How to choose a pass switch: device and purpose of various types + marking

How to connect a two-gang pass-through switch

Connecting a two-gang pass-through switch essentially differs only in the number of keys and wires, the circuit remains the same.There are already 6 wires in the circuit of switches. Four of them are outputs and two are inputs, two outputs to the switch keys.

How to make a two-gang pass-through switch

The neutral wire passes through the junction box to the lamps.

The phase wire is connected to the first switch (dispersed to each key).

The two ends of the phase wire are connected to their pair of outputs of the first switch.

Sometimes it is necessary to make pass-through switches. What it is? This is when the light can be turned on in one place and turned off in another. Or vice versa.

Here are examples of real situations where you need to turn on and off the light from different places. I encountered some of them in practice, some I observed in different places.

1. In the hotel, the light can be turned on at the entrance to the room, and turned off by the switch at the headboard, already lying in bed.
2. On the balcony, which has two exits (from the kitchen and the room). When you exit through one door, the light on the balcony turns on, when you exit through another, it turns off.
3. In the country, you can place two switches: from the bottom of the stairs to the second floor, and from above.

This scheme can be implemented in two main ways:

• using pass-through switches;
• using special relays.

A through switch is a changeover contact device. Outwardly, it looks exactly like a normal one. The circuit on such switches is as follows.

The disadvantage of such a scheme is the not very clear position of the switch when the light is off. The switch key can be in the up or down position. That is, the position of the keys of both switches when the light is off is in antiphase.

The second drawback is that you cannot turn on / off at three points.For example, in the bedroom, I would like to make light on both sides of the bed and near the entrance. Then you need to use a special relay.

In my practice, I used the MR-41 relay manufactured by the Czech company Elko. It is quite expensive, about 1400 rubles. But it solves the problem to the fullest.

The relay is installed in the electrical panel in the same way as a normal one. A lot of buttons (seemingly up to 80) are connected to it without fixing. And a lamp is connected to the power contacts of the relay.

Both Legrand and ABB have similar devices, but they are much more expensive.

When choosing such devices, it is important to make sure that there are two functions

• ensuring that the backlight of the switch key is on (not everyone does this);
• restoration of the current state after a power outage.

Elko implements both of these functions. Another problematic issue is the search for a non-latching switch. I managed to find such switches in the popular Legrand Valena series. However, an attempt to order showed that you can buy such switches right away, without pre-ordering, even in Moscow in just a few places.

Related materials:

How to make walk-through switches?

Comments: 16

seriously
tell me if anyone knows)

The issue is solved by buying a P2K type key switch or a 2-position toggle switch in a radio parts store for a few rubles.
P2K low-current low-voltage switch, when switching the lighting in the house, it burns out after a dozen switches.

Dec. 28 saw these switches in OBI and Leroy Merlin stores. price from 72r? and 240 rubles. This is in Moscow. On Altufevsky sh. and on Borovsky. I don’t know about others. Yes, I heard that there is in Voronezh.

All switches and switches serve one thing - at the right time to close or open the electrical circuit (turn on or off the lighting). These devices are of various types and differ in execution. In this article, we will understand what switches and switches are and how they differ from each other.

Connection order

• As a rule, the laying of wires for the installation of any wiring elements is carried out during large-scale repair work, including laying cables in strobes, as well as preparing and installing mounting boxes for switches. To ensure a reliable connection of the device contacts to the wires, they must protrude beyond the edge of the box by at least 60 mm.
• If the wiring and installation of the installation boxes have already been carried out, then they should be prepared for the installation of switches. To do this, you need to release the ends of all wires (their number depends on the design of the switch) from the insulation by 50-150 cm.
• The first thing to do is to turn off the voltage on the electrical wiring elements using the circuit breaker installed at the entrance to the apartment. Before proceeding with any actions with electrical wiring elements, it is necessary to make sure that there is no voltage using an indicator screwdriver or a tester.
• The wires are connected to the terminals using the markings on the body of the product. In this case, the incoming wire is indicated by the letter L (L1 and L2 if the switch is two-gang), and the outgoing wires are indicated by arrows. Sometimes a wiring diagram is applied to the back of the case. The order in which the wires are connected does not really matter, it can be done in any order.
• The working part of the switch is inserted into the box and fixed with sliding benches or clamps.
• A plastic frame is being installed on the front of the device.
• The key (or keys) is set.
• At the last stage, it is necessary to make a control inclusion of each device to make sure that the circuit is working.

