In the article you will learn how to make a pass-through switch from a regular one. This is a device with which it becomes possible to control the light source from several places at the same time. As a rule, such switches are mounted in long corridors, on passages or stairs. Their use is very convenient, you do not have to carry a flashlight with you or go back through a dark room.
Where can switches be used?
Very often they are used in bedrooms. In this case, one switch is hung directly at the entrance to the room, and the second near the bed. They are quite convenient, since you do not have to return to the main switch near the door to turn on or off the light in a room or corridor. It can also be used in the office to turn off the main lighting and turn on the table lamp. And much more efficient.use a walk-through switch instead of a regular one.
In this article we will talk about how to independently make a pass-through type switch from ordinary ones. It is worth noting that the cost of walk-through structures is quite high, so not everyone can afford it. Therefore, the question arises, is it possible to independently make a walk-through from a pair of ordinary switches, but so as not to disrupt the operation of the entire system as a whole.
Design Features
When compared with conventional double switches, the differences in the number of contacts - there are three of them in the feedthrough. Connections must be made with three-core cables. Laying of both open wiring and closed wiring is allowed. In the latter case, the wires are hidden in the wall, in a strobe specially prepared for this. This is a groove in the wall made with a chisel.
When connected, the wire through which zero is supplied goes to the lighting fixture. As for the phase, it is necessary that it goes directly to the switch, which will break the electrical circuit. Therefore, it is possible to simplify the design as follows: the phase enters the switch input, zero - immediately to the lighting device through the junction box. As you can see, all control goes exclusively through the phase wire.
Connection Features
Two wires must be connected to the output of the device - a jumper, which is available in the design,closes an electrical circuit. These cables, connected to the output, are connected to the second switch, but in this case one core goes directly to the lighting fixture. Therefore, the walk-through switch simply allows the transfer of electricity from one line to another.
Today, triple pass-through type switches can be found on sale. Of course, due to the complexity of the design, its cost is simply prohibitive. It is unlikely that someone will have a desire to overpay for such a device if it can be made from simple ones. Moreover, you do not need to have seven spans in your forehead, a special tool and diagnostic equipment. Manufacturing work is not difficult and can be performed strictly according to the instructions below.
Device appearance
The appearance of the pass switch is almost the same as that of a conventional one. Moreover, the checkpoints can also have one or more keys for switching lines. The difference is observed only in the internal design. As a rule, in houses they use mid-flight switches, which have only one key.
But pass-through devices should be called switches rather than switches. The fact is that they are designed to switch electrical circuits between themselves. In the event that the room in which the switch is installed is large in area, it may be necessary to use a device with two or even three keys. Therefore, you need to carefully readcircuit breaker connection diagram. You can’t turn it on like a normal one, the system here is a little different.
Switch rebuild
Production from a conventional walk-through switch is only that you need to add one more contact. To do this, you will have to purchase two switches at once. They must be made by the same manufacturer, only one switch must have two keys, and the second one.
It is also recommended to use devices of the same size. When you purchase a two-gang switch, pay attention to whether the terminals can be swapped so that the opening and closing of electrical circuits is performed independently.
Consequently, in one position of the key, the first circuit will be connected, and in the second you will close the adjacent line. And now let's talk about how to make and how to connect a pass-through switch. As usual, it will not work - there are more wires in the line that need to be switched. Simple switches will not be able to do this.
Sequence of work
And now we begin to carry out work on the alteration of a conventional switch in the checkpoint. To do this, you need to perform the following manipulations:
- First, loosen the clamps to connect a suitable cable. Be sure to loosen the spacers of the socket. This is necessary in order to safely remove the switch from the hole in the wall.
- As you understand, it is absolutely necessary to turn off allelectricity in the house. Determine with a probe before turning off the power on which wire the phase is located. Be sure to make marks on the wire. In this case, you will facilitate the installation of the device as much as possible.
- Remove the switch and turn it upside down. After that, unbend the clamps on the housing and remove the entire electrical part of the structure. Using a simple screwdriver, you can do this in a couple of minutes.
- Then, using a flat thick screwdriver, you need to remove the springs that are inside the case. Using a thin screwdriver is not recommended, as it is unlikely to be able to remove the springs. Be careful, try not to rush, so as not to bend or break structural elements.
- Use a flat screwdriver to pry two prongs on the ends of the removed part of the switch.
Finishing work
And now the final stages of making a pass-through switch with your own hands. You can make it from ordinary switches, but for this it remains to perform a few steps:
- Carry out the main stage of the procedure. To do this, find the contact groups on the main ceramic part. There are three of them: individual, general, mobile.
- One of the moving contacts needs to be turned 180 degrees, after which it is necessary to cut off the contact pad, which belongs to the common circuit. There is no need to isolate anything.
- Once you've done this, the entire dismantled part will need to be reinstalled.
- From singleswitch, remove the key and install it on a new device. In the event that you do not have a single switch, then two keys can be glued together. This is very easy to do with a hot glue gun.
As you can see, the manufacturing process is quite simple, does not take much time. Of course, you will have to tinker a little with the switch mechanism.
What are the disadvantages of walk-through structures
Let's talk about what disadvantages can be identified in a pass-through type switch. The specifics of using these devices are quite original, so there are small drawbacks:
- It is impossible to tell by the position of the keys whether the light is on or off.
- It will not be possible to simultaneously turn off or turn on the lighting lamp from different places.
But such minuses are insignificant, during the operation of the device they are unlikely to be able to greatly affect the decision regarding their installation or self-production. But you should be prepared that immediately after installation you will be a little confused when turning the lights on and off. But this quickly passes, a person gets used to everything.
Conclusion
As you can see, pass-through switches, even factory-made, even handicraft, are quite convenient devices. Controlling lights from different locations will allow you to avoid having to go back to turn off the lights. And you have to go back in the darkcorridor.
This is especially true if the house is cool, and you lay down in a warm bed and you don’t want to get out from under the covers to turn off the light. In this case, you need to either put a walk-through switch near the head of the bed, or install a pop detector that will turn off the light by sound.
And it is unlikely that anyone will think about how to make an ordinary two-gang switch from a pass-through switch. This is simply not necessary - the cost of a pass is much higher than a simple one. Therefore, from an economic point of view, it simply does not make sense to do this.
