How to change a switch from one. Replacing a light switch in an apartment - a simple instruction for complex work for beginners

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. Keys should turn on when pressed 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.

A professional electrician registered on YouDo will perform a high-quality and inexpensive replacement of the light switch in the apartment, the price and other terms of cooperation are determined individually. Order electrical work from a private electrician at a price lower than in specialized companies in Moscow.

Departure of the master is possible anywhere in Moscow and the Moscow region. A free call to a specialist can be made at a convenient time for you - applications on the YouDo website are accepted 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

When do you need to change wiring devices?

You can urgently order the replacement of switches and sockets in apartments, private houses or offices in Moscow from contractors registered in Yuda. A professional electrician will go to the specified address immediately to change faulty triple circuit breakers and sockets, as well as perform additional work related to electricity. Call an electrician to repair the switches if:

soot appeared around the rim of the triple light switch
the switches have ceased to function
the rims of the light switches do not fit snugly against the wall
when the light switch is turned on, the RCD is triggered

When repairing triple switches, Yuda performers carry out diagnostics of the equipment connection diagram, wiring devices. If a malfunction is detected, the wizard will promptly eliminate it.

Types of wiring equipment in the apartment

Triple light switches installed in apartments in Moscow and the Moscow region are conventionally divided into several types. They can be automatic, screw, screwless. Professional electricians registered with YouDo can change any type of triple switch, regardless of the wiring diagram, including:

keyboards
push-button
dimmers
rope
remote
sensory
swivel

Rocker switches are considered the most common. Their installation, repair and dismantling does not take much time if the work is carried out by experienced craftsmen registered in Yuda.

Additional services of an electrician

Electricians registered in Yuda carry out professional replacement of switches - the price and other terms of cooperation are discussed in private. You can find out how much it costs to install switches in an apartment from the price list on the website. In addition to installing, dismantling and repairing switches on YouDo, you can order additional services, including:

repair of electrical wiring
installation of branches in electrical circuits
installation, shutdown and repair of lighting fixtures
cable laying, installation of junction boxes
dismantling of junction boxes
installation and shutdown of the RCD machine
repair of an RCD machine
telephone cable routing

Specialists registered in Yuda carry out all types of work related to electricity. If you need to install electrical equipment, wiring devices, troubleshoot electrical wiring - order the services of Yuda contractors. Masters provide high quality of work performed, affordable cost and favorable terms of cooperation.

How much does it cost to repair wiring equipment?

Specialists registered on YouDo can urgently install automatic electrical appliances and sockets to any address in Moscow. Departure of the master is free. For a service such as replacing a light switch in an apartment, the price can vary from 100 r and more, depending on the following factors:

the complexity of the connection diagram
switch type
cost of a new device
cost of consumables
urgency of departure

Approximate prices for electricians' services are indicated in the price list on the Yudu website. The exact cost will be given to you by the performers in the response proposal to your application. They will also indicate their contact phone number and other terms of cooperation there.

An electrician registered with YouDo will replace the light switch in the apartment, the price and terms are finally determined during negotiations.

Sometimes it happens that you walk into a room, turn on the light, and the light does not shine. Replacing the lamp does not help. If in other rooms all the lamps are shining normally, then, most likely, the switch has broken. If it is not possible to call an electrician or sufficient funds to pay for his services, you can replace light switch on one's own.

To replace the switch you will need: a screwdriver, a phase indicator (indicator screwdriver), a new switch, pliers, a knife and an insulating tape.

First of all, you need to turn off the electricity in the room in which the switch replacement... To do this, in the staircase, you must turn off the (automatic) supplying the given room or the entire apartment as a whole.

In some apartments, metering boards with an automatic machine are located in the hallway. If a fuse ("plug") is installed instead of the machine, it must be unscrewed. If circuit breakers or fuses are installed on both supply lines (phase, zero), both lines must be disconnected.

The sequence of operations for replacing a one-button switch.

Depending on the design of the switch, it is necessary to squeeze (unscrew) and remove the switch button or unscrew the screw (s) and remove the decorative panel, etc. In other words, it is necessary to remove those dismountable parts of the switch that open access to the electrical wires and fasteners of the switch in the wall.

