If you need to organize separate switching on of several lamps or lamps on a multi-candle chandelier, the equipment is connected to switches with two and three keys. For many home craftsmen, it remains a mystery why there are two keys, and there are more wires, which naturally causes difficulties when connecting - all lamps can light up only if both keys are in the on position. Today we will analyze how the chandelier connection diagram for a two-button switch is arranged. After reading the material, you can easily do all the work yourself correctly.
How does the chandelier split power work?
To understand the sequence in which to connect the wires in the switch, you need to understand how electricity runs through the chandelier, powering the lamps. In this chapter, we are with you and we will deal with this issue.
No matter how complex the electrical part of the device is, it will always end with leads from two, three or four wires. The simplest ones can only be connected with 2 wires. The number of terminals does not tell us anything about their purpose. Let's take a closer look at this topic.
In the photo above, you can see the classic terminal block with two colored wires coming out of it.
Advice! Color coding of conductors helps to further orientate when organizing the connection of electrical devices. Do not trust her completely, since you cannot know how the connections in the junction box are made without looking into it.
So one wire is working phase, indicated by the Latin letter L(black wire, although it can be any other), and the second is zero - the letter N(in all circuits, blue wires are used for it). In fact, the lamp does not care which contact to apply the phase to, it is much more important which of the wires goes to the switch
Carefully study the presented diagram - we are interested in gray lines indicating phase. It immediately becomes clear that it is they who are drawn to the two-button switch. This is a very important point, since some electricians do not follow this rule and let zero go there.
What can happen with such a connection? If you have incandescent lamps and the like in your chandelier, then there will be no difference, however, if you use LED and fluorescent lamps with their built-in electrical part, they start to flicker in the off state, as they are constantly energized. This moment is terribly annoying, but it's not bad. More importantly, the lamp resource, which depends on a limited number of on-off times, begins to be intensively depleted.
We return again to our chandelier with two wires. To connect it, you need a one-button switch that will break the phase wire coming from junction box... In this case, the zero will stretch straight into the box - it does not need a switch, where it will be connected to the common zero of the house network. Everything is extremely simple and straightforward.
Junction boxes have a very important function. It is they who provide the distribution of electrical wires between points of consumption, i.e. switches, lights and sockets. Have you decided to install the above devices yourself? Then you need to thoroughly understand the features and procedure for connecting cables, as well as the basic methods of connecting them. you will learn about the basic methods of connecting cables and the features of the box disconnection.
The photo shows the base of the sconce, but this does not matter at all, the principle of operation and connection for other lamps with chandeliers is the same. Here we see that three wires come out of the device case. We already know blue - this is zero, with black everything is also clear, but there was no yellow-green before.
note that it does not come out of the inner tube, but is screwed to the metal body of the luminaire. Before you is the most real grounding. It is required in order to avoid electric shock in case of breakdowns on the case - the current will always flow along the path of least resistance.
We can connect the grounding only if it is provided in the household electrical network. The junction box will display common land, to which the yellow-green wires from all electrical points of the house will converge.
In fact, the connection diagram of such a chandelier is no different from that described earlier, and it requires a one-button switch.
The photo shows a chandelier for several candles. Since there are two wires from each base, all their leads will stretch to the base of the device, although in good chandeliers the manufacturer makes the entire power circuit himself and often hides it in a hidden part of the case.
Now look at how the wires are twisted together - they are connected together by color. In fact, they form the same two wires that we wrote about above. That is, with such a connection, you also need only a one-button switch.
Interesting to know! When buying cheap electrics made in China, you come across models in which the wires have single-color insulation. There we either show all our attentiveness, or we ourselves mark everything. The latter is especially recommended if the device will be connected to a two-button switch.
The last option, when three wires come out of the chandelier, not counting the grounding, or you yourself make such a twist - an example is shown in the photo above. Let's take a closer look at it. We see that all neutral wires are connected together and connected to one Vago terminal. Here's a prime example of how color coding is not respected. The phase wires are separated in a specific order, most likely one after another, and connected to two terminals. Such a scheme tells us that two separate phases must be brought to the chandelier to light all the candles. This is exactly what can be done with a two-button switch.
Interesting to know! You can break the turning on of the light by at least one bulb. For this all, it is necessary that the required number of wires and switch keys.
The structure of a two-button switch
We turn to the second important component of our circuit - a two-button switch. In this chapter, we will analyze how it works, which will allow you to accurately connect it to the chandelier. They are usually installed in fairly large rooms, where the lighting must be controlled separately, for example, during an evening vigil, the user has enough 3 lamps at the TV, and for some work he lights 6. Not only chandeliers are connected to them, but also separately installed lamps and even their groups - it all depends on the planned lighting scheme.
Let's compare the two-button and one-button switches in order to understand their fundamental difference. The photo below shows the second option. We see that two wires are connected to it. Do not think that this is a plus and a minus. In fact, this is one wire, just the switch can "break" and "connect" it. These wires are connected to terminals that are not connected to each other. In the middle is a dielectric (plastic) pendulum switch, which, when pressed, pushes a movable spring contact connecting the contact pads in this position. As a result, the circuit is closed, and the current begins to run.