Principle of operation - features of switching an electrical circuit

Based on the principle of operation, it would be more correct to call light switches through switches. Externally, they look almost the same as ordinary switches. The main differences between them lie in their contact system.

The purpose of traditional switches is to close and open an electrical circuit. Switches perform similar functions, but their specificity determines some design features.

Like two-button switches, the thru-switch circuit has three contacts. However, this additional contact has a completely different function. When a conventional switch is actuated, a simple circuit break occurs. A double-gang switch, opening one circuit, simultaneously closes another, which, in turn, is the contacts of a pair switch (these devices are not used individually).

The connection of the feed-through switches is based on changeover contacts, acting on the principle of a rocker arm. Some of these devices have a zero position, when turned on, both circuits are open, but in practice such devices are used extremely rarely.

When the switch positions are changed, the current is redirected to the corresponding terminal.As a result, one of the possible power supply circuits of the light source remains closed. The light comes on when both switches are in the same position.

If at connecting conventional switches uses two wires (breakable phase), then three are suitable for the passages, of which two are jumpers between marching switches, and through the third, a phase is supplied to one switch, which from the second device goes to the light source.

A feature of the lighting scheme using walk-through switches is the mandatory presence of a junction box in it.

Lighting control from three or more places

It is not uncommon for situations when in residential premises of a large area there is a need to control lighting from several points at once. To create a multi-point control system that allows you to turn on and off the light from 3 places at the same time, installing one pass-through switches is usually not enough.

For these purposes, it will be necessary to integrate another element into the circuit - a cross switch, which is connected in a break in a two-wire wire (that is, between pass-through devices).

If in former times the admissibility of the installation of such schemes was determined mainly by the layout of the premises, today they are found almost everywhere. Installation of this type of walk-through switches is a very difficult task. First of all, you need to familiarize yourself with the principle of its work.

The principle of operation of the cross switch (switch)

The design of the switch provides for the presence of four contacts, of which two are connected to the terminals of one switch and two more to the second device.

These devices, when switched on, perform special (transit) functions, since they are to a certain extent transitional.

You can visually see the principle of operation of the cross switch on the Gif-picture below.

Wiring diagram for three switches

A schematic representation of the connection of a 2-way and one cross switch is shown in the figure.

It clearly shows that a cross switch is installed between two pass-through switches, acting as a kind of transit node.

Below we give a diagram of the connection of all elements of the electrical lighting control circuit in the junction box.

The video that we have posted below will undoubtedly help you assemble a wiring diagram for three switches in a junction box.

Wiring diagram for four switches

For four control points, you will need to apply the complex wiring diagram shown in the figure below. In such a kit, not only two pass-through, but also a pair of cross-type switches are used.

When considering the option of controlling a luminaire from 4 places at once, two cross switching devices will be required.

If there are several lighting groups in this room, preference should be given to two-key cross-type switches. The walk-through systems installed in this way significantly simplify the lighting control procedure.

These systems of many switched devices (with all the seeming convenience) even more question their reliability. Even with proper inclusion and careful handling, they are characterized by the following disadvantages:

1. relatively high cost;
2. relatively low reliability;
3. the possibility of false positives;
4. complexity of maintenance and repair.

That is why connecting walk-through switches and cross switches to control lighting from several places is the best option for using the principle of multi-point control.

3 point switch types

Switches from three places are represented by two types of products: through passage and cross. The latter cannot be used without the former. According to the principle of operation, cross-sections are divided into:

1. Keyboards.
2. Swivel. A rotary mechanism is used to close the contacts. They are presented in a variety of designs and will cost more than usual.

