How to make a double switch. Switch with two keys: how to connect? Scheme, instructions

Before buying and installing a two-gang switch, you first need to decide what it is for at all? And it is intended to control two lighting circuits from one point.

Do not confuse it with pass-through switches, which play other roles. They differ from each other in the number of contacts. Therefore, when choosing, look first of all not at the front panel, but at the back of the switch.

two-gang light switch

two-gang simple switch

Let's say if you have 2 or more bulbs in the chandelier, using a two-gang switch, you can make it so that when you press one key, only half of the lamps turn on, and when you press the second, all the rest at once.

It can also be controlled by two different lamps located at separate points from each other - for example, lighting sconces at different ends of the room or in another room altogether.

A two-key switch differs from its one-key counterpart not only in the number of switches, but most importantly, in the number of contacts. There are only 3 of them here. One common and two outgoing. Through them, the phase is separated and then returned to the junction box by separate wires or goes directly to the fixtures.

Note that you will need at least a three-wire wire to install a double switch, even if you do not have a PE protective earth conductor in your apartment wiring.

Installation of a two-gang light switch and wire connection

There is nothing complicated in the connection diagram and in the process of installation, installation and connection of wires to the switch contacts. First of all, the switch must be disassembled. To do this, dismantle the keys themselves. If you can’t do it manually, simply by pulling them towards you, use an ordinary screwdriver, prying the keys from the side.

As a result, you have the body itself with fasteners on the sides and the inner contact part in your hands. The main task is to supply voltage from the phase conductor to the common contact. Further, when two keys are closed, this phase will diverge to one or the other lighting circuit.

To find the central contact, look at the marking, since it may not always be located exactly alone and in the center.

But what if you do not understand the inscriptions or they are erased and painted over? Then you need to use a contact screwdriver with a tester with a battery-powered dialing function.
Insert any metal object (stud, screw) into the intended common contact. You wrap your fingers around it, and touch the other two contacts with a screwdriver.

When you alternately press the keys, that is, turn on one - check, then turn off the first and turn on the second - check that the screwdriver LED should light up every time. If this does not happen, then this is not a general contact.

To connect the common contact, use the phase of the gray conductor coming from the junction box. You clean the end of the core, put it between the contact plates and tighten the screw with a screwdriver.

Next, connect the other two wires in the cable to the outgoing pin connectors.

The connection of the conductors directly to the two-gang switch itself is now complete. Insert the case into the mounting box and tighten the fixing screws.

Then you tighten the two spacer screws, which help the fastening fork with teeth to rest against the walls of the box as much as possible and firmly hold the switch housing inside it.
After that, you can return to place all the decorative frames and the keys themselves.

Installation of connections of a two-gang switch in a junction box

The following cables can enter the junction box or junction box:

power cable from the machine in the shield
cable going down to the switch
one (if you have a chandelier with two lighting circuits) or two cables (if the light points are in different places) to outgoing lamps

In order not to get confused, follow the following order:

Connect all neutral conductors first. They are usually blue. Zero does not pass through the two-gang switch and comes directly from the shield to the lamp, through the connections in the junction box.

All stripped cores can be connected using Wago quick-clamp terminals.
Although everyone has a different attitude towards them, but it is for lighting circuits with minimal loads that they are ideal.

Next in order is protective grounding. This is a green/yellow wire. If you don’t have a grounding conductor in your apartment or the lamp body is insulated and the cable is two-core, then, accordingly, this connection will not be in the junction box.

It remains to connect the phase conductors. Here you need to be extremely careful. First, clamp the phase in the Vago terminal block, which comes from the power supply. Then, in the same terminal, insert the core that comes from the common phase contact of the two-gang switch.

You should have 4 free unconnected wires left. Two of them are the wiring that goes to the chandelier or sconce, and the other two wires are phases connected to the lower outgoing contacts of the two-keyboard.
Take two more clamps and SEPARATELY connect these conductors through them. Thus, you will connect two lighting circuits to the fixtures independently of each other.

