In the everyday life of a home handyman, it is often necessary to replace a damaged electrical switch or socket with a new one or to replace it with a more modern one – most often when installing new lighting fixtures. This may seem like a simple job, but electricity is no joke, and if you are not confident in yourself, seek the help of a specialist. If you still think you can handle it, keep in mind that the most important thing is the following:
When installing or replacing an electrical switch or socket, the electrical power must be turned off!
Electrical sockets and switches are divided into two main types - for concealed installation and for exposed installation. In concealed installation, the sockets and switches are built into the wall, being fixed in the so-called consoles by means of two plates, which are based on the principle of tension. This type of installation is more common in practice.
Sockets and electrical switches can also be a complex combination of consoles and panels. Up to 7 sockets, switches and sockets can be arranged side by side in one panel.
Switches and sockets should be both practical and functional, as well as beautiful. Skillfully selected, they can become a special accent in the room.
According to industry experts, it is best for these devices to meet the following requirements:
- Be of good quality and sufficiently safe;
- To match the interior - for example, if the rooms are furnished in a retro style with solid wooden furniture, it is not a good idea to install plain, white light switches;
- Be easy to maintain and have a long life. Light switches that you constantly touch with your fingers should be made of a material that allows them to be easily cleaned.
TYPES OF ELECTRIC KEYS
Electrical switches are used to turn lighting on and off. Here the variety is greater, with the main types being:
- Single switches – used to control a single light fixture, regardless of the number of lamps. All are turned on and off simultaneously.
- Series switches – are two or three switches mounted in a common body. Each of them controls an independent circuit and this allows for greater flexibility in lighting control – two or three groups of lighting lamps can be turned on separately or simultaneously.
- Diverter switches – used to control a single light fixture from two different locations. This type of switch is very useful in long corridors or staircases, with one deviator switch placed at each end.
- Dimmer switches – are used to control the intensity of lighting. This is usually done by turning a switch. With the help of dimmer switches, you can dim the lighting in the room.
The main thing to know about electrical switches for lighting is that they only interrupt and supply phase to the lighting fixture. The neutral of the electrical installation is connected directly to the lighting fixture.
HOW TO INSTALL/DISASSEMBLE AN ELECTRIC SWITCH?
The electric switch is mounted in a round box (console), which in the case of concealed installation is dug into the wall. The socket is most often dismantled after removing the switching plate. For this purpose, a thin screwdriver is inserted into the slot on the side and the plate is pushed out. This opens access to the two screws for spreading or retracting the two paws with which the socket body is fixed in the box. There are different systems for gripping the wire. Most often, fastening is done by tightening with a screw in a terminal or with a flat nut. In other sockets, the copper wire is fastened by inserting its end into a hole in which there is a transversely located spring plate. It presses the wire and provides the necessary electrical contact. To release and remove the wire, the other end of the plate is pressed with the tip of the screwdriver. In this system, it is necessary to strip a longer piece of the wire from the insulation - about 12 mm.
When building a new installation, the recommended height for installing electrical switches is 1.1 to 1.3 m from the floor. They are placed near the entrance door to the room, preferably on the side of the door handle.
HOW TO INSTALL/DISASSEMBLE AN ELECTRICAL CONTACT?
The contacts are installed at a height of 0.3 to 1.5 m from the floor. The first height is typical for contacts whose wires run along the floor or in a skirting board. They are placed in plastic boxes (consoles) with an outer diameter of 70 mm and a depth of 35 mm. When installing a new installation or changing an existing one, a hole must be cut in the wall for mounting the box. It is desirable to do this exactly along the contour of the box, leaving a gap of about 5 mm on the side for the plaster mortar with which it is fixed in the brick wall. Such precision cannot be achieved with a hammer and chisel, and when the walls are brick and thinner, this is simply impossible. For this purpose, the right tool comes to the rescue - a drill bit with carbide grains and a powerful drill.
Special boxes are used to install electrical sockets and switches in lightweight partition walls made of plasterboard (gypsum fiberboard). They have two pressing paws, which are pulled out by screwing in two long screws. In the lower extreme position, the two paws are retracted into the inside of the box and do not interfere with inserting it into the hole cut exactly along its contour. By screwing in the screws, the paws are moved (spread) to the side and at the same time pulled forward until they rest against the back of the plate, and thus the box is secured in the socket.
Check the phase and neutral carefully!
In a properly constructed and functioning electrical installation, all heating appliances must be grounded or zeroed to protect against electric shock. For this purpose, we use Schuko type sockets and plugs /the name "Schuko" is an abbreviation of the German term "schutzkontakt" - protective contact/, which have special contact plates for making an electrical connection between them. The socket has a special (third) terminal for connecting to the grounding conductor. Since three-wire installations are still rare in our country, this terminal is connected with a short cable to the terminal that is connected to the neutral conductor, i.e. grounding is replaced by zeroing. It is important and mandatory to check in advance with a phase meter which of the conductors is connected to the phase and which - to the neutral of the network, in order to avoid incorrect connection and thus the body of the electrical appliance being under life-threatening voltage.
In many cases, it is very convenient to install double sockets instead of single ones. This foresight can save a lot of inconvenience in the future when frequently replacing one plug with another.
WHAT DO WE OFFER?
With us you can find an exceptional variety of electrical switches and sockets for concealed installation, the use of which, as we have already noted, is more widespread compared to those for exposed installation.
We offer a wide variety of models of all the main types of electrical switches: single, series, deviator and dimmer. The variety is in design, colors, shapes, purpose.
In addition to electric switches for lighting, you can also get special switches for water heaters and staircases from us. We have serial switches for controlling not only two, as is traditional, but also three groups of lighting fixtures. Our nomenclature also includes models with a light in the off position, which you will easily find in the dark. Some types of switches are without decorative frames, but such frames are offered as separate products so that everyone can choose what suits their individual taste and preference. There are single, double, triple, quadruple and five-fold decorative frame-modules.
The choice of sockets is also huge. We have single; double; open; with cover; monoblock type; three-phase power socket; telephone, computer and TV sockets.
We also offer series from certain brands that include different types of sockets and switches with the same design and in the same color range. Choosing such an offer will be a manifestation of good aesthetic taste and will bring style and elegance to your home.
The products in this group with us are from the brands EL-BI, LEGRAND, SCHNEIDER ELECTRIC, MUTLUSAN ELECTRIC, MELOPLAM, OSPEL and many others.
Additional information about the items is contained in their technical data sheets.
