Monitoring the level of lighting from different parts of the room is a useful and effective method for long corridors, flights of stairs, as well as galleries. In fact, it is: it’s not convenient for anyone upon arrival at home to turn on the light on the lower floor, go up to the bedroom, and then go back on and off. In this case, you have to go back in the dark. It will be much more convenient to turn on the light at the beginning of the climb, and turn it off at the end. To control the light according to this principle will help special pass-through switches connected to the light source from two sides. It is necessary to analyze in more detail how to properly connect the light through switch.
Circuit breaker
Feedthrough switches do not have a neutral position that would lead to an open circuit. Such devices can redirect the flow of electricity in one direction or another, leading to the closure of individual contacts. The principle of operation of the system is based on the operation of limit switches, which have the property of changing the state of the electrical circuit in individual wiring locations.
Such switches do not copy each other, but function autonomously, although they relate to elements of a single circuit. In addition to operating comfort, this type of connection helps to save a significant amount of electricity.
Walk-through switches give home owners the opportunity to use lighting networks that include one or several lines at once and are controlled from different points of the room. Each type of connection should be considered according to separate schemes and in more detail, which will help the future user to determine the main advantages of the switches, as well as to understand the sequence of their independent installation.
The main advantages of the system include the following factors:
- there is a chance to carry out control from different ends of the room;
- there is a chance to connect several lines at once;
- comfortable lighting control even at a great distance;
- the opportunity to save on electricity costs.
Experts recommend considering some of the disadvantages of the connection system. Firstly, you need to use additional equipment. Secondly, there may be some difficulties with system installation and switching.
What is a two-place control scheme?
How to connect a do-it-yourself light through switch with your own hands? The control scheme from two places is considered the easiest for single-key devices in different sections of the distance (flights of stairs and corridors). All connections are made only on the phase conductor and its branches between passage switches.
Zero wire is drawn to the light source itself, but it is not involved in the connection process. How to connect the switch through passage on one light bulb according to the scheme?
- Each device has 2-3 terminals between which the generated current is evenly distributed. The terminals of the two connectors are switched with each other.
- The central input of the first switch is connected to a phase cable under a voltage of 220 V.
- The second switch is directed towards the consumer.
Each of the mounted switches can close or open the electric circuit, which will directly depend on the location of the contacts. Many experts recommend wiring in several distribution boxes located next to each of the switches, or in a separate box installed in the center of the wiring.
The second method may seem faster and simpler at first glance, but in practice it will require a long wire, as well as a large number of twists in a separate box.
Multi-line control
How to connect the switch through passage on two bulbs? With this type of installation, two-key switches are used, in which each key switches over on one of the connection lines.
How to connect a walk-through switch with two keys? To do this, use the step-by-step instruction:
- the phase conductor is connected to the input terminal of the first switch, and after jumpers it is connected to the second;
- terminal terminals in two switches function with each other according to the principle of pairing and correspondence to instrument keys;
- the input terminals of the second device are connected via special wires of the lighting line.
Two lines interact with the neutral conductor at once. Each instrument key controls a specific circuit, turning the bulbs on or off.
How is lighting controlled from three places?
The peculiarity of this type of connection lies in the ability to control the light at once with three switches. The second device is included in the composition of such a system, which will play the role of an adapter, but unlike the circuit breakers it will be equipped with two several inlet and outlet openings, as well as a paired movable contact operating between three fixed ones.
The transcoder is mounted on the third section of the system connection, from which the lighting device is turned on and off in the room.
How to connect a light-through switch with two phases with your own hands? The circuit has several single-key switches, two distribution boxes and one switch. The step-by-step instruction for mounting the system consists of the following actions:
- 220V network phase conductor connected to the input of the first loop-through device;
- the input of the second switch is connected to the wiring;
- the output of the two loop-through devices goes to the outputs of the cross switch.
Cables are connected to each other in special junction boxes, which can be two or three at once.
Connecting switches to a power outlet
How to properly connect a walk-through light switch with a switch? For independent development of a lighting connection network with the function of turning on and off the light from different places of the room, the L-conductor from the old lighting line can become a phase. To do this, connect the input of the first switch to it, and then carry out the wiring according to one of the methods described.
When mounting a new circuit, the phase wire can be drawn to a nearby outlet or found in the junction box using its special dialing device.
The easiest way to install a passage switch is to install a wall outlet. This method is practical and effective in operation. In this case, a jumper can be a simple wire with a metal core, which will correspond to the cross-section of the wiring. The cabling between the two circuit breakers and the junction boxes is carried out in a shtrob under a layer of putty (in a hidden way) or laying in a cable ditch.
