Instructions on how to easily change the switch yourself

Although it may seem difficult, you can easily perform the task of changing a light switch on your own with some assistance. In addition to saving you money on hiring an electrician, doing home improvement projects yourself also makes you feel good about yourself. Changing out a bad switch or upgrading to a new one is both simple and straightforward processes.

In this post, we’ll walk you through the process of changing a switch on your own without the assistance of a professional. Even if you have no prior experience with electrical work, we’ll walk you through the procedure step-by-step and make it easy to understand. You can upgrade your switches in a safe and confident manner, improving your home’s appearance and functionality, by following these simple steps. Please let me know if you require any changes or additional information!

What you need to know about replacement?

You should exercise caution when replacing a light switch yourself, even though the procedure is quite straightforward. When replacing a switch, the location of the electrical panel is the most crucial detail to know. since de-energizing the cables that lead to the switch is the most crucial step.

Kinds

Let us categorize switches based on multiple standards:

• according to the method of fastening;
• by number of keys;
• by design;
• according to the design of terminals for fastening the ends of the wiring;
• according to the inclusion principle.

1. According to the mounting method, switches are divided into two types: internal and external.
2. External switches are used with open wiring, when the wiring runs directly along the walls, the switch is accordingly attached to the wall. This is very rare in ordinary apartments, more typical for wooden houses.
3. Internal switches are used when the wiring is hidden under plaster. In this case, drill a technological hole for the switch, attach a socket box to this hole, to which the switch is already attached.
4. Depending on the number of keys, switches are single-key, two-key and three-key.
5. Single-key switches are light switches that contain only one electrical circuit and a button. They are the easiest to install, but such switches turn on and off all the light bulbs that are in the chandelier at once.
6. Switches with two keys consist of two electrical circuits. They can be used, for example, if you have a three-arm chandelier. In such a switch you can divide it so that one button is responsible for one light bulb, and the second for two other light bulbs, so in such a chandelier you can turn on any number of light bulbs, starting from one and ending with all three.
7. In a three-arm switch, there are respectively three electrical circuits.
8. According to the method of fastening the wires, switches are available with screw fastening and screwless.
9. Screw-mounted switches are the most common type of switches. The stripped end of the wire in such switches is fixed with a screw. The advantage of this type of fastening is ease of installation. The disadvantages include the need to periodically tighten the screw, since under the influence of vibrations it slightly unscrews.
10. Switches with screwless or quick-release fastening methods are less common. The advantages of this type of fastening include the absence of the need to tighten anything. The disadvantages include the fact that this type of fastening cannot be used for any type of wiring; it is suitable for copper stranded wiring and is not applicable for old aluminum wiring.
11. By type of activation, switches can be keys, push-buttons, dimmers, rotary, rope, touch, acoustic, with a remote control.
12. Key switches don’t need any special introduction. Almost everyone at home has such switches. The process of closing the circuit is carried out mechanically by pressing a key.
13. In push-button switches, the closing process, just like in key switches, occurs mechanically, only in a push-button switch the on and off process is carried out by pressing the same button. Very often such switches are found on table lamps.
14. Dimmer switches are switches that can not only turn the light on and off, but also regulate its intensity. They are equipped with a rheostat. In addition to the fairly common switches, on the same table lamps with a wheel, there are also dimmer switches with push-button adjustment and even touch adjustment.
15. Rotary switches are most often found in rooms with exposed wiring or in rooms with antique or loft designer interiors. They are not as multifunctional as dimmer ones. Turning them on and off is carried out by a rotary mechanism.
16. Rope switches are also familiar to many; they are often used in bedside sconces. This type of switch is not fundamentally different from other types of switches. This is a purely decorative type of switch, there is nothing special about it.
17. Touch switches are the most modern of the entire list and have enormous functionality compared to others. Touch switches can have functions such as: timer, backlight, motion sensors, room temperature and others. Despite the fact that this type of switch is the most expensive, it is also the most popular. Additionally, you can familiarize yourself with the above-mentioned types of devices – infrared, LED and backlit.
18. An acoustic switch is equipped with a sound sensor, which is triggered when exposed to a certain sound signal, most often it is a clap (we wrote about such a switch here). Unlike touch switches, there are cheaper models that are rarely of good quality.

You will find a wealth of helpful information on the pages of our portal that will enable you to install a pass-through or crossover switch and diagnose and repair this device on your own.

Where to start?

Even though changing a switch is not a particularly difficult process, making mistakes or connecting wires incorrectly can result in unpleasant outcomes like burning out wiring, short circuits, malfunctioning lighting fixtures, and, worst of all, electric shocks.