Connection on a chandelier or lamp

In a lamp or chandelier, terminal blocks are usually used for connection. Run on them the cores of the cable coming out of the junction box according to the color marking.

The factory lamp must have wires of exactly the color that are prescribed in the rules. Phase - a gray or dark-colored conductor should go to the central contact of the lamp, and zero - blue to the bulb base itself.

Grounding yellow-green colors can be attached both to the terminal and directly under the screw on the housing.

Errors when connecting a two-gang switch

The first mistake that an illiterate specialist can make is to put on the switch not a phase, but zero.

Remember: the switch must always break the phase conductor, and in no case zero.

Otherwise, the phase will always be on duty on the base of the chandelier. And an elementary replacement of a light bulb can end very tragically.

By the way, there is one more nuance because of which even experienced electricians can rack their brains. For example, you wanted to check directly on the contacts of the chandelier - the phase comes there through a switch or zero. Turn off the two-keyboard, touch the contact on the chandelier with a Chinese sensitive indicator - and it glows! Although you have assembled the circuit correctly.

What can be wrong? And the reason lies in the backlight, which are increasingly equipped with switches.

A small current, even in the off state, still flows through the LED, applying potential to the lamp contacts.

By the way, this is one of the reasons for the blinking of LED lamps in the off state. How to deal with this can be found in the article "". To avoid such an error, you need to use not a Chinese indicator, but a multimeter in voltage measurement mode.

The second error is when the phase supply conductor is connected not to the common contact of the switch, but to one of the outgoing ones. In this case, the circuit will not work as it should. All lights will only light up if you press two keys at the same time. But if you press only the key to which the phase does not come initially, then the chandelier will not light up at all.

If you moved into a new apartment where it was not you who connected the chandelier, and it behaves in such a strange way, that is, it does not react as it should to the two-key switches, then the point is most likely precisely in such an erroneous installation of the supply wires. Feel free to disassemble the switch and check the common contact.

If you have a backlit switch, an indirect sign of such an incorrect connection may be the failure of the neon light bulb. Why indirect? Since here everything depends on which key you will start the phase on.

The third common mistake is to connect the neutral wire on the chandelier not to the common zero in the junction box, but to one of the phase wires.
To avoid this, use and observe the color coding of the wires, and even better, if you do not trust the colors, check the voltage supply using a high-quality indicator or multimeter before turning on the lamp.

Connecting a double switch is considered an actual problem. For many, connecting a single switch is not a problem, and the design is quite clear, but a double switch is more complex in design, and its installation requires more careful consideration.

In premises of any purpose, lighting plays an important role and includes two important components:

lighting device;
switch.

The light fixture is the most important element as it ensures the creation of light. The light is controlled by switches that allow you to turn the light on and off at the right time. Without switches, lighting fixtures 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 come to the device from the junction box. That is, at the moments of pressing the key of the device, the mechanism connects or disconnects the contacts, it depends on the degree of inclination.

Switch device with two keys

By external signs, such a switch is very similar to a conventional device, the only difference is in the device of the internal mechanism. The case consists of a frame and keys.

A switch with two keys 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 keyboard devices. Cable wiring is attached to the clamps, which brings the switch to the lighting devices. It is believed that a two-key switch is a modification of a single-key device.

Often there are modular switches that consist of 2 single connecting parts.

The principle of operation of a double switch is the interaction of contacts and wires that are connected to lamps of various designs.

Cables and wires are connected using terminal blocks. Terminals are special devices that are equipped with self-clamping mechanisms. Terminal clamps have recently become very popular, since for connection it is enough to peel the ends of the wires from the insulating material and connect them to the terminal.

There are switches with screw terminals, everything happens in them in the same way, only fixation occurs by tightening the screws.

Important! Experts recommend using a double switch with terminal blocks. Such a connection is considered durable and easy to install. Screw terminals weaken the contact over time, which leads to a disruption in the supply of electric current.