When this device is connected, the phase wire from the chandelier is connected to one contact, and from the second, the wire pulls to the common phase in the junction box.
The two-rocker switch works in a similar way. A phase wire from a junction box is inserted into it. It must be connected to a fixed contact, which will be common for the two keys. For each key, you need to connect another wire, which will go to the chandelier and connect there with those separate twists that we wrote about earlier. That is, we have three wires and they are all phase, just one is the input, and the rest are outputs.
The movable contacts of the device are not connected to each other in any way. This will only happen if both keys are set to on. When pressed, they will connect the circuit separately along the circuits, which allows independent control of the lamps.
What will happen if you do not know which wire is the common phase, and connect it to one of the moving contacts? If we do this, then a wire from one of the twists in the chandelier will come to the fixed contact, which means that if you press this key, the lamps in it will light up. If you press the second key at the same time, all the lamps will light up, but if the first key is then turned off, everything will go out, since the common phase is cut off from the fixed contact, which should be common.
To prevent this from happening, you need to know exactly which wire, where it goes - for this, color coding is needed. But what if the electrician messes up the wires when connecting in the junction box? You need to call them, how to do this, we will tell you a little later.
Correct connection of the chandelier and the switch
All this sounded beautifully in words, but in fact, for sure, many readers still have questions, in particular, how to make such a connection in practice. Let's look at two methods, one is when we only see the pins, and the other is when we lay the wiring ourselves. Let's start with the second one, as it is more difficult to implement.
Let's say you're building your own home and it comes to wiring. How to do it correctly?
First, we prepare the right tool... You will need:
- wire cutters for shortening wires;
- a clerical knife or special pliers for cleaning wires from insulation;
- terminals of any convenient type;
- pliers;
- indicator screwdriver;
- tester;
- puncher;
- crosshead screwdriver;
- insulating tape;
- a chaser for organizing hidden wiring and some other devices, which we will mention along the way if necessary.
Table 1. How to route the wiring correctly?
| Steps, photo | Description |
|---|---|
 | With hidden wiring, you need to hide the base of the switches. They are installed in round plastic boxes that must be built into the wall. The installation of the element differs depending on the material of the walls. If they are made of concrete or other hard materials, use a rotary hammer with a diamond core drill. We need to drill a 73mm hole. If you have a frame wall in front of you, then the installation of the boxes is carried out simultaneously with their assembly - the cable is passed from the back side and taken out into the cut hole (here a wood crown is used). Then a box is placed, which is held by screw tightening. In a concrete wall, the boxes are held by plaster mortar. |
 | Next, you need to grind the channels that will lead to the junction box. For these purposes, it is best to use a chasing cutter - with it the strobe will be of the same depth and even - it will be much easier to cover it up later. The groove is led first vertically until it reaches the level of the junction box, and then horizontally, right up to it. Advice! If you have suspended ceiling, then instead of a horizontal groove, you can run wires directly along the floor. Alternatively, you can use a grinder or a perforator. The last option is the worst, since there is a risk of chipping the plaster. If your wall is of a frame type, then, again, we make a broach during its assembly. |
 | Then the wiring is laid. We need a three-core wire with a cross section sufficient for the loads from the chandelier. The wires in the strobe must be fixed somehow. To do this, use special dowels with clamps, homemade clamps from pieces of wires or a plaster solution, which hardens very quickly. The ends of the wires are brought out into boxes, where we will connect them. |
 | We clean the wires first from the general insulation, and then from the inner one, exposing the ends by 1-1.5 cm. The length of the leads should be enough to reach the required terminals in the switch. You can't leave a lot either, otherwise you won't be able to install the device. The contacts on the breaker will be labeled L, L1 and L2. The first is the common phase, we connect any wire of the three here and remember it (as an option, you can attach a tag on the other end). We connect the rest of the wires with moving contacts - mark everything too, so that later it will be easier to navigate. After connection, the switch is attached to its box. It keeps in it due to the expanding antennae, which, when the screw is tightened, wedge between the walls of the box, or on self-tapping screws. At the end, the front is put decorative panel, and here we are not coming back. |
 | We pass to the junction box. In it, we need to find common zero and phase. This can be done by dialing, which we will discuss below. We remove the insulation from them, if they are used to connect the twists, having previously de-energized everything in the shield. The wire that we previously connected to the fixed terminal (let it be blue) is connected to the common phase. |
 | We take the same three-core wire and stretch it to the point where the chandelier will be installed. The easiest way to do it is surface mounting, as shown in the photo. The conductors are placed in a plastic corrugation and attached to the base with special clips. There is also an internal wiring, when wires are laid in the voids of floor slabs - such a scheme is extremely inconvenient when it is necessary to replace the wiring. When installing a wire inside a frame, for example, a drywall, it is very important not to associate it with it, since in the event of a short circuit, the corrugation walls may not withstand and the entire structure will be energized, which is fraught with accidents and electric shock. Laying is always carried out on non-combustible and non-conductive surfaces. If the ceiling is made of wood, the corrugation is used in stainless steel. |
 | We will connect three wires from the chandelier to the laid cable. We throw the zero twist on the blue wire. Phase - for the rest. The connections are best made through terminal blocks. If they are not there, you can twist it, just insulate everything well. Attention! If the chandelier provides for the presence of grounding, then you must throw a four-wire wire to it in order to connect the desired terminal to a common ground. |
 | We return to the junction box. Here we will have 4 free wires - 2 from the chandelier, 2 from the switch. They will be color-coded in pairs. All of them are phase. We combine them by color and lay them neatly. |
This completes the connection, close the junction box, screw in the bulbs, apply voltage through the shield and make a test run. If you did everything right, then everything will work fine.
