How to install a light switch: wiring diagram and connection rules

There are switches in every house, and more than one. All of us have long been accustomed to these small appliances and consider them an integral part of our everyday life. It may seem that they all have the same structure and are extremely easy to install. However, this is not at all the case. Devices are very diverse. Therefore, it will not be superfluous for the home craftsman to learn how to install a light switch so that the device works flawlessly.

Despite the fact that installing a switch may seem like a very simple matter, there are many nuances that a novice electrician must know.

First you need to decide on the type of wiring.

Open wiring is still used in everyday life. Designers who create interiors in a retro or loft style are especially fond of it.

Electrical wiring is an indispensable element in every home. There are two types of it:

Open... The wires are routed over the wall. They can be fixed with decorative rollers or closed with plastic cable channels.
Hidden... The wire is laid inside the wall. To do this, channels are grooved in its surface, into which the cable is laid. After laying, the grooves are sealed with mortar.

A special type of switch is used for each type of wiring. For an open system, overhead models are chosen that are placed directly on the wall. They are easily recognizable as they are very visible on the surface. This type of switch appeared the very first and has changed little over the past decades. Indoor or embedded models are used for closed wiring.

They are installed in a recess, which is previously prepared in the wall. The dimensions of the hole are selected depending on the dimensions of the switch. It is fastened inside the recess using special spacer legs. There is another type of built-in devices - with mounting plates. This option is more convenient for installation. After installation, the internal switches practically do not protrude above the plane of the wall.

The screw-type clamp is best used for aluminum wires, which tend to heat up and deform. To return to working capacity, it will be enough to tighten the contact

Switching method of wires of the switch

Before starting the installation of the switch, you need to know that the internal fasteners of the wires in the device may be different. There are two methods of commutation.

Screw type clamp

The screw-type contact is tightened with a screwdriver. Previously, approximately 2 cm of the wire is cleaned of insulation, then it is located under the terminal and fixed. It is extremely important that not a millimeter of insulation is left under the terminal, otherwise it will start to melt, which is very dangerous. This connection is especially useful for aluminum wires.

They heat up during operation, which eventually leads to deformation. In this case, the contact begins to warm up and spark. To solve the problem, it will be enough to tighten the screw. The wires sandwiched between the two flat contact plates will “snap into place” and the device will operate without heat or arcing.

Represents contact with the pressure plate. Equipped with a special button that adjusts the position of the plate. The wire is stripped of insulation by 1 cm, after which it is inserted into the contact hole and clamped. The whole procedure is very quick and easy. The design of the terminal ensures high reliability of the resulting connection. Non-screw terminals are best used for copper wiring.

It must be admitted that screw and non-screw terminals provide approximately the same reliability and quality of connections. However, the second option is easier in installation. It is his experienced experts who recommend using it for novice electricians.

The non-screw clamp is extremely easy to install, which is why experts recommend that novice electricians work with terminals of this type.

The main types of switches

Long gone are the days when all switches were approximately the same and differed only in appearance. Today, the manufacturer produces a wide variety of devices. By the type of switching off / on, all of them can be divided into several groups.

No. 1: Key-type devices

Very simple and reliable design. The basis of the device is a swinging mechanism, which is pressed by a spring. When you press the key, it closes the contact, which turns on or off the electrical device. For the convenience of consumers, one, two and three-button switches are produced. This makes it possible to control not only one, but several lamps at once.

# 2: Switches or Rocker Switches

Outwardly, these devices are indistinguishable from their keyboard counterparts, but their principle of operation is completely different. When a key is pressed, the devices open one electrical circuit and transfer the contact to another. This makes it possible to simultaneously control lighting from two, three or even more locations. Complex circuits, in which more than two switches are involved, are complemented by cross elements.

Dimmers not only turn on the lighting, but also adjust its intensity. There are also multifunctional types of devices that can simulate presence, work on a timer and much more.

No. 3: Dimmers or dimmers

A switch that makes it possible to adjust the light intensity. The external panel of such a device is equipped with keys, a rotating button or infrared sensors. The latter option assumes that the device can receive signals from the remote control. Sophisticated dimmers can perform several functions: activate the dimming mode, simulate presence, turn off the lights at a given time.

No. 4: Switches with built-in motion sensor

Devices react to movement. The appearance of people is registered by a sensor that activates the lighting and turns it off when there is no movement. To work with the switch, an infrared sensor is used, which is able to analyze the intensity of infrared radiation and distinguish a person from other objects. The device is multifunctional and is able not only to turn on lighting devices, but also to activate video cameras, sirens, etc.

No. 5: Sensory devices

The lighting is switched off / on by lightly touching the sensor. Varieties are produced that are triggered when a hand is held near their body. The main difference between touch switches and traditional counterparts is the presence of microcircuits. This eliminates the risk of a short circuit, which significantly increases the service life of both the switch itself and the lighting device.