After providing access to the terminals of the switch to which the electrical wires are connected, you need to make sure that it is the switch, and not the wiring, that is faulty. To do this, you need to turn on the apartment machine and use it to determine which of the two wires or terminals of the disconnected switch is the phase. When you touch the working part of the phase indicator, a lamp on it lights up.

The indicator should be held only by the handle, lightly touching the metal contact plate at the end of the handle to create a closed circuit and correct operation of the indicator. ATTENTION, touching the bare wires and terminals of the switch with your hands while the apartment is switched on is dangerous to life ! When replacing the switch, be sure to observe the electrical safety rules!

After detecting the phase, you need to turn on the switch and check the appearance of the phase at the other terminal. If there is a phase, the switch is in good order, and the fault lies in the wiring on the way from the switch to the luminaire. If the phase does not appear, the switch needs to be replaced.

In some apartments, the switches are installed in violation of the rules on the neutral wire, and the above test method will not work. In this case, there is another safer way, which will require (ohmmeter or tester).

It is necessary to turn off the apartment machine, check the indicator for the absence of a phase (voltage) at the switch terminals and unscrew the lamps from the lamp holders. Then measure the resistance between the terminals. The resistance of a serviceable switch in the closed state should be approximately equal to zero, in the open state - infinity.

If the apartment machine was previously turned on, you must turn it off. Check the absence of a phase on all terminals and wires using the indicator. Loosen the screws securing the wires and disconnect the wires. Loosen the fasteners holding the switch body in the wall. Carefully, taking care not to damage the wires, remove the switch.

Then you need to check the condition of the wires. If the exposed part fell off during dismantling, it is necessary to strip the insulation with a knife to the amount required to connect the wires to the switch terminals and bend the ends so that it is convenient to connect them to the new switch. Areas with damaged insulation must be insulated with insulating tape.

After checking the wires and disassembling the new breaker, you can connect the wires to the breaker terminals. The stripped part of the wire should not protrude more than 2-3 mm beyond the dimensions of the terminal. Otherwise, either shorten the exposed part of the wire or insulate the exposed protruding section with insulating tape.

The strength of the wire is checked by lightly pulling it out of the terminal clamp. Taking care not to damage the insulation of the wires, carefully pressing and pushing them into the hole in the wall, insert the switch into place. Press the switch firmly and tighten the two screws acting on the spacer lugs fixing the switch body in the wall.

Then you can turn on the apartment machine, turn on the installed switch. If the switch is installed and connected correctly, your home will be light and comfortable again, and the feeling that you have done it yourself will be a good incentive to further develop your knowledge and improve your skills!

Modern light switches are made of high quality materials, but even they fail over time. This leads us to the need to carry out the replacement of electrical equipment. This can happen anywhere: in the office, at work, or at home. However, you do not need to resort to the help of professional specialists if you master the technique of replacing switches on your own. This is not to say that the work is very simple, but with due diligence and care, any person can cope with it.

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.

Dismantling the switch - how to remove the hidden wiring switch without damaging the wires?

Before proceeding with the dismantling of the lighting equipment, it is necessary to turn off all the circuit breakers located in the switchboard. Now there is practically no chance of electric shock.

You can turn off only one machine, which is responsible for a specific switch, with which work will now be carried out. But it is better to completely de-energize the apartment to avoid unpleasant situations.

Older models are somewhat easier to remove, since they have screws on the front side, like on sockets. In modern devices, you can change the switch only by removing the keys first, since the bolts are located just under them. Removing the buttons is simple, just gently pry them off with a flat screwdriver. After removing the keys and screws, the switch itself is located, which is firmly fixed in the cylindrical frame.

Having checked the contact with an indicator screwdriver for the absence of voltage, it is required to unscrew the screws of the sliding strips, by means of which the frame is mounted into the recess of the wall. Now it remains for us to free the wires, for which we unscrew the bolts on the terminals. Be sure to mark the phase wire so as not to confuse when installing a new switch. You can mark it with electrical tape or just bend it a little.

