How to replace the light switch

Sometimes it happens, you go into the room, turn on the light, and the light does not shine. Replacing the lamp does not help. If in other rooms all the lights shine 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 by yourself.

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 it will be produced circuit breaker replacement. For this in floor electrical panel on the landing must be turned off circuit breaker (automatic), feeding this room or the whole apartment as a whole.

In some apartments, metering panels with a gun 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.

Single-key switch replacement sequence.

Depending on the design of the switch, it is necessary to squeeze (tilt) and remove the switch button or loosen the screw (s) and remove the decorative panel, etc. In other words, it is necessary to remove those collapsible parts of the switch that provide access to electrical wires and fastening elements of the switch in the wall.

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

The indicator should be held only by the handle, slightly touching the metal contact plate at the end of the handle to create a closed circuit and the indicator to work properly. ATTENTION, touching your hands to exposed wires and terminals of the circuit breaker when the circuit breaker is turned on is life threatening! When replacing the circuit breaker, be sure to observe the electrical safety rules!

After detecting the phase, it is necessary to turn on the switch and check the appearance of the phase on another terminal. If there is a phase, the switch is in good condition, and the fault lies in the wiring on the way from the switch to the lamp. If the phase does not appear, the switch requires replacement.

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

It is necessary to turn off the apartment machine, check with an indicator that there is no phase (voltage) at the switch terminals, and unscrew the lamps from the lampholders. Then measure the resistance between the terminals. The resistance of a working switch in the on state should be approximately equal to zero, in the off state - infinity.

If the apartment machine was previously turned on, you must turn it off. Use an indicator to check the absence of phase on all terminals and wires. Loosen the screws securing the wires and disconnect the wires. Loosen the fasteners holding the switch housing 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 falls off during dismantling, it is necessary to strip the insulation with a knife by the amount required to connect the wires to the circuit breaker terminals and bend the ends so that it is convenient to connect them to a new circuit breaker.Areas with damaged insulation must be insulated with insulation tape.

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

The fastening strength of the wire is checked by lightly pulling it out of the terminal clamp. Trying not to damage the insulation of the wires, gently 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 tabs securing the switch housing to the wall.

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

See also: Schematic and wiring diagrams of lighting in an apartment and a house

Electrical and Electronics for Beginners,electrician in the apartment, do-it-yourself electrician.