There are types of modern two-key switches that are equipped with a backlight and an indicator. The backlight helps to find the device in the dark, and the indicator shows the presence of a closed network 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 the premises. A single switch, with one press, turns on all the bulbs of the lighting device, however, a double switch can be used not at full strength by turning on one key;
the ability to control lighting in two rooms at once;
economical use of electricity;
rational use of cables and wires;
it is allowed to turn on one lamp, which has a beneficial effect on eye health. Everyone knows the feeling when all the light bulbs are connected at once, this happens with a single switch;

convenience when connecting two-gang switches for damp rooms or street lighting, since it is much more convenient to mask one device from bad weather or shocks. When installed outdoors, the switches must be protected by special covers.

Important! To create uniform lighting, it is possible to use a dimmer that allows you to adjust the light.

Application methods

A large number of advantages of such a device allows it, an apartment, an office, etc. In addition, a two-gang 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 properly install, you need to know how to connect a double switch to two light bulbs.

Important! Devices that regulate lighting in two rooms at once are most often mounted outside the room. Such a requirement is spelled out in the PUE (rules for the installation of electrical installations).

Thus, we can conclude that the scope of use of two-gang switches is huge.

Drawing up a connection drawing

Before carrying out installation work, a wiring 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. 2 cable wires depart from the switch, each of which must be connected to light bulbs or other lighting devices.

The basic principle of the diagram is an indication of the connection of wires from the junction box to the lamp.

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 measure the room using a tape measure;
two-gang switches;
insulating tape;
mounting box;
terminal blocks or screw terminals.

List of tools:

Phillips and flat screwdrivers;
mounting knife for removing insulating material;
side cutters;
level;
pliers;
a hammer and a chisel in case the process of chasing or deepening for socket boxes is necessary.

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. For testing, an indicator screwdriver is used, which will show the presence of current with an LED signal. It is necessary to note the phase wire, so as not to confuse it with zero later.

Before starting the installation of a double switch to the location of the device. In cases where a hidden wiring method is used, 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 scheme.

When using the open method, the wiring is laid in cable channels or corrugated pipes. In cases of electrical wiring replacement, the hidden method is considered more laborious, since the old wiring must first be dismantled and then the new one installed. The open wiring method is more economical and does not require cost and labor. It's pretty easy to remove the old wiring and plug in the new one.

Preparatory stage of connection

After the cable is placed in the designated place, the process of connecting the switches begins. During the laying 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 marked, and therefore it will not be difficult to de-energize the desired machine. If the wires are not signed, then the machine can be detected by selection.

After wiring, the installation of a two-gang switch begins.

Work begins with stripping the ends of the wires. You can connect a double light switch using 3 wires: the first is the input, which provides the entry of current, and 2 outputs, which are connected to lighting devices. The ends of the wires are stripped of insulation, the stripping distance is approximately 10 cm.

Then the cleaned wires are connected to the terminals. This fastener in the system is indicated by the letter "L". Such a clamp is located on one side of the structure, that is, separately, and cannot be confused. This method is used for two-gang switches, if their design is not modular.

For modular switches, the connection is different. In this case, the input cable is connected to the terminal of the first module. Such a terminal is also indicated by 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, it is enough just to twist them together.

If there are 3 wires on the ceiling, and the chandelier has more 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 grounding, it can be identified by its light green color and the “PE” marking.

There are 2 screws on the sides of the design, with which you can adjust the fixation of the legs. In cases where the device dangles, you can tighten it with screws and fix it stronger. 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 fixed in 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 push buttons. These elements are removed before connecting and installed after the entire scope of work has been completed.

Conclusion

Connecting a double switch is quite easy 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 a correct connection, this is the basic principle. After studying the necessary information, you will know exactly how to connect a two-gang light switch.

All of the above information will serve as instructions for properly connecting wires to a two-gang switch.

