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To simplify a 4 way it simply changes the direction of the power on the travelers between the two 3 ways. There's a huge range of fittings available - from functional plastic to stylish metallic finishes. Dimmers let you to raise and lower the light level - and may have a combined or separate on/off and dimming control, so you don't have to readjust the light level every time you turn on the light. They're wired in much the same way as a standard switch. The double-pole switch is commonly used in industrial applications. But it can be found in some home wiring systems, where it is normally used to control 240-volt appliances, such as an electric furnace or air conditioner, an electric water heater, or a hot tub heater. Compared to single-pole switches, double-pole switches are much less common in the home—it's possible you will have none at all if you don't have appliances that require one. Wiring a 2 way light switch can be done in numerous different ways, all fully valid and down to the electrician performing the task and how they prefer to do it. In the example below we are going to use the most common form of wiring a 2 way switch:
When you run into a switch with 3 wires it is usually because power was run through the switch to give constant power to an outlet. With this in mind, this DIY project looks at the different types of light switch and what each should be used for. Rules and Regulations for Electrical Work
Parts of a Domestic Light Switch Explained
When it comes to what MCB should be used in a consumer unit to power a lighting circuit a 6amp MCB should be used or if you have a traditional fuse board, 5amp fuse wire should be used. This will either sit inside the wall, in the plaster or cut into the plaster board, or be mounted on top of the surface of the wall. Plastic tends to be used if the pattress is surface-mounted and metal when it is incorporated in the wall. The 2 way switch is a little more involved. It allows a single light to be independently switched on and off using 2 different switches. A good example of this is a stairs light that can be switched on and off at either the bottom or top of the stairs.
Face plates have the terminals fixed to it which are usually screwed. The live and neutral are 22mm apart. To prevent something accidentally being inserted into the live parts of the plug, there are shutters (UK plugs) which only open if the top, earth ping is inserted. It is also possible to install or fit a variation on this theme by combining dimmer and "throw" switches on the same plate. You are then able to set the light to the required ambiance and turn it on and off. The ambiance setting is remembered by the switch but can be altered just like any other dimmer. As I’m sure you already know from living in a house, if you haven’t then you may not, there are several different types of light switch that can be used depending on the situation at hand: A common question we get about wiring a light switch is, “Where does the neutral go?” The answer to this question depends on where the breaker box and main panel are located. Terminals – These provide the entry points for the wires to be connected to either side of the switch. The switch will interrupt the flow of electricity through the live (Brown sheathed) wire.But this is incorrect! When wiring a light switch incorrectly like this, you risk overloading your electrical system and potentially starting a fire. So don’t do this! It’s always best to call an electrician if you’re not sure how to wire something correctly. Does my light switch have a neutral wire? There are essentially 2 different types of lighting circuit wiring used in the UK; the traditional junction box method and the newer loop-in system. Then we drop a piece of 14/3 down to the switch box. Another piece of 14/2 drops from the switch box to the plug. It is very important to be safe. Please have a look at our project on electrical safety before you begin any project. What is a 1 or a 2 gang light switch? If you live in an older property it’s likely that there will be a mixture of both types of circuit, especially if electrical work has been carried out, however in most newer properties they will tend to just feature the loop in system. What Type of Cable and Fuse for a Lighting Circuit?
This is the metal strip that connects the earth terminal and therefore earth wire to the face plate screws. Terminals A 1 gang switch will control a single lighting circuit, or turn 1 light on and off, with a 2 gang switch you can control two individual lighting circuits, and so on. The rules on what you can and cannot do to the electrics in your home are extremely strict, however when it comes to changing light switch faceplates and a few others, you are allowed to do this without the assistance of a qualified electrician. The 4 way goes between the two 3 ways. You can have as many 4 ways as you like between them. This allows the light to be switches from several positions. A ceiling switch is mounted to the roof and is switched on and off using a pull cord – see our project on how to fit a pull cord switch. This prevents any water or moisture coming anywhere near any electrical source.If you have a dimmer switch they are described in the same way; a 1 gang dimmer switch will have a single dimmer on the plate, and a 2 gang dimmer switch will have 2 dimmers and so on. It is designed to protect the cable from becoming damaged by the box, and the cable should also be tight fit so that if there is a fire in the box it will not spread easily. Cable Never take risks with electrical safety. Before you start any type of electrical work, you must follow these following safety precautions: The type of electrical cable that should be used for a lighting circuit is 1mm or 1.5mm2 twin and earth (or 2-core and earth as it’s also known) depending on how far the cable has to run. If, however your light switch has “2x L2 terminals and 2x L1 terminals” then this is an intermediate switch.
There are several types of specialty switches that go beyond simply turning on and off a light or appliance. For instance, some switches have timers that will turn on and off the light or appliance at the same time every day. This is a good option for outside lights, allowing you to turn them on after dark even if you’re not home and turn them off right after sunrise to avoid wasting energy. Similarly, there are time-delay switches that will leave a light or appliance on for a preset amount of time after it’s turned on and then shut it off automatically. A noteworthy feature of double pole switches is their four hot brass terminal and a ground terminal. This enables you to attach the switch to two pairs of power sources from a 240-volt circuit. The traditional “hot” conductor will be connected to the screw terminal marked “power” or “line.” The “neutral” (or white) conductor will be connected with the screw terminal marked “neutral.” Where does neutral go on a light switch? As you can see in the above diagram, the switch simply interrupts the live feed to the light and enables you to turn the light on and off by disconnecting the live flow
How to Wire a Light Switch – 2 Way Switch
With the junction box light circuit the cable from the consumer unit runs to a junction box and then 2 separate cables are run to the light fitting and switch. The main supply cable runs to the next light and the same setup occurs. The ground wire is on the switch to ensure the switch has a good ground. Many electrical boxes can contain plastic not making a good ground. Since we talked about 4 ways, it is easy to understand that you can have as many as you like in a light circuit. When working on or around the electrics you are allowed to do yourself at home such as changing switch faceplates it’s essential that you know exactly what type of light switch does what so that, when changing them, you change like-for-like. Homeowners or businessowners often replace their light switches simply because they want to update them to suit their room décor. But, for safety, they should be replaced if they’re showing any of the following signs of wear and tear:
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