There are many types of switches. Backlit models are designed for easy orientation in dark environments

How to choose the "right" place for the switch

Choosing a place to install the switch is a personal matter for each owner. However, there is a set of industry requirements that govern this issue. This is due to the fact that the laying of electrical wiring is a rather expensive undertaking and it is costly and too troublesome to redo it every time. Experts recommend installing all switches in the house at the same height and the switch-on position for all should be common.

Devices are usually installed at the height of door handles, which correlates well with the development of muscle memory. Thus, entering a room, a person presses a key automatically, without even noticing it. Another important point: the switch in the room must be positioned so that there is a distance of about 15-20 cm between it and the doorway. So a person can take the door handle with one hand and press the button with the other.

For living rooms, it is customary to install switches only indoors. For common areas, such as bathrooms, closets or corridors, switches are most often used outside the room. If there are small children in the house, do not "lift" the switches up. The restless period, when the baby will "play" with the light, will pass very quickly, and the inconvenience from the location of the switches will remain for a long time.

The switch design is extremely simple. Its main elements: a mechanism on a mounting plate, keys and a decorative protective panel

General installation diagram of the circuit breaker

Failure to comply with the basic rules for installing even such a simple device as a switch can lead to very unpleasant consequences. Among which are overheating and arcing with a possible subsequent short circuit, as well as the voltage that is stored in the wiring. If the latter takes place, then even with the lighting turned off, it will not be possible to replace the lamp without an electric shock.

Therefore, before connecting the switch, you should carefully remember the main connection elements:

Zero core. Or, in electrician jargon, zero. It is displayed on the lighting device.
Phase to switch... For the lamp to go out and light up, the circuit must be closed within the phase conductor. It is important to remember that if the switching device is brought to zero in the opposite way, it will work, but the voltage will remain. Therefore, to replace the lamp, for example, you will have to disconnect the room from the power supply.
Phase to the lamp. When you press the key, the circuit will close or open at the break point of the phase channel. This is the name of the section where the phase wire leading to the switch ends, and the segment stretched to the light bulb begins. Thus, only one wire is connected to the switch, and two to the lamp.

It should be remembered that any connections of conductive sections must be carried out in a junction box. It is extremely undesirable to carry them out in the wall or in plastic channels, since there will certainly be complications with the identification and subsequent repair of damaged fragments. If there is no junction box near the installation site of the switch, you can extend zero and phase from the terminal board.

The figure shows the circuit breaker connection

All of the above rules apply to a one-button switch. They also apply to multi-key devices with the difference that a fragment of a phase wire from the lamp, which it will control, is supplied to each key. There will always be only one phase from the junction box to the breaker. This statement is also true for multi-key devices.

Replacement of the switch or its installation "from scratch" is carried out only in the presence of a fully formed electrically conductive circuit. In order not to be mistaken in working with the wiring, you need to know the marking and color of the current-carrying channels:

The phase conductor is indicated by brown or white color of the wire insulation.
Blue - zero core.
Green or yellow - ground.

Installation and further connection is made according to these color prompts. In addition, the manufacturer can put special markings on the wires. All connection points are designated by the letter L and a number. For example, on a two-rocker switch, the phase input is L3. On the opposite side are the lamp connection points, called L1 and L2. Each of them will need to be brought to one of the lighting fixtures.

Before installation, the overhead switch is disassembled, and after connecting the wires, it is assembled again

Surface switch installation procedure

Such devices are used for open-type wiring and where, for any reason, it is impossible to make a hidden connection. Let's consider the installation procedure using the example of a fully assembled one-button switch. To connect it, you need to turn off the power supply to the apartment, and then sequentially perform the following operations:

Step 1: disassemble the device

We take a slotted screwdriver, very carefully lift the device key and remove it. After that, just as carefully, trying not to damage, we remove the protective decorative cover. It remains for us to disconnect the working mechanism from the socket plate. We perform this operation.

Step 2: outline the installation location

On the base plate, the manufacturer must make holes for fixing the device. They need to be marked on the wall. To do this, we take a socket box, apply it to the surface and mark the line of the upper edge with a pencil. With the help of a level, we check its horizontal, otherwise we will not be able to install the switch evenly. After that, we once again apply the plate to the wall and mark the attachment points.

Step 3: Install the flush plate

Further actions depend on the material from which the wall is made. If it is soft wood, fasten the base with galvanized screws. If the base is made of harder materials, you will have to drill holes in it. We try to do all the work accurately so that we don't have to make additional holes. We fix the plate securely on the wall.