But what if the wires are already walled up in the wall, and even worse, do not have colored insulation? We need to ring everything, for which we use a tester and an indicator screwdriver. We act like this (we analyze the situation using the example of the stand).
Table 2. How to ring the wires?
| Steps, photo | Description |
|---|---|
 | First of all, we need to find the phase of the main wire coming from the shield. We can roughly orient ourselves in the direction in which the wires go into the wall, but there is no guarantee that we will guess. Therefore, we turn off the switch in the dashboard, disconnect all the wires from each other and take them to the sides so that they do not touch each other. |
 | We take the indicator screwdriver and alternately touch the wires with it, applying a preliminary voltage to them. When in contact with a phase, the lamp on the device will light up. We remember the wire and turn off the general switch again. We mark the phase with a marker. The second core will most likely be zero. If you want to check, then use a tester before turning off the light. |
 | Now we need to understand where the rest of the wires are coming from. Let's go, say, to the switch, and connect all three wires in its box with one twist. |
 | We take a tester and begin, sorting through, to look for the ends of the required wires. As soon as you find the first pair, a light on the device will light up. Label these wires. Then leave one probe on any of the wires you find and continue searching until you find the third wire. It's simple. |
We will make such a dial for each electric point that goes into the box, including the chandelier. Having marked out all the wires, we can freely connect the chandelier to a two-button switch according to the previously described scheme.
That's all, we have analyzed the material in more detail. If you still don't understand something, we advise you not to mess with the electrician at all, but we think that if everything is read carefully, there should not be such people left. Take care of yourself, all the best!
Video - How to understand the wires in a junction box
Video - Connecting a chandelier to a double switch
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Electrical installation in a private house or apartment is a rather difficult job that requires some knowledge and utmost care. However, it does not always make sense to call specialists to replace some equipment. For example, the replacement or even installation of switches can be completely done by the home craftsman himself. Today we will try to figure out how complex the connection diagram of a two-button switch is, having considered the one-button switch along the way. And for the convenience of the dear reader, we will provide and step by step instructions similar work with photo examples.
The simplest option is a diagram for connecting a one-button switch to a light bulb
The main thing to understand before starting the production of electro installation works- these are ways of feeding consumers. Electric voltage should be applied to the lighting device as follows: the neutral wire from the junction box goes directly to the light bulb, but the phase wire goes through the switch.
Important! If a neutral wire passes through the breaker, then when the contacts are opened, the voltage from the lighting device will not be removed. This means there is a risk of electric shock, which is deadly.
There are no difficulties in the wiring diagram with one key. From the junction box located above it, the neutral wire goes directly to the lighting device, and the phase wire goes down to the breaker, and after leaving it, goes to the light bulb. Thus, when the key is pressed, the circuit is broken, and the power supply to the lamp ceases to be supplied. And yet, even if the home craftsman is sure that the switch is installed correctly, during production renovation works it is necessary to completely de-energize the line from the input switchboard.
And now we will provide the dear reader with step-by-step instructions on how to connect a one-button light switch. And for a more complete understanding, it will be supported by photo examples of the actions performed.
Instructions for connecting light switches with one key with illustrations
To begin with, let's clarify that with such work, you should pay attention to some things:
- The tool must be dielectric coated;
- The insulation of the tool must not be damaged (cracks, chips);
- When disconnecting the voltage from the input board, hang a sign “Do not turn on! People work! ”;
- The best option would be to ask someone to be near the shield during installation.
Table 1. Instructions for connecting the circuit breaker
| Photo | Actions performed |
|---|---|
 | As you can see in the photo, the supply wire starts on the right (it is marked with a marker). Our task at the first stage is not to make the wires in the junction box too short for the convenience of their connection. Installation in the example will be performed by twisting, but still it is considered more acceptable to use terminal blocks of the "Wago" type |
 | We strip the wires with a margin - this will make it possible to make a tighter twist, which guarantees no heating during operation |
 | According to the generally accepted color coding of cables, a phase will go along the brown wire, which means that it is this wire that we switch with the switch |
 | Zero wire goes directly to the light bulb |
 | It remains to connect the wire coming out of the switch and the phase wire to the lamp, and then tightly stretch the twists |
 | The result should look like this |
 | By applying power, you can make sure that the phase wire, as it should be when installing a one-button switch, is interrupted, which means that everything is done correctly. Turn off the power again from the input board, isolate the connections and carefully close the junction box |
But quite often the question arises of how to connect a one-button light switch together with an outlet. Now everything will become clear.