Surface-mounted light switches are even easier to remove as they do not have sliding strips and retaining frames. In any case, after removing the device, we just have to install new equipment - the most crucial stage of the whole process.

One and two keys - what is the difference in the installation of such a switch?

Replacing a one-button switch is somewhat easier. At the end of each wire, we remove the insulation by about 5 mm, after which we connect the contact with the designation L2 to the black wire, and the L1 contact to the previously marked phase. Now carefully insert the device into the wall recess, fix it tightly and tighten the bolts.

The key difference in a device with two buttons is that two wires must be connected to terminals L1 and L2, and three phase wires are connected to terminal L3 at once. Depending on the number of keys, the scheme remains the same. The main thing in this case is not to screw up the wires. Wiring in modern houses is carried out in strict observance of each wire in its color. But in private or old houses, the red wire does not always indicate the phase, while the black or blue wires do not indicate the neutral group.

In each such case, it is necessary to check all the wires with an indicator screwdriver. Otherwise, it is possible to connect the wires incorrectly, which will cause the failure of the new, newly installed equipment.

After installing the keys, we just have to supply current in the switchboard to make sure that the lighting device is working. Sometimes the operating mode of the switch changes, that is, turning on is performed by pressing down, and turning off, respectively, by pressing the button up. There is nothing wrong, the problem is solved by replacing the wires in places. After that, everything will work clearly and smoothly, without any problems.

The time comes for repairs throughout the apartment, including replacing outdated models with more modern light switches. At the same time, the replacement of the breaker can be caused by several other reasons. An old device may fail, become obsolete. Or you will need to replace the external electrical wiring with hidden wiring during the overhaul of an apartment or private house.

Types of switches

Before you start changing the electrical fittings with your own hands, you need to choose suitable new models of switches. The electrical engineering market is filled with a huge assortment of different switches, differing in principle of operation and appearance.

Important! Household electrical appliances are divided into two types according to the type of installation. Some light switches are designed for surface wiring, while others are built into walls with hidden wiring.

Outdoor

The outdoor switches are simple in design. There are models with one or two buttons. Open wiring switches are installed in technical rooms and rooms with wooden walls. Installing outdoor devices is quite simple. The platform with the key is fixed to the wall with screws or dowels. Terminal clamps fix the wires. Then they put on the casing of the device and screw it to the platform.

Built-in

Concealed wiring models are available in a wide range of different designs and designs. According to the principle of operation of devices, the following types of switches are distinguished:

swivel;
keyboards;
push-button;
motion sensors;
sensory;
wireless;
dimmers.

Swivel

Old devices have remained in buildings since ancient times. A simple rotary-lever device (the shift lever is mounted in the center of the housing on the axis) can last for several decades. Due to loud clicks and unpresentable appearance, they are changed to modern models.

Modern rotary devices have nothing to do with old models. In the center of the front panel there is a wheel marked with a thickening arc. As you turn the key, the power of the lighting fixtures changes. This happens due to the built-in rheostat.

Keyboards

The most common and traditional light switches in apartments and private houses are keyboard devices. The electrical industry produces one, two, and three keyboards. Several keys allow you to turn on individual groups of lamps in chandeliers, overhead and LED lighting on the walls. It is possible to combine the switching on of different luminaires.

Push-button

Unlike key devices, these devices have a microswitch under the button. Switching on is controlled by lightly pressing the button. The operation of the device does not produce clicks and is absolutely silent, which is important at night.

Motion sensors

The devices have been widespread since the mid-90s of the last century. The passageways and territories (corridors, staircases, adjoining areas) are equipped with motion sensors. The switches can be sector-specific devices and cover 3600 spaces.

The motion sensor is equipped with two rotary buttons that control the timer and control the level of natural light in the space.

The timer sets the period of short-term switching on of the light, necessary for finding a person in the controlled space. Using the scale, you can set the lighting turn-on time from 1 to 10 minutes.

The sensor reacts to the amount of natural light in the room. You can set it to turn on when it is cloudy or dusk.