The last stage in the installation of the surface-mounted switch is the installation of a protective decorative case and a key. Then the device can be used

Step 4: connect the wires

We determine the type of switching contacts and, in exact accordance with it, cut and strip the wires. Be sure to remove all the insulation so that it does not melt later and does not cause malfunctions in the operation of the device. We check that the wires reach the terminals as accurately as possible, it is undesirable for excess to remain. In accordance with the marking and color of the wires, we connect them to the required contacts.

Step 5: assembling the device

First, we need to make sure that the wires are connected correctly, for which we test them with a screwdriver multimeter or other device. Having found out that everything is assembled correctly, we take the switch mechanism and install it in place. Then we put on the protective decorative cover and, last of all, we snapped the key. We check the operation of the device.

Installation instructions for concealed switch

The design of the hidden devices differs in the shape of the socket and decorative cover. The first is made in the form of a bowl, inside which the switch mechanism is placed. The lid is in the form of a small panel or even a frame. Accordingly, the connection diagram of such a switch will be somewhat different. Before installation, you need to purchase a socket, which is sold separately from the switch.

Depending on the material of the walls into which the switch will be mounted, there are two types of socket outlets. The figure shows both of these types.

You need to know that structures for brick and concrete walls are somewhat different from products intended for installation in drywall. Be sure to take this into account when buying. The hidden switch is installed in the following sequence.

Step 1: Prepare a place for a wall box

The product should be inserted into a pre-prepared niche, the dimensions of which are slightly larger than the socket. To complete it, you will need a special nozzle in the form of a crown for a perforator or drill. The diameter of the crown should be slightly larger than the diameter of the socket. For double switches, two niches are made, which then need to be connected together. A special double socket will subsequently fit here.

Step 2: Install the socket correctly

We de-energize the room. We bring the wires to the installation site of the switch, laying them in the grooves prepared in advance. Now you can put the socket in place and bring the wiring inside it. For this, there is a special hole in the body of the product. We fix the structure in place. In concrete or brick, we do this with plaster, in drywall we put retaining brackets, fix them with two self-tapping screws, screwed all the way.

Step 3: Replace the switch

First, we disassemble the structure. We take a slotted screwdriver and carefully pry the key with it, so that the element can be removed. Then we remove the decorative protective panel. We are left with a mechanism fixed on a metal plate. Now you need to connect the wires. We measure and crop them. You need to know that in this case it is necessary to leave a small margin of the length of each wire.

After fixing the mechanism, it is closed with a decorative panel and the keys are installed in place.

We clean the ends of the wires and connect them, then put them inside the socket box and put the switch mechanism in place. Install the mounting plate. Depending on its type, this can be done in two ways: either spread the spacers to the sides and fix them with special screws, or fix them with two self-tapping screws. After that, with a tester, we check the correctness of the connection of the device, put on the decorative panel and set the key.

Connecting a pass-through switch

To properly install a rocker light switch, you need to accurately understand the principle of its operation. In the simplest case, when a key is pressed, the device will open one circuit and close another. On the reverse side of switches of this type, the manufacturer always shows a diagram of the device's operation. Consider the installation procedure for the simplest single-key pass-through switch.

For installation, we need a three-core cable, each of the cores of which will be color-coded by the factory. Be sure to turn off the electricity before starting work. We sequentially perform the following operations:

On the pass-through switch, we determine the common terminal.
On the one of the switches that is located closer to the junction box, we withdraw the phase conductor and connect it to the common terminal.
We connect the two remaining wires to the output terminals of the pass-through switch. In this case, be sure to remember what color the core is connected to which terminal.
In the junction box, we connect the phase from the luminaire to the phase wire of the second pass-through switch.
Guided by the color of the braid, we connect the two remaining wires with wires of the same color from the first switch.
In the junction box, we find the ground and neutral wires and connect them with similar cables to the luminaire.

The figure shows the installation diagram of the simplest single-button rocker switch

We perform all the twists very carefully, if necessary, we tinker and qualitatively insulate all the bare sections of the wires. It is strongly not recommended to connect copper and aluminum wires into a common twist. Next, we proceed with the installation of the pass-through switch, which will be similar to the above procedures. We disassemble the device, in accordance with the diagram, we connect the wires to it, put the mechanism in place and fix it.

Reinstall the protective panel and key. Now you can start checking the functionality of the assembled circuit. Make sure both switches can control the lamp. That is, each of the devices can turn off or turn on the lamp, regardless of the position of the other device. Each of the switching of the pass-through switch must turn off / turn on the lamp. If not, you should look for and correct the error.

A more sophisticated variation of a one-button rocker switch is a two-button device. In fact, these are two single adapter devices assembled in a common case. This design allows you to control several lamps at once. The device is connected with a three or six-core wire.