Table 2. Connection of a one-button switch together with a socket
| Photo | Actions performed |
|---|---|
 | The illustration shows the supply wire that comes from the input machine |
 | The cable from the outlet was also left unbroken - this was done for clarity. |
 | To begin with, we collect the same circuit as in the previous case, for the switch and the light bulb. |
 | And then it remains to connect the wires of the outlet directly to the incoming power, according to the color marking |
 | Using the indicator, we check the correctness of the connection, again remove the voltage, insulate the wires and close the junction box |
As you can see, there are no difficulties in this work, but accuracy and attentiveness is necessary here.
Very important! The arc generated by a short circuit is brighter and hotter than when working with a welding machine. This means that if a short circuit occurs in the immediate vicinity of the eyes, then a sleepless night is guaranteed. Fortunately, if the vision remains the same and does not deteriorate. Therefore, extreme care should be taken when working with electrical voltages.
If you completely understand this circuit, then it will not be difficult to connect more complex switches (having 2 keys).
Related article:
Wiring diagram of a two-button switch and its nuances
The wiring diagram for switches with two buttons has one peculiarity. One phase wire goes from the junction box to the breaker, but they will go to the lighting device already 2. The fact is that there are already 2 contacts in the two-key device, which are closed at the input to each other. Thus, power from one wire is supplied to both contacts at once. Including one or the other, we supply power to this or that consumer.
Wiring diagram for two-button switches for two lights
The essence of the wiring in the junction box is similar to the previous version. The neutral wire goes from the supply wire directly to both lamps, and the phase wire goes to the switch. At the same time, in view of the fact that there are already 2 phase wires from the breaker, the first one will supply one consumer, and the second one - another. Thus, we will be able to turn on each of the lamps separately.
We will definitely consider the step-by-step instructions for installing a circuit for connecting double switches for two lamps below. And now it makes sense to understand how to mount a three-arm chandelier with separate inclusion.
How to connect a chandelier to a double switch and is it difficult to do it
The first thing to do before connecting the chandelier to a double switch is to figure out which of the three wires coming out of it is neutral. To do this, you must use either a home-made device, popularly called "Arkashka".
Self-made dialing
We will need any battery-powered children's toy with a sound or light alert function. The most convenient way to do this is to use a children's toy phone. Having opened its case, we find contacts, the closure of which is accompanied by light or sound. It is from them that we bring 2 wires out. The toy will now be triggered if the wires touch.
Now you need to screw incandescent lamps into the chandelier (or they will not work here) and ring the wires from the chandelier in pairs. If there is a circuit in the pair (the device is triggered), then this is a phase and zero. If there is no contact, then this indicates that two phase wires have been found. It is to them that power is supplied from two conductors coming from the switch, and the third is connected to "zero".
Important information! Such dialing is necessary before connecting the chandelier to a double switch, even if the lamp wires differ in color and there is a diagram. After all, inattention is possible at the factory. If a mistake is made, a short circuit will occur. The most harmless thing that will happen in this case is that the contacts on the breaker will burn out and the input machine will turn off. But it can be even worse, up to burnout of the wiring.
Connecting a two-button switch with a socket - is it difficult to accomplish
There are few differences in the wiring diagrams of two-button switches and sockets with one-button switches. If there are no questions left on previous connections, then there should be no problems here either. But still it is worth dwelling on this in more detail.
Important! Don't underestimate the importance of every action. Electrical engineering does not forgive even the slightest miscalculations. If anyone doubts this, we suggest watching a short video. He will make it clear how jokes with electricity can end.
Let's take a step-by-step look at how to mount a double switch in conjunction with an outlet.
The nuances of connecting two-button switches together with an outlet
Probably, after the previous explanations, the wiring in the junction box should not be a problem. One has only to clarify that 4 wires will go from it to the "switch-socket" block (zero and phase input and 2 phases - output to the lamps).
Table 3. Connecting a two-button switch with a socket
| Photo | Actions performed |
|---|---|
 | First of all, carefully dismantle the switch keys. They stand on the usual clamps, which means that in order to pull them out, you just need to pull them up |
 | We unscrew the screws that secure the decorative cover. One on the socket, and 2 marked under the keys |
 | This is how everything will look after removing the cover. |
 | This terminal, marked with an arrow, is for connecting the phase wire coming from the junction box. |
 | This is where the zero wire comes from, coming from the box |
 | And the last - the outgoing phase wires, which will go to the chandelier or various lamps |
Important information! If there is even the slightest doubt that a home craftsman can do the installation on his own, then it would be better to contact a specialist. Electric jokes are bad. And even if professionals can be mistaken, then inexperienced craftsmen are even more so.
Install double light switches together with sockets, usually in a bathroom-bathroom bundle. Installation is also possible in the living room, where there is a multi-track chandelier. Recently, three-key interrupters are quite common in living rooms, when installing backlighting. Of course, there are more difficulties in connecting such devices, but the principle is the same. With this installation, a phase and a neutral will go from the junction box to the switch, and 3 phase wires will go back. The main task here is not to confuse the loading and zero wiring.