In my article, I described in detail how pass-through switches work and how to connect a single-key option. Now I will tell you in detail how to connect a 2-key or double pass switch, which allows you to separately control 2 independent switching lines. For example, 2 lamps or one chandelier with separate lamps.

Usually, 2 key circuits are applied in rooms, offices- where it is necessary to switch on two lines of lighting separately from different places, and in the corridors, near the stairs, one key switch is enough.

Arrows on the keys, which indicate the direction of its position to turn off or turn on the light. It must be borne in mind that if the light is turned on with any switch, then if you turn it off with another, then the position of its key does not matter - just click it. This is the difference from conventional switches that have two fixed positions of the keys: up - on, down - off.

Passage double switch structurally consists of two single-key passthrough combined in one body. They also work on the principle of "throwing" contacts. All of them use 6 contacts for connection, of which 2 are input and 4 are output.

Schematic diagram of connecting a double-gang switch.

So let's take a look how it works and how to connect a 2 key switch. Its device is very simple: it consists of two independent groups of contacts. Contacts 1 and 2, when the keys are pressed, switch from the top two unrelated lines to the bottom two, which go to the second same switch.

As can be seen in this diagram, the contact of the right switch No. 2 comes from the junction box of the electrical network of the house or apartment. Further, contacts 1 and 2 are connected by a jumper. And from the left, 1 and 2 leave without intersecting into two independent lamps. Four cross contacts are connected respectively in pairs to each other. Attention be careful if you mix up from different pairs, connect, the circuit will not work.
as in conventional fixtures, goes to the lamps directly from.

For control circuits of three or more places, you will need two two-gang limit switches and one(for control from three places) double cross view, which is set in the circuit between the first two.

Connecting a cross pass switch will not be difficult, but for this you need to combine it with 4 electrical wires with each of the terminal ones. As a rule, for this, 8 wires are connected to one junction box and 6 from each limit switch. And of course, do not forget to bring a power cable there, and two outgoing cables to connect lamps or a chandelier.

If you need to connect 4 switches, then add between the cross and any end-one more cross type.

When connecting two-key cross type do not mix up pairs and do not connect wires from different lines in one turn, otherwise the circuit will not work. When installing with your own hands, in order to eliminate errors, always in your head imagine that you are connecting 2 independent one-button walk-through switches combined in one housing.

Practical wiring diagram for legrand double switches.

I am always happy to install and connect the switches of the famous German Legrand, which not only stand out for their quality and durable and flawless performance, but are also easy to install and connect using spring contacts.

Let's look at how 2 key switches from this manufacturer are connected using the diagram from the kit.

On the one located on the left, the phase comes to its lower left contact, then the second and third from the bottom are connected by wires with 2 and 3 lower right switches, in which the already switched phase leaves the first one to the first line for turning on the lamps.

The upper first two contacts are connected at both switches by electrical wires, respectively. And from the third contact of the left, the phase goes to the second line for turning on the fixtures. And at the right, the phase from the junction box of the electrical wiring of the house comes to the third contact. But more often one phase wire is enough, which is accordingly combined with a jumper with the second input for the phase.

In principle, as you can see, the pass-through switch will be able to independently connect almost any person. Just be sure to follow. And if the circuit does not work correctly, then check the correctness of all connections according to the circuit.

Similar materials.

Almost everyone is familiar with a conventional switch - it is in any home. But, in addition to conventional switches, there are also double switches or, as they are also called, two-gang or double switches. In this article, we will deal with the design and consider the connection diagram of a two-gang switch.

Purpose and design

The purpose of a double switch is the same as that of a conventional single switch: to supply voltage to one or another load (usually lighting fixtures). The difference between a double device and a single-key one is that in one case there are, as it were, two independent switches. The convenience of such a design is obvious. Occupying the same space as its one-button counterpart, the device allows you to independently control two loads. In addition, the keys in such a device are located next to each other, which creates certain ease of use.

