If it has four brass screws and a green screw, it’s a four-way switch. If it has one black and two brass screws and a ground, it’s a three-way switch (a single-pole, double-throw switch). If it has two brass screws and a green screw, it’s a simple switch, also called a single-pole, single-throw switch (the drawing above shows the wiring configuration for a singlepole switch). Power up the circuit and test.Look at the light switch wiring unit you are replacing.
Replacing light switch install#
Fold the wires into the box as described previously, screw the switch to the box, and install the cover plate. The two black wires go to the brass-colored terminal screws, and the bare copper (or green insulated) ground wire goes to the green ground screw on the switch. Remove the wires from the existing switch one at a time, and connect them to the appropriate terminal of the new switch. After pulling the switch out, check for voltage again. Before removing the switch, insert the tip of the tester at the sides of the switch this checks for a loose wire that may still be connected to power. Sometimes there are two different circuits in a box.
Test again to be sure the power is off at the switch terminals and in all wires in the box. Take off the cover plate, check with a volt-tick to be sure that there is no voltage present, remove the switch mounting screws, and pull the switch out. To replace a switch, first cut the power at the breaker and verify that the power is off by observing the light go off when the breaker is shut off. Two threeway switches allow switching from two locations (the toggle style is shown above, but the switches are also available in decorator style). A timer (countdown) switch is used for the bath vent fan, while a vacancy sensor shuts off the power when no motion is detected in a room.ĬONTROL A LIGHT FROM MORE THAN ONE LOCATION. The more modern and sleek decorator-style switch is at top the standard toggle, at bottom.ĪUTOMATIC SWITCHES SAVE ENERGY. A stack switch fits two switches into the space of one. It is identifiable by its three screw terminals: two brass-colored screws and a green grounding screw. This simple, single-pole switch is the most commonly installed. (red or brown)Īny bare earth cables should have yellow and green earth sleeving.STANDARD TOGGLE. If done properly the cables should have been clearly marked with colour coded sleeving as live. This has been done for convenience when your wiring was done. This may confuse you as the colours may be red and black for older cables or brown and blue if they are the newly introduced (post april 2006). NB In light switches you are actually switching the live part of your circuit only so all of the cables(except the earths) even if they are different colours are actually part of the live not neutral. Some switches will actually come two way as standard for use as both.Īn Intermediate switch(UK light switch) is used for switching a light from 3 or more locations in conjunction with two way switches. You can use a two way switch for one way switching.
L1 is off when L2 is on and vice versa depending on the switch position. The L1 is the switched live going out to the light.They will be marked so you can tell which is which.Ī two way switch (for switching a light from two different locations like in a hallway) has a common (C) a L1 and an L2 terminal. If you're replacing a plastic switch with a metal one and there is no earth to connect to call a qualified electrician.Ī one way switch has a common (C) and Line out (L1) terminal. This should be connected to the back box with the other earth cables that form part of the wiring. NB Metal switches must be earthed, and usually come supplied with an earth lead. Re-fix the switch to the back box and turn power back on. When you screw the cable to the new switch make sure they are nice and tight and no bare wire are showing.
Make a note of what goes where and mark them with tape before you unscrew the cables. You'll need to replace like with like and replace the cables in the same configuration. You will see differing amounts or cable depending on what type of switch it is and how it has been wired.
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