In general, the installation of a double circuit breaker is elementary. The most common problem in such work is the overestimation of their strengths by the home master. At the same time, you should not think that when you turn to professionals for help, everything will be done perfectly. There are quite a lot of such "masters" now who can collect even on the Internet general information can not…
Very important! If the "professional" you invited calls the apartment network 220 V "two-phase", then it is better to refuse his services. There are no two-phase networks - there is only one-phase and three-phase. This must be remembered. 220 v in an apartment is a single-phase two-wire system.
Article
Anton Tsugunov
Reading time: 3 minutes
Installation and connection of a two-button light switch is relevant in cases where it may be necessary to change the lighting intensity of a room or control the lighting of various areas of the interior. You can adjust the amount of light by changing the number of working lamps using such a device. Since this product has two keys, it is able to control the operation of two groups of luminaires. As a rule, two-button light switches are installed in conjunction with chandeliers that have more than two bulbs in their composition.
Another situation in which it is preferable to use such devices is their use to turn on light from one place in different rooms or corridors.
It must be said right away that the wiring diagram for a two-button switch is in many ways similar to a similar circuit used for.
Thus, the scope of application of such devices is very extensive, but in all cases the same connection scheme is used. In order to figure out how to connect a two-button switch, you should familiarize yourself with its structure and principle of operation.
Double Rocker Switch Design
The classification of these devices is quite simple. Distinguish between built-in and surface-mounted models, intended for use, respectively, with hidden or exposed wiring. Among additional functions with which these devices can be equipped, you can highlight the backlight. Illuminated switches are easy to find in a dark room and are therefore very convenient to use.
The design of a two-key product is quite simple and is in many ways similar to internal organization single switch. The only difference is that there is a separate contact for powering the second group of consumers. Structurally, a two-button switch consists of the following main elements:
- Working part. Unlike single-key models with two terminals, this switch is equipped with three contacts. One of them is incoming and two are outgoing. The input contact is designed to connect the phase wire coming from the junction box to it. The outgoing contacts of the working part are used to connect wires to them, which are used to power consumers. As a rule, markings are applied to the body of the working part of the circuit breaker, which makes it easier to identify the type of each terminal. This part of the device must be installed so that the common terminal is at the bottom.
- Decorative frame.
- Two keys (can be equipped with windows for backlighting).
If the design of the device includes a backlight, then it includes a small electrical circuit that includes an LED (or neon lamp), a resistor and, sometimes, a capacitor. This electrical circuit is connected to the contacts of the switch. The principle of its operation is quite simple. Since the current-limiting resistor has a sufficiently large resistance, when it is closed by the short-circuited contacts of the switch, the current in the backlight circuit does not flow. When the working contacts are opened, a small current, limited by the resistance of the resistor, flows in the backlight circuit, ensuring the burning of the LED.
Backlit switches are very widespread nowadays.
General connection diagram
The connection diagram for a two-button light switch is shown in the figure.
The ground wire, which is shown in the figure, is present in the wiring of not all buildings. If, to connect powerful household electrical appliances, such as a hob or a washing machine, they try to ground their housings at least to the shield of an electric meter, then there is usually no grounding in the lighting circuits. To increase the safety of using the wiring in such conditions, it makes sense to install it at the entrance to the apartment or.
The diagram for connecting a double switch shown in the figure has two separate lamps as a load, however, this connection is often used to control each key of the switch with a chain of several series-connected lamps.
How to connect the device
The main rule that must be observed when installing all switching devices is the need to install them in such a way that when disconnected, the phase wire circuit breaks. This should be done, first of all, so that when replacing a light bulb, it would be enough to simply turn off the switch, without resorting to using an introductory machine.
The fact is that a large number of cases of electric shock to a person occurs precisely when performing such work. Unfortunately, such cases often occur, despite the fact that for a dangerous situation to arise, it is necessary not only to confuse the wire on which the switch should be installed, but also to incorrectly connect the bulb holder.
USEFUL INFORMATION: Installing a one-button switch
As for working with any elements of electrical wiring, when installing and connecting two-button switches, you should adhere to safety rules, the main one of which is the need to disconnect the voltage in the network during the work. Since the junction boxes are in most cases located at a height, an important element when working with them is the use of a reliable ladder or stand.
In order to properly install such a device, you must adhere to the following procedure:
- With the help of the input machine, the electricity supply to the apartment is turned off. This can also be done using an automaton responsible for the consumer group, which includes the required lighting circuit.
- Wires coming from consumers are brought into the junction box, which must be connected to the network, phase and zero from the input panel, as well as three wires coming from the switch. It should be borne in mind that if it is necessary to connect copper and aluminum wires, terminal blocks must be used. This situation occurs quite often in old buildings where the internal wiring was carried out with aluminum wire.
- All neutral conductors in the box are interconnected.