Agree, a double switch is not only more convenient than two single-button ones, but also looks more aesthetically pleasing

Since a two-key device is two single-key, then its electrical circuit will have the corresponding form:

Electrical diagram of two single and one double instrument

Externally, the double switch looks something like this:

Double switch with cover removed

Wiring diagram

We figured out the design and features of the double switch, now we need to figure out how to connect it. Consider two examples:

Control of a multi-track chandelier.
Management of separate groups of lamps.

Connecting to a chandelier with multiple lamps

Suppose we have a five-arm chandelier at our disposal, the lamps of which are connected in two groups: 2 and 3 lamps each.

Wiring diagram of a five-arm chandelier

Here, the blue wire is common to all lamps, the red wire feeds the first, and the yellow wire feeds the second group. By including these groups in one or another combination, you can get 3 gradations of brightness:

The lamps don't light up.
2 lights are on.
3 lights are on.
5 lights are on.

How to put it into practice? If you have at least a basic knowledge of electrical engineering, solving this problem will not be difficult for you. First, let's clarify this issue on paper:

Electrical circuit for controlling a five-arm chandelier with a double switch

Closing the left key, you turn on a group of two lamps. The second controls a group of three lamps. If both keys are turned on, all horns will light. Note that the neutral wire, which I have labeled N (neutral), is connected directly to the lamps, and both groups of lamps are connected to the same phase through a double switch. This is done for safety reasons: when both keys are turned off, there is no voltage on the chandelier. This allows you to safely change the light bulbs in the lamp and even repair it without de-energizing the entire apartment.

Expert opinion

Alexey Bartosh

Specialist in the repair, maintenance of electrical equipment and industrial electronics.

Ask an expert

Important! If you are going to repair a chandelier connected in this way, I strongly advise you to de-energize the apartment anyway, hang a warning sign on the machine or switch, or even better, set up an observer. Before climbing into the lamp, check the absence of voltage with a pointer (indicator).

Now let's solve this problem in practice. First of all, from the future location of the switch to the nearest junction box, which is in each room, it is necessary to make a wiring harness - a deep groove in the plaster. If the chandelier is hung in a new place, then the box from the box must also be drawn to it. This can be done with a grinder or a simple file.

Cutting through the line

At the location of the future double switch, it is necessary to make a seat using a crown and an ordinary chisel.

Cutting a seat for a double switch using a crown and a chisel

Install plastic socket boxes in ready-made seats: they are usually mounted on screws through dowels or simply on cement mortar.

Installation of a socket box on a gypsum mortar

Now put a three-wire wire in the strainer, passed through a plastic tube of a suitable diameter. The tube is not a required item, but it will greatly facilitate repairs if the wiring burns out. It will be enough just to pull out the burnt wire without destroying the wall, and fill it with a new wire.

Open the junction box and use a voltage indicator (indicator screwdriver) to find zero and phase. Now it's time to de-energize the apartment, make sure with the same indicator that there is no voltage, and assemble a simple circuit:

Practical scheme for connecting a five-arm chandelier to a double switch

First of all, connect and install the switch itself. The photo below clearly shows where to connect the wires.

Mounting a double switch

Important! Please note that although the vast majority of dual switches have a common input, there are devices with separate inputs. In this case, the phase is supplied to the second key by a jumper from the first.

Double switches with a common input (left) and with separate

Connecting wires in a box by twisting, soldering and using clamps

Connecting spotlights

Recently, suspended and stretch ceilings, and with them spotlights, have become widespread.

The use of spotlights for general lighting and decorative lighting

Since a large number of lamps are used for general lighting, they are often divided into groups, each of which can be switched on separately. This allows not only to change the overall level of illumination, but also to divide the room into zones. If you have several groups of lamps in your room, then it is convenient to use the same double switch to control them. The scheme of their connection will be the same as that of the chandelier, only instead of horns, spotlights are assembled into groups.