Which switch to choose?
You can determine the required switches for the lighting system if you know the circuit, the number of points required and the personal preferences of the owner of the house.
All circuit breakers can be divided into the following types:
- one lighting line with several switches - one key;
- scheme with several lighting lines - two keys;
- three lighting control points located on the same line - one key;
- lighting of three lines at once - three keys.
All walk-through devices differ from each other in the number of keys and appearance. In addition, the switches differ from each other by the principle of mounting - mortise and external. By the type of functioning in the market you can find:
- mechanical switches working by pressing;
- sensory, activated after contact with the skin;
- remote, for which a separate infrared remote control is included.
Remote walk-through switches in most cases are used in large living rooms or offices, where the ability to control lighting from different points is most valued.
People in the market
In online stores there is a huge amount of electrical goods from different manufacturers, among which you can find well-known brands. In order to determine which device is best to choose for mounting in the house, the user should analyze some individual brands from both domestic and foreign companies.
List of companies manufacturing switch-disconnectors:
- Legrand Valena, manufacturer France (single-key) - the cost of 650 rubles;
- TDM Electric is produced in Russia, has several keys and costs 150 rubles;
- Schneider Electric is developed by a company from France, has two keys and costs 300 rubles;
- Volsten - a brand of a Russian manufacturer, a switch with a two-key system costs 160 rubles;
- Makel is made in Turkey, has a two-key system and costs 200 rubles.
The indicated cost on the switch model does not reflect the whole picture of price criteria. The price for a particular device will directly depend on its design, functions performed, materials used and brand awareness.
For example, Schneider Electric and Legrand Valena are the most popular world brands. The devices of these manufacturers are of high quality, which is confirmed by the indicators of their service life.
What problems may arise during installation?
How to connect a grounded switch with grounding? Among the most common errors that can reduce the quality of the finished system and lead to problems with the operation of circuit breakers are known:
- Trying to connect all the wires in one distribution box. Doing this is allowed only if you use a simple single-line circuit with several switches. If it is necessary to conduct more complex communications, you should separate the connection points in several or three boxes in order to prevent too many twists in one section. If this fact is not taken into account, this may result in a short circuit due to poor insulation and the complexity of further repairs and maintenance.
- The use of wires from different materials of live conductors. Such wiring is dangerous because oxidation will occur during use of the devices and contact will cease.
- The device is used in the gutter of the cable channel or under a layer of plaster in the presence of internal wiring. Such a connection may result in a leakage of electric current due to wet walls or the accumulation of a large amount of condensate in the duct. As a result, a breakdown of current to the wall or a constant operation of the protective system may occur.
- Incorrect design of bows when connecting cables. The twist should, according to the norms, tighten well and reach a length of up to 25 millimeters. Only by observing this rule can a high-quality and durable connection be achieved. It is best to use terminal blocks for such purposes.
Experts recommend that a protective cap is also worn when insulating sections of the joint over the insulation system. It is he who will prevent a short circuit.
Installation of the Lezart switch
How to connect the Lezart pass-through switch correctly? When mounting a switch of this type, you must use not two, but three wires at once. In this case, one cable will be directed from the network towards the light source, and the other two will be combined with each other through devices.
In order not to get lost in all cables, several colors should be used at once. For example, most often masters use three wires for comfortable work: blue, blue-green and brown.
- brown - phase wire, which is connected to the input of the first transition device and lead to the output of the second;
- blue - leads to the lamp itself (otherwise a neutral wire);
- yellow-green - most often used for grounding, since the light does not need grounding, it can be used in a room where two walk-through switches are combined at once.
If you apply such an eyeliner scheme, then it will be almost impossible to get confused.
How to connect a two-gang switch through passage?
To do this, the user will need two instances of the switches. One is installed at the beginning of the room, the second - at the other end. The scheme of their communication will directly depend on the number of built-in keys.
How to connect the Legrand switch through passage? A phase wire is connected to the first device. Between the other two are several cables. Then, from the second switch, the cable goes towards the lighting device. Also, a zero wire is connected to the light source.
A distinctive feature of turning on and off lighting from different places is the closure and opening of cables located between two conductors. To turn on the light, one of the wires must be closed from time to time. In order to prevent the quick breakdown of the passage switches during self-assembly of the device, it is important to adhere to all points of the instructions and follow the diagram.