A variety of wiring products allows for comfortable control of lighting equipment. Despite the external similarity of the models, the connection diagram of the passage switch is fundamentally different from the standard device, as well as its functionality.
Do you know the situation when you have to get out of bed before going to bed to turn off the light in the bedroom before going to bed? Or, turning off the light, have to go to the bedroom along a long dark corridor? Unpleasant occupation, agree?
To exclude such situations, you can use the walk-through switch - it will provide the ability to control lighting from different points in the room. The information proposed in this article will help to understand the principle of operation of such a switch, its wiring diagrams.
Features of use of the switch through passage
For ordinary users and home masters, it can be difficult to determine which switching device to choose. The through-passage switches externally practically do not differ from the standard ones - these wiring products also allow you to control the lighting, but their connection diagram is completely different.
The key difference is that a conventional circuit breaker can only close or break a circuit, while a loop-through switch provides direction of voltage from one contact to another - switching.
We recommend that you familiarize yourself with the intricacies of choosing a passage switch.
The pass-through switch model is a convenient switching device that allows you to turn the lamp on and off from several places. Such a solution ensures the comfort of use of lighting equipment
The use of such devices is advisable in the following situations:
- In the corridor. The connection scheme from two points provides the ability to install one product at the beginning of the corridor, and the second at the end, which eliminates the need to go along the dark corridor after turning off the lamp.
- On the stairs. This is an excellent solution for apartment buildings, private cottages with several floors. These switches can be located on all or several floors. The user can turn on the light on the site by going into the house and turn it off before entering the apartment on his floor.
- In the bedroom. The principle of operation does not differ from previous situations, it allows you to turn on the light when entering the room, turn it off at the head of the bed.
Above are the main options for using walk-through switches. In practice, devices can be installed in any premises, including not only residential, but also technical, industrial. This solution provides convenience in controlling the light, reduces the cost of paying for electricity.
The appearance of the passage switch is not much different from the usual one. On its front side there are arrows down, up
The design of a simple switch assumes the presence of one input, one output, while a walk-through has two outputs. Due to this, the current movement can not only be interrupted, but also redirected. Although experienced electricians are able to determine the type of device by external signs, many manufacturers apply a wiring diagram to the product, which simplifies the choice of a switching device.
You can make sure that you are purchasing a single pass-through switch by carefully inspecting the terminals. There should be three of them.He, in fact, performs the option of a switch directing the voltage from one contact to another.
To control one light fixture from different points of the room, at least two passage switches are used. When the position of the key changes - the circuit closes, the light comes on. When either of the two switches is turned off, the circuit opens, the lamp goes out. Thus, when the switch keys are in the same position - the light is on, when in different - it goes out.
The design features of the passage switch allow eliminating the need to move around a dark room, which reduces injuries and helps save energy
Using such a switch, it is easy to control lighting from three, four, six points. To do this, it is enough to add the necessary number of switches to the existing circuit.
Product Connection Diagram
For convenient control of light from several places, at least two single-key walk-through devices are used, since they work only in pairs. Each of them is equipped with one contact for input, two for output.
As with the installation of any electrical equipment, before installing the passage switch, it is necessary to de-energize the section of the electrical network by turning off the power to the switchboard. To make sure there is no voltage in the wires, you can use an indicator screwdriver. A similar check is carried out in all places of connection.
When connecting walk-through switches, at least two products are used. The circuit may contain one or more fixtures that will turn on / off simultaneously
When laying concealed wiring for connecting wires, gates are laid, holes are made for switch boxes and socket boxes in accordance with the layout of the devices.
When planning work, it is important to understand that simply replacing a conventional switch at the checkpoint does not work. It is recommended to lay wires at a distance of 15 cm from the ceiling. They can not only be pulled in a hidden way, hiding in strobes, but also laid in an open way, hidden in boxes, trays.
The second method will reduce the complexity of the work, as well as minimize costs if repairs are necessary. The ends of the cable are inserted into the distribution boxes, connected using connectors.
Device Installation Procedure
All actions carried out during the installation of the passage switch are carried out in accordance with the connection diagram. It differs from the installation of a standard switch in that instead of two wires, three are used. Two wires in this circuit perform the function of a jumper connecting adjacent switches located at different points in the room. The third wire provides phase feed.
The difference between the connection switch of the passage switch from the installation scheme of a standard device is the presence of three wires, two of which connect the devices, and the third provides power
When connecting a passage switch, any type of lamp can be used, from a traditional incandescent lamp to modern fluorescent, LED light sources.
Five wires will fit the distribution box:
- cable from the lighting device;
- power wire from the machine;
- wire from the second passage switch.
To ensure a long service life of the wiring, it is recommended that you select the correct cable cross section for home wiring.
To build a circuit with two single-key switches, a three-core cable is used. In this case, grounding, “zero” is output to the light source. And the phase highlighted in brown on the circuit provides power. It passes through both the switch and the lamp.
Since these switches are located in the gap of the phase cable, the safety of work during repair, maintenance of the lighting device is ensured.
Work on connecting a single-key switch (pass-through) is carried out in the following sequence:
- free the ends of the wires from insulation;
- using the indicator, find the phase wire and zero;
- lay the neutral wire from the machine through the junction box to the chandelier / lamp.
- to the input contact of the first switch, connect the phase of the supply wire that has passed through the distribution box;
- connect (through the distribution box) two output contacts of one passage switch with two output contacts of the other;
- to the output contact of the second switch, it remains to connect the phase going (through the junction box) to the chandelier / lamp.
The joints can be twisted, soldered and wrapped with electrical tape. Or use self-locking terminal blocks.
Other methods and rules for high-quality and proper connection of wires we examined in this article.
In apartments, private cottages, not one-button, but two-button walk-through switches are more often used. Devices with two keys allow you to control two lighting fixtures, which are located in different rooms
In addition to keyboard models, manufacturers offer touch panels. However, their installation can not do without professional help.
If it is necessary to control lighting from more than two points, up to six pass-through switches can be used in the circuit. In another article of ours, we step-by-step examined the nuances of connecting a passage switch from two and three places, providing the material with visual diagrams.
Having the wiring diagram of the passage switch, the basic experience in performing electrical work, you can upgrade your home lighting control system yourself.
The video proposed below will help to understand the differences between a conventional and a through switch, determine the procedure for installation work:
This video will help to connect the through-flow switches without using a junction box:
And this video will help provide lighting control from three or more places.
The possibility of increasing the comfort of living, combined with a reduction in the cost of paying for electricity, is of interest to many, so the use of walk-through switches is becoming increasingly popular among the owners of spacious apartments, private cottages.
If you have experience independently installing such switching equipment, share your achievements with other visitors to our site. If you are just looking at such a decision, you have questions, ask our experts in the box below.