As a result, it’s essential to thoroughly understand how to connect wires and follow safety procedures when handling electrical devices before replacing the switch. In addition, you’ll need to buy a lot of the required instruments and the switch itself to replace it.

1. To choose a new switch, you must first determine which switch is needed by the type of fastening. Here it is enough to know whether your wiring is external or internal.
2. Then you should decide what you want to get from the switch, select the necessary functionality.
3. It is necessary to choose the principle of closing the circuit in the switch, whether it will be an expensive and fashionable touch switch or a regular key switch, with the ability to adjust the intensity of illumination or without such a function, with the backlight function of the lamp itself or without it.
4. The backlight function should be chosen very carefully, since when using diode bulbs with this switch, the bulbs glow dimly in the dark.
5. It is also necessary to decide on the method of fastening the wires, screw or quick-release. If you have aluminum wiring, then there are no options, only screw ones, but if you have copper wiring, then you can try modern quick-release terminals.
6. Also in certain cases it is necessary to pay attention to the maximum load of the switch and the material from which its base is made. According to the maximum load, there are usually 10 A and 16 A switches. A 10 A switch can handle a maximum of 2.5 kW, that is, 25 100 W bulbs. Plastic or ceramic is usually used to make the switch base. Plastic can withstand 16A, and ceramic can withstand 32A.
7. If you choose a switch for a small room with standard lighting, then these indicators are not so important, but if you have a room of more than 100 sq. meters with powerful lighting, it is worth calculating the load and taking a switch with a ceramic base.
8. And the last indicator: moisture protection. This indicator is marked with the letters IP and numbers corresponding to the degree of moisture protection. So, for a regular room, a switch with IP20 is suitable, for a bathroom with IP44, and for the street it is better to take a switch with IP55.

You’ll need the following tools to replace the switch::

• Voltage indicator. Necessary for safe work. Before starting work, you must use an indicator to check the absence of current in the wires and protect yourself from electric shock or accidental short circuit.
• Screwdriver Set. Screwdrivers are necessary for dismantling the old switch and subsequent installation of the new switch.
• Pliers. They will come in handy in case the wire breaks while dismantling the old switch and needs to be cleaned.
• Insulating tape. May be useful if the wire insulation is frayed. It is not necessary to have electrical tape when replacing a switch, but it is better to keep it on hand just in case.
• Flashlight. Required if the switch does not receive enough sunlight.

Step-by-step instruction

Now let’s examine how to flip the switch.

Dismantling the old

1. First of all, it is necessary to de-energize the wires coming to the switch.
2. To dismantle the switch, you need to carefully pry off the switch cover with a flat-head screwdriver (if you can’t pick up the cover from the bottom or top, then try to pick it up from the side; on some models of switches there are special latches there).
3. After dismantling the cover, the interior of the switch is revealed to us.
4. Now you need to unscrew the mounting screws.
5. After this you can remove the switch from the socket.
6. Now that the entire internal space is in front of us, we should use an indicator to check the wires for voltage.

If at all possible, take a picture of the wiring configuration as this will often come in handy for the installation process later on.

We recommend watching this video to learn how to take apart an old switch:

Preparing for installation of a new

1. Before further installation of the switch, it is necessary to inspect the wires for frayed insulation.
2. If there are any, then it is advisable to cut off this section of the wire if the length of the wire allows, otherwise wrap it with electrical tape.
3. Also, if you have copper stranded wires and the bundle has become significantly thinner, you need to cut it and strip part of the wire for better contact.

If you have the correct instructions, changing a light switch on your own can be a simple task. You can confidently take on this project without calling an electrician if you follow these steps. Make sure you are safe first by turning off the electricity at the circuit breaker and double-checking with a voltage tester. After it has been verified, take off the faceplate and take the old switch out of the electrical box.

After that, carefully remove the wires from the old switch, making note of where each wire is located. Generally, there are three wires: a black wire for hot, a white wire for neutral, and a green or copper wire for ground. Tightly fasten these cables with wire nuts after connecting them to the appropriate terminals on the replacement switch. Refold the wires into the electrical box gently, taking care not to damage or crimp them.

Attach the faceplate and turn on the circuit breaker after screwing the new switch into place. To make sure your new switch is working properly, turn it on and off. If everything functions as it should, your switch replacement was a success! Always remember to get professional assistance if you have any questions or the wiring seems complicated.

By taking these precautions and being cautious, you’ve gained a valuable skill in addition to saving time and money.

Video on the topic

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