit from 4 or more locations. The first and last devices in the chain are pass-through switches. Intermediate devices are of cross type.

Controlling multiple luminaires from multiple locations

There are situations where it is necessary to control multiple luminaires from multiple locations. For example, in a bedroom it is possible to install one two-key pass-through switch at the door and another at the bed. Then in both places it will be possible to turn on and off both the general lighting in the room and the lamps by the bed.

Connection diagram of two pass-through switches with two separate lamps

To implement such a scheme, you will need two two-key pass-through switches. To connect them, in the simplest case, you need two two-core cables.

Wiring diagram for connecting two switches with two separate lamps

The wiring diagram for the correct connection of a two-key pass-through switch using a distribution box looks more impressive. The box will need to be large, since it must fit eight wire connections. To connect the first pass-through switch, you will need a two-wire and a three-wire cable, and to connect the second, two three-wire cables.

Scheme for controlling three independent lamps from two points

Theoretically, by increasing the number of pass-through 2-key switches, it is possible to independently control the lighting of 2 lamps from any number of places. You may want to operate from two locations with three groups of light bulbs in a chandelier. The circuit using a triple switch demonstrates the real possibility of such work, but it will require a lot of cable.

Control circuit for two lamps from three places

This diagram for connecting a pass-through switch from 3 places demonstrates the ability to control two separate light bulbs. Two two-key pass-through switches can be placed by the bed, and a third by the bedroom door. Everywhere you can turn on and off local lighting or a general lamp.

Control circuit for two separate luminaires from four points

As we have already noted, the lighting control circuit can be expanded endlessly. The ability to turn 2 different lights on and off from four points can come in handy in a long hallway in a house with many rooms. Obviously, after considering various examples, it will not be difficult to create any independent lighting control circuit yourself using single-key and other pass-through switches.

Installation of pass-through switches with existing wiring

It is likely that you will want to arrange your own independent control of lamps with existing electrical wiring. In this case, it is quite difficult to ensure electrical installation using a box and laying a cable 15 cm from the ceiling because the wiring in the wall can be damaged.

In any case, you need to get a tester to detect the cable under the plaster and check its presence where you are going to do something. In addition, when performing work, you should completely disconnect the wiring in the house or apartment.

Installation of pass-through switches with existing wiring

Let's consider step by step the option of controlling lighting from 2 points. From the above illustration it follows that pass-through switch No. 1 can be installed instead of the existing conventional one. To install device No. 2, you should prepare a place in the wall, which you can read about in a separate article.

The next step is to make a groove connecting both devices. A three-core cable is placed in the seam and the wall is puttied.

From the wiring diagram it can be seen that the green core of the three-core cable coming from device No. 2 should be connected to the corresponding core of the cable coming from the junction box to device No. 1. The connection is placed in the socket of device No. 1 and is made by twisting or using a special clamp. It is better to solder the twist and wrap it with electrical tape. Nothing should be changed in the junction box.