Faced with repairs, each of us asks related questions. For example, how to disassemble the light switch so that it does not interfere with wallpapering? With sockets, everything seems to be clear. There you can see the head of the screw for a flat or Phillips screwdriver. Unscrewing it, we release the outlet cover. The switch is a little more difficult - the screws are not visible.
In case of malfunction
Even if the circuit breaker fails, there is no need to call expensive specialists. Even a person far from electricity can solve the problem of how to disassemble the light switch. First you need to identify the problem node. If the switch is difficult to change position, makes unusual sounds when turned on, or smells of burning, then it is immediately clear where the malfunction is.
If there are no obvious signs of damage, you should first check the position of the circuit breakers in the power supply panel in the stairwell. pampering children,the vindictiveness of neighbors or just a power surge could leave your apartment without electricity. Turn on the machine from your apartment and check the operation of the lighting. If it tripped again on its own, there was obviously a short circuit, which can only occur in a switch in the rare case when it is installed directly above a current-carrying wire, and this wire surprisingly exposed and hooked the switch contacts. Look for other causes of failure.
Checking bulb and socket
Before you disassemble the light switch in the apartment, you should check the operation of the light bulb, its contacts and installation density. According to the experience of electricians, problems occur in lamps and lamp sockets much more often than in a switch, since the rated life of the opening and closing device is always much longer than the life of consumable lighting elements and contacts subjected to mechanical stress when replacing a lamp.
You also need to check the presence of phase current in different positions of the switch using a simple tester (indicator). In Soviet times, there were no particular differences where to embed the switch - before or after the load. However, recently builders are trying to install switches on the phase, leading wire. If the difference when turned on is visible on the tester, then there is no open circuit in the switch, and you need to look for other reasons.
Tools and work area
After making sure that the problem is in the switch, you should preparetools and workplace. Here you may need:
- Phillips and flathead screwdrivers;
- knife with a plastic handle in case the blade accidentally touches the wires;
- pliers with insulated handles;
- indicator or tester to determine the presence of voltage;
- duct tape.
Preparation of the workplace begins with ensuring the illumination of the work area without the use of connected lighting. Roughly speaking, you need to work during the day, and in dark places additionally use a flashlight or other non-volatile light source. Dust inside the electrical box can stain fabric chairs and chairs, so move them away before disassembling the light switch.
Safety First
So, first of all, you need to de-energize the section of the circuit with which you are supposed to work. To do this, you should find machines related to your apartment in the stairwell. Recently, in the shields they sign the ownership of the differential current switches in the apartments, otherwise you should warn your neighbors in the stairwell about your intentions to turn off the current and, by joint efforts, experimentally find the necessary switches. Do not turn off the power without notifying the neighbors if you are not sure about the ownership of the machines.
A few simple manipulations
Next, you need to get to the mounting screws to remove the protective cover from the switch. First, remove the key, prying it in the middle with a thin bladeknife. The decorative casing is usually attached to a plastic latch or screws, remove it with a screwdriver. On the sides of the switch there will be two fixing bolts with spacer tabs. You need to unscrew them a little to release the switch from the socket of the box.
Next, the contacts are inspected. Most often, oxidized or simply jumped out wires from sockets and fasteners can cause a malfunction. Having tightened the wire connections properly, the switch is first checked "on weight", without inserting it into the box.
Replacing the switch
Burnt out contacts, melted insulation and just a lack of response to your actions indicate that it is better to replace the switch. After disconnecting the wires, in no case do not leave them hanging out of the wall just like that, even for half an hour. This is a familiar place on the wall, where households automatically put their hand to turn on the light. Wrap exposed wires with duct tape when you go to the store. The situation will be a little more complicated in large rooms with different lighting intensities. However, the sequence of actions on how to disassemble a two-key light switch does not differ from working with a single-key one. The only nuance of a multi-key switch is that you need to mark the ends of the wires in the wall if you need to replace the element. You can, of course, empirically determine the connection sequence, but this will take extra time and is not very safe.
Dimmers
Simple switches seem to be all right. How to disassemble the switchwith brightness control? So-called dimmers, especially mechanical ones, are connected to the circuit in the same way as ordinary switches. Their dismantling is carried out in approximately the same way. First, the rotary handle is removed, then the decorative panel is released from the latch with a knife or a screwdriver, then the mounting tabs are loosened by unscrewing the fixing bolts on the body.
That's it. Installation is carried out in the reverse order. So, we figured out how to disassemble a two-key light switch and its one-key counterpart. Everything is quite simple, and any self-taught master will cope with this work. And if you know how to disassemble the switch with light control, then putting everything back together will not be a big problem at all. Remember that all connections and fasteners must be tightened properly so that you do not have to repair the switch once again.