Taking into account the installation, the cross ones are divided into:

1. Overhead. Mounting is carried out on top of the wall, does not require a recess in the wall to install the unit. If the decoration of the room is not planned, then this option is ideal. But such models are not reliable enough, because they are subject to external factors;
2. Embedded. Installed in the wall, suitable for wiring work in all types of buildings. A hole in the wall is pre-prepared according to the size of the switch box.

checkpoint

Unlike the classical model, the pass-through switch has three contacts and a mechanism that combines their work. The main advantage of the product is the ability to switch on or off from two, three or more points. The second name of such a switch is "toggle" or "duplicate".

The design of the two-key pass-through switch resembles two single-gang switches independent of each other, but with six contacts. Outwardly, a walk-through switch cannot be distinguished from a conventional switch if it were not for a special designation on it.

Scheme of connecting the wires of the pass-through switch in the junction box

Circuit without a ground conductor. Now the most important thing is to correctly assemble the circuit in the junction box. Four 3-core cables should go into it:

power cable from the switchboard lighting machine

cable to switch #1

cable to switch #2

cable for lamp or chandelier

When connecting wires, it is most convenient to orient by color. If you use a three-core VVG cable, then it has two most common color markings:

white (gray) - phase

blue - zero

yellow green - earth

or the second option:

White gray)

brown

black

To choose a more correct phasing in the second case, refer to the tips from the article “Color marking of wires. GOSTs and rules.”

The assembly begins with zero conductors. Connect the zero core from the cable of the introductory machine and the zero that goes to the lamp at one point through the car terminals.

Next, you need to connect all the ground wires if you have a ground conductor. Similarly to the neutral wires, you combine the “ground” from the input cable with the “ground” of the outgoing cable for lighting. This wire is connected to the body of the lamp.

It remains to connect the phase conductors correctly and without errors. The phase from the input cable must be connected to the phase of the outgoing wire to the common terminal of the feed-through switch No. 1.And connect the common wire from the feed-through switch No. 2 with a separate wago clamp to the phase conductor of the cable for lighting. Having completed all these connections, it remains only to connect the secondary (outgoing) cores from the switch No. 1 and No. 2 to each other

And it doesn't matter how you connect them.

You can even mix up the colors. But it is better to stick to the colors, so as not to get confused in the future. On this, you can consider the circuit fully assembled, apply voltage and check the lighting.

The basic connection rules in this scheme that you need to remember:

• The phase from the machine must come to the common conductor of the first switch
• The same phase should go from the common conductor of the second switch to the light bulb
• The other two auxiliary conductors are interconnected in the junction box
• Zero and earth are fed directly without switches directly to the light bulbs

Cross

Cross models with 4 pins, which allows you to connect two pins at the same time. Unlike walk-through models, cross models cannot be used on their own. They are installed complete with walk-throughs, they are designated identically on the diagrams.

These models are reminiscent of two soldered single-gang switches. Contacts are connected by special metal jumpers. Only one switch button is responsible for the operation of the contact system. If necessary, a cross model can be made by yourself.

Working principle of the cross disconnector

The pass-through device for turning on and off the light inside has four terminals - it looks the same as ordinary switches. Such an internal device is necessary for the cross-connection of the two lines that the switch will regulate.The disconnector at one moment can make the opening of the two remaining switches, after which they are connected together. The result is turning the light on and off.

Well-known manufacturers of pass-through switches

Legrand is a leader in the electrical goods market. The demand for Legrand walk-through switches is due to the high quality of products, ease of installation, convenience in further operation, stylish design and flexible pricing. The only drawback is the need to adjust the mounting location. If it does not match the product, it may be difficult to install it, which is carried out according to the wiring diagram through passage switch Legrand.

Feed-through switches from Legrand

A subsidiary of Legrand is the Chinese company Lezard. However, only a stylish design remained from the native brand. The build quality is much lower, due to the low cost of production.

One of the leading domestic manufacturers of electrical goods is the Wessen company, which is part of the Schneider Electric company. All products are manufactured according to the latest technologies on modern foreign equipment and comply with European quality standards. Models have a universal stylish design that allows you to fit each element into any interior space. A distinctive feature of Wessen switches is the ability to replace the decorative frame without dismantling the device.