Scheme of connecting two groups of lamps to a double switch

Please note that, as in the case of a chandelier, the phase wire is connected to a double switch, and the zero wire goes to the fixtures.

What will it look like in practice? As an example, I divided the lamps into groups by size and power.

Questions to the expertConnecting a pass switch from 2 or 3 places

Today, every person is familiar with electricity and the laws of electrical engineering. Everyone knows about such a simple device as a switch. During the day, a person uses a switch more than a fork or spoon - in public places, at work or at home. For those who are independently engaged in repairs, it will be interesting to get to know this device better.

It is worth knowing what it consists of and what varieties it is. It is also worth disassembling the principle of operation and the circuit of a double switch, which has a connection to the electrical network. A switch with two keys is a device that falls between the elementary and the most complex.

Purpose of the device

Today in stores you can find a considerable variety of electrical switches: a button, a chain, a slider, remote switches, dimmers, a cord or timers. However, the classic version is still rocker switch. All devices have the same principle of operation: an operating mechanism with two main positions - on and off. This mechanism performs two main functions - closing the electrical circuit and supplying voltage to the lighting object, opening the circuit and removing voltage from the lamp.

Connecting a light switch with two keys is more often done in household electrical networks with voltages up to 1 thousand V. The purpose of its application is to turn on and off the light bulbs of lamps and chandeliers. Two contact terminals at the output, to which it is possible to connect two independent groups of lighting fixtures - the advantage of a two-button switch. The installation of a two-gang household switch is used in some cases.

Connecting a double light switch it will be very convenient if the rooms are located side by side through the wall, for example, with a separate bathroom. In this case, it must be installed between the doors of both rooms on the partition wall. Each key will be responsible for turning on the lamp in a separate room.

And it would also be advisable to connect a two-phase device in a large office space, where there may be spotlights or a chandelier with five or more horns. And also it is not always necessary for all the bulbs to shine in the chandelier at once, sometimes a small amount of light will be enough. If a one-button switch is connected, pressing it turns on all the lamps at once. Why pay extra? You can change it to a two-phase switch. After all, each shining light bulb consumes 1 kilowatt, and you can easily calculate how much you get per month.

With a two-gang switch, you can apply voltage, for example, only to two light bulbs. To do this, you need to enable only one key, while the second will remain disabled. You can save a lot on this, since all the other bulbs will not light up. Another example when a double switch is used for two different light bulbs is country houses. Most often it is installed in rooms that are located close to the exit to the street. One key will turn on the light on the street lamp, and the second - in the corridor.

Operating principle

The switch with two keys has a fairly simple structure. Its main part includes a working mechanism, which is installed in the socket. Fixing in the mounting box can happen in two ways, it will depend on the switch model:

With the help of spreader legs.
With a metal frame. In which there are specially designed holes for fasteners.

The main part of the working mechanism includes three contacts:

One incoming contact has a wired connection to the power supply.
Two outgoing contacts, from which wires extend to two groups of lighting fixtures. Or it could be two different rooms.

These contacts are fixed. And the connection between them is maintained with the help of movable contacts, which are also located in the working part. The switch may also have protection, which consists of two keys and a frame, and they are made of plastic. In this case, the key is connected to one drive mechanism. When pressed, the incoming and outgoing contacts will be closed. Thus, voltage will be applied to one group of lamps. In order to avoid the possibility of touching the working part of the switch with your hand, it is necessary to place a frame made of dielectric material on top. It can be fixed with two screws or latches.

Summarizing all this, one can understand circuit breaker working principle. A wire passes from the junction box to the incoming fixed contact of the switch. It will carry voltage from the power supply. By pressing the key, the fixed contacts are closed with the help of the movable one. From the closed chain that has turned out, voltage will be supplied to one group of the lighting device, and the bulbs in it will light up. According to a similar scheme, the second group of lamps is put into operation, one has only to press another key.

