Each of us has repeatedly come across a situation where you need to cross a dark room to turn on the light, which is very inconvenient. The installation of a pass-through switch can help here , which will allow you to control the lighting from two or more places. In some cases, this is not just an additional convenience, but also an urgent need.
We offer you to get acquainted with the features of work and the installation of a passage switch.
Why do we need a through switch?
Walk-through switches are used to control lighting devices from different ends of the room (corridor, room or on flights of stairs). They allow, without returning to the first device, turn off the lighting from a convenient place.
Most often, such switches on the wall are installed in the following places:
- In the bedrooms. One switch is installed at the entrance to the bedroom, the rest (one or two) near the bed. We entered the room, turned on the lights, prepared for bed, went to bed and turned off the light.
- On the stairs. Switches can be installed on the first and second floors. From below we turn on the lighting, climb up the stairs and turn off the device installed there. If the height of the houses is more than two floors, you can add additional switches.
- In the corridors. We install one device at the beginning, another at its end. We go into the room, turn on the lights, at the end of the corridor - turn off.
This list can be continued for a very long time, since for each case there is a different option for using a switch-through system.
Types of passage switches
By their execution, such devices are:
- single-key;
- two-key;
- three keys.
The design of the circuit breaker determines the number of lighting devices connected to it and places for tripping. In addition to control using keys, there are touch models.
Device features
The difference between passage switches from standard devices connected by two wires is as follows:
- In their design, 3 contacts are provided.
- The device allows you to quickly direct the voltage from the first contact to the second or third.
The light turns on when the keys are in the same position on both devices. When the position changes, the lighting turns off. Management can be carried out both from two, and from three and even more points. For this, a cross switch is connected to the circuit, and, if necessary, several.
The single-key device has three terminals. The dual switch has five terminals: one common and 2 each for connecting to devices. The three-key switch has a more complex device, but if you have a circuit, understanding this is not very difficult.
Installation Features
The installation of a passage switch is slightly different from the installation of familiar models, since instead of two, three wires are provided here. Consider the purpose of each of them.
Two wires serve as jumpers between the switches, the third is for phase supply. Before starting the installation of the passage switch, it is necessary to purchase a junction box where wires from all sources of electricity and necessary tools will be connected.
Tools for work
- Phillips and flat head screwdrivers.
- A tool with which you can remove the insulation from wires (for example, a regular knife).
- Pliers.
- Indicator screwdriver.
- Level.
- Roulette.
- Hammer drill.
Niche and Strobe Preparation
To install the passage switch, it is necessary to first make gates in the wall for laying electric cables, lay the wires and pull them to the points of placement of the installed devices.
It is most convenient to use a puncher to gouge concrete walls. Recesses in limestone partitions are best done with a chisel.
It is not recommended to use a perforator for a brick wall, since the masonry can be cracked. In this case, the only safe solution is to lay the cables in the seams between the masonry that were previously adapted for this.
Wooden walls are not gated - wires are laid in special boxes. As a rule, the cable is pulled under the baseboard and brought out directly below the place where the passage switch is installed.
Work sequence
- Wires are connected to the electrical panel.
- A convenient switch height is selected. Here they focus entirely on personal preferences.
- Strobing is carried out. The width and depth of the strob is 1.5 times greater than the diameter of the wire.
- Stacked in the strobes of the wire. The wiring elements are fixed with small nails. They are driven into the wall so that they propped up the cable and did not allow it to fall out. Before attaching the wire, it should be inserted into the installation box. After mounting all the switches and checking their operability, the strobes are plastered.
- Holes are made for installing switches.
Installation of switches
The ends of the wires are freed from insulation by about 2-3 cm - this is necessary for twisting. In the junction box, a wire is supplied that supplies power from the shield with the input contact of the first device. The remaining two output contacts are connected to the wires from another switch. Next, the input contact of the second device is twisted with a wire coming from the lighting device. The zero wire from the lamp is connected to the zero that came from the shield. Then all places of twists are carefully wrapped with insulating tape.
Two-way light switch
Two-gang walk-through switches are advisable to install in large rooms where you need to control several lighting fixtures.
Their design consists of two single switches located in a common housing. The installation of a double switch allows you to significantly save on laying wires to each of the single-key devices.
Such devices are used to turn on lighting in the toilet and bathroom or on the landing and in the corridor.
The connection of the switch with two keys is as follows:
- In the wall they install podrozetniki for devices. The hole for them is made using a hammer drill with a crown. Two wires having three wires lead to them according to the grooves made in advance in the wall.
- A three-core cable is connected to each lighting device: phase, grounding and neutral wire.
- Connect the phase wire in the junction box to the two contacts of the first device. The second device is connected to the contacts from the lighting fixtures. The second wire from the fixtures is switched to zero, coming from the switchboard. When the contacts are switched, the common instrument circuits are closed and opened in pairs and enable and disable a particular lamp.
Legrand feedthrough switches
The French industrial company Legrand is one of the leading suppliers of electrical goods in the world. Its products are quite popular in the Russian market, where a fairly wide range of different series of passage switches is provided, such as:
- Valena
- "Ethics";
- Galea Life;
- Mosaic
- Kuteo
- Selian
- "Cariva";
- Anam
- "Plexo".
The products of this brand are of high quality, durability and reliability, and therefore earned the trust of customers.
The company produces products that have a different price category (from economy class to premium), which can fully satisfy any demand, and the many shapes and colors of products greatly expand the possibilities of using devices in various interiors.
All Legrand circuit-breakers have the same device design and connection rules. Their connection is carried out, as a rule, by fastening screws or clamps. The company also manufactures fully screwless key switches, which greatly facilitate the fastening of copper wires.
For the manufacture of the device, the manufacturer uses ABS plastic or polycarbonate, which makes the switch durable, durable and safe to use. The switch housing has moisture protection and antibacterial protection. In addition, it can be made in various designs and have an indicator.