Replacing the light switch with a motion sensor will significantly save energy costs and extend the life of the lamps.

Sensory

The operation of the touch switch is similar to a push-button device. The difference is that the light is lit not by pressing, but by a light touch of the hand. The sensitive built-in microcircuit reacts to the slightest touch of the hand on the front panel of the device.

Wireless

Devices of this type exclude tactile contact with the switch. The receiver of the infrared signal is built into the body of the device, which is emitted by the control panel. The photocell acts on the relay, which closes and opens the contacts of the phase wire. The remote control can control several lighting systems at a distance of 20-25 meters.

Dimmers

Dimmers are installed in such places of the room that are exposed to maximum natural light during the daytime. When the level of illumination of the room decreases, the dimmer is triggered to ignite the light. The light goes out when the desired level of natural light is restored.

How to replace a switch with your own hands

The problem of how to replace a switch is considered in three cases:

Replacement of the surface-mounted switch;
Replacement of the built-in switch;
Replacing the surface-mounted switch with a built-in device.

Replacing the surface-mounted switch

The problem of how to change a switch with one button of the surface-mounted type with your own hands is easy to solve. You need to do the following:

Turn off the monoblock of the meter supplying the corresponding switch. If the meter is directly connected to the electrical wiring of the apartment, then the meter is turned off;
Use a screwdriver to remove the screw and remove the device case;
Use a tester screwdriver to check that there is no voltage at the wire terminals (the indicator is off);
Phase break wires are released from the clamps;
Dismantle the switch platform;
The process of installing new fittings is carried out in the reverse order.

Note! Devices with two or three buttons are also changed. Such designs are practically not found. They just install a group of identical mono switches.

Replacing the built-in switch

As in the previous case, you will need a tester screwdriver and a simple screwdriver:

turn off the current;
remove one or two keys, depending on the design of the device;
unscrew the screws from both sides (not to the end) of the spacers;
pull out metal fittings from the box;
release wires from the clamps;
the process of installing a new circuit breaker is reversed.

Additional Information. If the device is not a keyboard device, but has a different design, then simply pry the front panel with a screwdriver and perform the same actions as described above.

Replacing the surface-mounted switch with a built-in device

Such actions must be performed when replacing the external electrical wiring with a hidden power supply. To change the switches, you will need the following tools and materials.

Instruments:

tester screwdriver;
screwdrivers;
puncher;
drill bit for concrete for rock drill;
putty knife;
construction knife;
nippers;
pliers.

Materials:

switch assembly;
insulating tape;
alabaster.

Installation instructions for the built-in switch

After dismantling the exposed wiring, remove the old switch, lay the hidden wiring to the installation site of the built-in light switch. The installation of the switch is carried out in several stages:

A nozzle (bit) is inserted into the drill chuck for drilling brick or concrete. The crown is slightly larger in diameter and depth of the plastic box;
A hole is drilled in the designated place with a puncher;
In the box, from the side of the wire broach, the cutouts of the cutouts are cut with a knife;
The ends of the phase wire are pulled into the formed groove;
The mounting hole in the wall is filled with liquid alabaster;
A plastic box is inserted into the opening. The box should be flush with the wall surface with its edges;
The ends of the wires are stripped from the PVC coating to a length of 5-8 mm;
The ends are inserted into the clamps of the switch fittings and fix them with screws;

If the stripped places of the wires protrude beyond the terminals, they are covered with insulating tape;
The fittings are inserted into the box;

Using a screwdriver, carefully screw in the screws of the side struts until they are completely fixed;
Fix the decorative strip;
The keys are inserted with spikes into the holes of the levers;
Include an electricity meter.

If the light switch is of another type, then the assembly is carried out in accordance with the attached instructions. Regardless of the type of construction, the installation of the built-in device takes place in the same order. The exception is motion sensors. These are portable devices, they are mounted on the ceiling.

If you have minimal experience in handling tools for any homeowner, it will not be difficult to solve the issue of how to change the switches with your own hands. The basic rule must be strictly observed - all installation work must be carried out with the current disconnected.