Exactly the opposite happens reverse process. When the key is pressed in the opposite direction, the moving contact first breaks the circuit between the fixed contacts. In this case, the lamps on the lamps will not burn, since voltage can no longer be supplied through a broken chain.

Types of switches

Before proceeding directly to connecting the switch, it is necessary to clearly determine which device is needed. They come in two designs.- outdoor installation and indoor. You may not immediately understand the difference, since both devices have two keys each. In order to understand how they differ, you need to understand this in more detail. Differences can be in several ways:

Kind of electrical wiring.
According to the installation method.
By area of application.

Necessary tools and materials

Necessary set of tools and materials, which you need to assemble in order to proceed with the installation:

How to connect a double switch? The following is a simple wiring diagram for a double switch:

Indoor installation

Circuit breaker with internal installation is the most common in modern society. Most often it is used in office buildings and residential premises. It can also be called "recessed", as it is mounted directly into the wall. According to the connection diagram of a two-gang switch with an internal installation, the use of hidden electrical wiring is provided. In this case, the wires are laid inside the frame plasterboard walls or in special grooves that are made in the wall (strobes).

An apparatus of this type requires additional mounting of a socket box in the form of a mounting box. A socket box is inserted into the holes of the walls, along which the strobes with wires are laid. The working part of the device will be located in it. Socket boxes can be found in two types: for concrete and plasterboard walls. You can easily imagine how much dust and dirt will be in the apartment after installing this switch. With the help of a grinder, holes are cut in the wall for wires and for installing socket boxes. It is best to combine the installation of an internal switch and hidden wiring with general repair work in the premises.

outdoor installation

To turn off an external device, open wiring is required. In this case, electrical wires will be pulled directly along the walls. Most often they are placed in plastic or flexible corrugated pipes. But metal pipes, boxes or plastic cable channels may also be suitable. One outdated method is to run wires right up the walls on porcelain insulators. Despite the fact that this option has long outlived its usefulness and is not particularly popular, now you may encounter situations where it is not possible to hide the wiring inside the wall.

Most often, a switch for two lamps is used in the country, since such houses are made mainly of wood. It is convenient to use the same method in basements, garages, cellars, sheds or outbuildings. And also such outdoor performance can be found in industrial or utility rooms. In terms of beauty, the external switch is much inferior to the internal device. When the wires are not hanging on the walls, but hidden in them, the room takes on a cozy and beautiful look. However, the outdoor type of the switch wins according to the installation scheme - its installation is quite simple and fast.

As a temporary option, it is best to use open wiring and an outdoor switch. This is suitable for non-residential premises or for a new house, apartment. This method can be used if you need some kind of lighting to start repair work.

The choice of electrical goods on the current market is quite large and can be confusing. For the right choice, the best see the main features. All models are created for the operating current, mainly 4A, 6A and 10A. For a chandelier that will be with a large number of lamps, it is best to select devices with a working current of 10A.

Wires with a cross section of 1.5 to 2.5 mm² are usually used to connect the switching device to the mains. In most cases, it is better to use screw terminals to connect the wires to the switch terminals. Today, modern models are almost all equipped with spring-loaded terminal blocks. This contributes to easier and faster installation. To do this, just insert the protected tip into the clamping device. It is best to opt for this option when buying.

Nowadays, the market is filled with a huge number of different models. You can choose for every taste and color. In order to check the switch right in the store, you need to click the keys. They should work properly and be clearly fixed, making a characteristic click. And you can also ask the consultant in the store on what mechanism the keys work. It can be swing or cam. But also do not forget about the base of the switch. It can be of two types - ceramic and metal. It is preferable to choose a ceramic base, it is safer due to its low thermal conductivity.

Now many manufacturers trying to make modern models with backlight. This option is very well suited for the dark time of the day, since the luminous elements can easily determine the location of the devices. It is best to buy materials for installing the switch and the switch itself directly in electrical stores. There is a wider range and there are sales assistants who can easily suggest the characteristics and technical capabilities of different models.