- The phase wire coming from the entrance to the apartment is connected to a conductor that will be connected to the input terminal of the two-button light switch.
- Each of the phase wires serving to power individual consumers is connected to the corresponding output wire of the switch.
- All connections are reliably insulated. To insulate the connections in the junction box, it is preferable to use fiberglass tape, as one of the most resistant to temperature influences.
- Its keys are removed from the switch, after which the working part is disconnected from the frame.
- The corresponding wires are connected to the contacts of the working part. For convenience, it is advisable to use cables whose cores are color coded differently. If a backlight is provided in the design of the device, then the contacts of its circuit are connected to the terminals of the switch.
- With the help of sliding legs, the working part is installed in the socket box. In this case, it is important to ensure that the switched on position of the device corresponds to pressing the upper part of its keys.
- The decorative frame is mounted using special grooves or bolts.
- The keys are installed.
USEFUL INFORMATION: At what height should the sockets and switches be installed?
In practice, connecting a double switch is not much more difficult than connecting a single button device.
When performing work on the installation of 220V electrical lighting networks for household and industrial premises, it is often necessary to control several lighting devices from one point. For these purposes, a switch with two keys is used. Devices of this design provide switching on and off of lighting devices with two or more lamps. Sometimes, the layout of the electrical wiring of the lighting network provides for the control of several groups of luminaires or individual lamps on one luminaire. A two-key is also suitable for this purpose.
For the double circuit breaker to work properly, it must be connected correctly. In this case, you should adhere to a certain sequence of actions to ensure personal safety and the safety of others. Recommendations for safe mounting on two bulbs are discussed below.
Preparatory work
Preparation for the installation of electrical switching devices (in this case, switches) provides for an understanding of their structure, purpose, design, principle of operation and the availability of tools for their installation in domestic and industrial conditions.
The regulation of the number of switched on lighting devices is carried out at the expense of a switch that has an additional outgoing contact and a separate control button. It usually does not differ in size from one-key. This is done for the convenience of replacing them with each other. The main difference lies in their switching "stuffing".
The device for two keys has a working part that includes three contacts. One of the contacts is incoming, and the other two are outgoing. Outgoing contacts have independent on and off control.
During installation, it is positioned so that the outgoing contacts are at the top. This is due to the generally accepted standard on / off position.
A phase wire coming from the junction box is connected to the terminal of the incoming contact. Phase wires of consumers are installed on the terminals of outgoing contacts: individual lamps of one lamp, individual lamps, individual groups of lamps.
Zero wire (working zero) to consumers is taken out of the junction box, and does not pass through the switch.
According to their design, the two-key models are divided into models for installation directly on the wall (for surface wiring), and models for internal installation in the wall (for hidden wiring).
Wiring diagram for a two-button switch for two lights
For correct connection into the electrical network, you should understand the electrical diagram of its installation.
The modern electrical network provides for the presence of a grounding conductor in the supply networks of all electrical consumers. In the wiring networks of Soviet-era houses, there is no such conductor. And in many private buildings it is not always there, especially in lighting networks. This can be explained by the relatively low electrical output of household lighting fixtures.
Therefore, it will be objective to consider the connection diagram of a two-button switch for wiring without a grounding conductor.
This diagram shows an example of connecting two lamps of one lamp, or two independent lamps. In this case, the phase wire comes to the input terminal of the switch and through independent outgoing contacts is directed to the consumers with two separate wires.
For greater clarity, a diagram is shown for connecting two independent groups of lamps, or lamps connected in series.
When using such a scheme, the connection of the working part of the device does not change and is performed similarly to the previous example.
What tools and materials will be needed to mount a double switch
To complete the installation, you will need the following tool. Considered for models of two standard designs.
open circuit breaker:
- Electric drill.
- A drill with a diameter of 6 mm (for wood) or a drill with a diameter of 6 mm (for a concrete, brick wall).
- Phillips screwdriver for clamping the wire in the terminal contacts and fastening the switch body.
- A screwdriver is an indicator for detecting the presence of voltage in the network.
- Knife for stripping the insulating layer of the wire. (in the absence of a special tool for stripping insulation from cable and wiring products). And also a knife is needed to prepare the inlet and outlet holes in the switch body for wires (cables).
- Pliers for crimping flexible wires. If the wire is solid, pliers may not be needed. However, you can also use crimp lugs that match the wire size (for flexible wire).
- Dowel with cork 6x40 (specified standard size, it may vary depending on local conditions).
- Marker or felt-tip pen for applying phase / zero markings to wires (for safety reasons).
To ensure safety from electric shock, all tools should have insulated handles to insulate the metal parts of the tool from the hands of the installer. On a quality tool, the insulation class or the voltage limit is indicated, in the network of which it is allowed to work with such a tool.
Concealed wiring switch.
To install the switch in a network with hidden wiring, you will need the same set of tools as in the previous example, but with a significant addition. You will need a hammer drill with special equipment - a crown for drilling standard holes in concrete and brick walls... Since the working part is recessed into the wall, a punch is indispensable.
And you will also need a special building mixture to fix the plastic case of the switch in the drilled hole. For this purpose, gypsum, plaster, etc. are suitable.
Connection instructions
Let's consider the installation process using the example of a switch for hidden wiring. This process is preferred as the aesthetics of the home interior require hidden wiring.
1. We drill a hole in the wall using a perforator and a special crown.
2. Remove the destroyed wall elements with a chisel or screwdriver.
3. Checking whether the hole corresponds to the dimensions of the plastic housing of the switch.
4. Punching the shtraba for electrical wiring. (Going down to the baseboard, as in this example, or to the junction box).
5. Cutting a template hole in the plastic housing of the switch for electrical wiring.
6. Moistening the prepared hole with water for better contact with the mortar.
7. Application of mortar to the hole and installation of the body.
8. Installation of the plastic case.
9. Removal of excess mixture solution.
10. Leveling the surface of the mortar.
11. The final position of the switch body after the mortar has hardened.
12. The next stage is to connect the working part of the circuit breaker and install it in the case.
For safe operation, turn off the voltage of the network into which we connect the device. We pre-determine the phase and neutral wires using a voltage indicator. We mark the wires so as not to get confused in the future.
After the installation of the plastic case is completed and the mixture has hardened, we put the phase wire into the switch case. We connect the phase wire to the terminal of the incoming contact of the device.
We connect the two outgoing phase wires, respectively, to the outgoing terminals of the contacts. We get the following.
13. It remains only to install the switch keys and it is ready to work.
Provided that the lamps are already connected, we apply voltage to the network and check the operation.
For greater clarity of the connection process, a video on this topic is shown below.
How to install and connect a switch on two keys with your own hands: video
Possible errors and ways to solve them
When connecting the working part, the phase and neutral wires can be confused; in order to avoid this, it is necessary to mark them in a timely manner.
The position of the switch keys is standardly set as follows:
Installation of switches is not particularly time consuming, although it is a multi-step process. Subject to the above recommendations and their sequence, problems should not arise. The main rule of electricians must be remembered. Before starting work (installation, repair of electrical devices and equipment), turn off the power supply and check the absence of voltage at the workplace. It is very important to take measures for the erroneous switching on of the mains voltage. In order for no one to turn on the circuit breaker that you turned off before starting work, by mistake, you should post a poster on it "Do not turn on, people are working!" or lock this machine in the box (if there is one). Safety first!
Connecting a double switch is considered an urgent problem. For many, the connection of a single switch is not a problem, and the design is quite understandable, but a double switch is more complex in design, and its installation requires more careful consideration.
In rooms for any purpose, lighting plays an important role and includes two important components:
- lighting device;
- switch.
The luminaire is the most important element as it creates light. The light is controlled using switches that allow you to turn on and off the light at the right time. Without switches, lighting devices connected to electricity work around the clock, which is unreasonable and economically unprofitable.
The main function of the switches is to control the connection and disconnection of wires that go to the device from the junction box. That is, at the moments of pressing the device key, the mechanism connects or disconnects the contacts, it depends on the degree of inclination.
Switch device with two buttons
Outwardly, such a switch is very similar to a conventional device, the only difference is in the structure of the internal mechanism. The body consists of a frame and keys.
A switch with two buttons allows you to control the lighting of two groups and consists of:
- frame;
- two buttons to switch;
- input and output terminal blocks.
Terminals and screws can be used as fasteners. Electric current is applied to the first terminal. After that, 2 wires are connected to the mechanism, which control the interaction of key devices. A cable conduit is connected to the clamps, which brings the switch to the lighting devices. It is believed that the two-key switch is a modification of the one-key device.
Often there are modular switches that consist of 2 single connecting pieces.
The principle of operation of a double switch is the interaction of contacts and wires that are connected to luminaires of various designs.
The connection of cables and wires takes place thanks to the terminal blocks. Terminals are special devices that are equipped with self-tightening mechanisms. Terminal clamps have recently become very popular, since for connection it is enough to clean the ends of the wires from the insulating material and connect them to the terminal.
There are switches with screw terminals, in them everything happens in the same way, only fixation occurs by tightening the screws.
Important! Experts recommend using a double circuit breaker with terminal blocks. Such a connection is considered durable and easy to install. The screw terminals loosen the contact over time, resulting in a loss of electrical current.
There are types of modern two-button switches that are equipped with a backlight device and an indicator. The backlight helps to find the device in the dark, and the indicator shows the presence of a closed circuit in the lamp.
Advantages of double switches
Devices with two keys have the following advantages:
- one device can control the operation of several lamps or lighting fixtures;
- providing control over the intensity and brightness of light in rooms. A single switch, with one press, turns on all the lamps of the lighting fixture, however, the double switch can not be used at full strength by turning on one key;
- the ability to regulate lighting in two rooms at once;
- economical consumption of electricity;
- rational use of cables and wires;
- the inclusion of one lamp is allowed, which has a beneficial effect on the health of the eyes. Everyone knows the feeling when all the lights are connected at once, this happens with a single switch;
- Convenience when connecting two-button switches for damp rooms or street lighting, since one device is much more convenient to mask from bad weather or shock. When mounted outdoors, the switches must be protected by special covers.
Important! To create uniform illumination, it is possible to use a dimmer that allows you to dim the light.
Application methods
A large number of advantages of such a device allows it, an apartment, an office, etc. In addition, a two-button switch can serve as a regulator for the operation of lamps in several rooms at once, for example, a bathroom and a toilet or a corridor and a kitchen. In order to carry out the installation correctly, you need to know how to connect a double switch for two lights.
Important! Devices that regulate lighting in two rooms at once are mounted most often outside the room. Such a requirement is spelled out in the PUE (electrical installation rules).
Thus, we can conclude that the scope of use of two-button switches is huge.
Drawing up a drawing for connection
Before carrying out installation work, a connection diagram is required. The drawing must clearly take into account the laying of the wire. Basically, a phase wire is connected to the switch. Ground and neutral wires. From the switch there are 2 cable wires, each of which must be connected to light bulbs or other lighting devices.
The basic principle of the circuit is to indicate the connection of the wires from the junction box to the luminaire.
Materials required for connection
After drawing up the scheme, they begin to prepare the materials necessary for installation. The list of additional materials includes:
- electrical wires, the cross section of which must be at least one and a half square millimeters. To accurately determine the footage, you should take measurements of the room using a tape measure;
- two-button switches;
- insulating tape;
- mounting box;
- terminal blocks or screw terminals.
Toolkit list:
- Phillips and flathead screwdrivers;
- mounting knife for removing insulating material;
- side cutters;
- level;
- pliers;
- a hammer and a chisel in case of a need for a chasing process or deepening for socket boxes.
Installation of electrical wires
Before making the connection, you need to check the wires used. To do this, it is necessary to test and determine which of the wires is phase. An indicator screwdriver is used for testing, which will indicate the presence of current with an LED signal. It is necessary to mark the phase wire so as not to confuse it with zero later.
Before starting the installation of the double circuit breaker to the location of the device. In cases of using a hidden wiring method, the wiring is carried out until the walls are plastered. Only after that switches and lamps are installed in place, and then they are connected. Wiring is carried out according to a pre-drawn diagram.
When using the open method, the wiring is laid in cable channels or corrugated pipes. In cases of replacing electrical wiring, the hidden method is considered more laborious, since you first need to dismantle the old wiring, and then install a new one. Open method of wiring is more economical and does not require cost and labor. It is fairly easy to remove the old wiring and plug in the new one.
Preparatory stage of connection
After the cable has been placed in the designated place, the process of connecting the switches begins. During the installation and connection period, it is necessary to de-energize the room in which the work will take place.
Important! To turn off the current, it is enough to turn off the automatic switch at the beginning of the branch.
In a well-designed switchboard, all circuit breakers are labeled, and therefore it will not be difficult to de-energize the required circuit breaker. If the wires are not signed, then the machine can be detected by the selection method.
After wiring, the installation of a two-button switch begins.
The work begins with stripping the ends of the wires. It is possible to connect a double light switch using 3 wires: the first one is input, which provides current input, and 2 output wires, which are connected to lighting devices. The ends of the wires are stripped from the insulation, the stripping distance is approximately 10 cm.
Then the cleaned wires are connected to the terminals. This fastener is designated in the system with the letter "L". Such a clamp is located on one side of the structure, that is, separately, and it cannot be confused. This method is used for two-button switches, if their design is not modular.
For modular switches, the connection is different. In this case, the lead-in cable is connected to the terminal of the first module. Such a terminal is also designated with the letter "L", only it is connected with a thin wire to the second module. This is how the connection to the phase wire occurs. The output terminals are indicated on the diagram in the form of arrows, and the wiring is connected to them in the same way.
There are several options for connecting a double switch:
- The simplest method is characterized by an equal number of wires from the ceiling and the lighting fixture. To connect such wires, you just need to twist them together.
- If there are 3 wires on the ceiling, and the chandelier has a larger number of shades, then in this case the wires are distributed into sections and connected to the phase wire.
- If 4 wires come out of the ceiling, in these cases the wires are twisted together. One of the four wires is ground and can be identified by its light green color and the "PE" marking.
There are 2 screws on the sides of the structure, with which you can adjust the fixation of the legs. In cases where the device is dangling, you can tighten it with screws and fix it tighter. To do this, you need a curly screwdriver.
The box is mounted in a specially prepared recess, after which the upper decorative frame is installed. Then the switch is attached to the socket. Bolts or clamps are used for fastening. This process depends on the design of the switch you purchased. There are varieties that have removable frames and buttons for pressing. These elements are removed before connection and installed after the entire scope of work has been completed.
Conclusion
Connecting a double switch is quite simple, if you study in detail all the subtle points of this process. The main thing is not to forget that before any work with electricity, it is necessary to de-energize the system. From the above information, it is clear which wire and where to connect, and for the correct connection this is the basic principle. After studying the necessary information, you will know exactly how to connect a two-button light switch.
All of the above information will serve as instructions for correctly connecting the wires to the two-button switch.