Another equally well-known manufacturer is the Turkish company Viko.Products are characterized by high workmanship, reliability and durability, meet the requirements of electrical safety and European quality standards. In the manufacture of the device case, fireproof durable plastic is used, which is designed for a large number of work cycles.

The pass-through switch, unlike the usual one, has three conductive wires

The Turkish brand Makel offers quality, reliable, safe and stylish products. Thanks to the possibility of connecting a loop without the need to use a junction box, the installation of switches becomes easier, and further operation is comfortable and safe.

Types of switches for home (domestic use)

Various types of switches used in everyday life should be convenient, safe, and have an attractive design. They differ from each other in types and types. According to the installation method, the switch can be built-in or installed outside. Nowadays, the rotary key is most often used as controls; such switches are common in Europe.

Types of switches for the home

In the USA, they prefer to use lever-type switches (toggle switches), apparently not wanting to deviate from tradition. But this is now, and in the old days, when Thomas Edison only made his invention, rotary switches were used. They were known all over the world in the first half of the 20th century and switched up to several circuits in 3-4 positions (packet switch). Batch switches are still used in many old utility shields.

To turn on the lamp, use a single-key switch; for chandeliers, a two-key or even a three-key switch is used. For rooms such as toilets and bathrooms, use a double light switch. We add that in our age of advanced technology, many switches with additional functions have appeared. These are the functions:

• illuminated switch for night time
• switch with off timer.
• Switches with brightness control.

If everything is clear with the first type of functions, then the second is used to save light in small rooms (pantries, bathrooms) where they enter for a short time and forget to turn off the light. And the third can be used together with those fixtures that support the dimmer function (dimmer). Sometimes they come as a set, since this type of device has not yet been standardized.

Unusual types of switches

A light switch with a motion sensor is another way to save electricity, very convenient. The light turns on if the infrared sensor detects the movement of a person in the field of view of the sensor. Repeated movement may turn off the light, or a timer may do so after movement has been detected. The switch with a motion sensor does not require any action from a person, his presence is enough.

There is one so-called smart switch, this is the cotton switch. Since it reacts to noise, it can turn on involuntarily. Inside it is a microphone, it is also an amplifier and a microprocessor device in order to recognize the nature of the sound. It may not work the first time, as it remembers the sound from the user in memory for later comparison.

And such things happen

The floor switch is made in the form of a button with fixation. It can be turned on by pressing the foot with little effort, and the design is made in such a way that the weight of the foot does not damage it.

The ceiling switch is also a button with a latch, to which the force is transmitted from the lever, with a cord attached to it. The mechanics is hidden behind a decorative cover. To turn it on or off, you need to lightly pull on the cord.

How to choose the color of the living room

The color scheme of this room should be made in shades that promote relaxation, both emotional and physical. Psychologists recommend several primary colors:

• Mint.
• Wheat.
• Light blue.
• Lilac.
• Green.

Despite the popularity of wall painting, many people prefer to wallpaper the walls the old fashioned way.

However, among the variety of this material, it is easy to get confused and not everyone knows how to choose wallpaper for the living room. For the right choice, several criteria must be taken into account:

• Properties of a particular type of wallpaper.
• The naturalness of the material.
• Price.
• Coloring (plain or with a print).

In recent years, cork or bamboo wallpapers have gained particular popularity, as they have excellent sound and heat insulation properties, and also look great in the interior.

Various types of switches

Next, we will look at the different types of switches. In addition to the usual switches familiar to all of us, there are other types of switches that are not so popular, but at the same time have their own characteristics and advantages. Let's look at some of them.

Innovative touch switches

These switches are activated by lightly touching a special sensitive touch panel located on the outside of the device. Thus, the panel works in a button or key system. Its design includes an electronic circuit operating on the semiconductors of the sensing element and its own switch. By touching the panel. Tactile contact occurs and the sensor element sends a signal to the electronic circuit. Touch switches can also be equipped with additional sensors and respond to their signals or work remotely.

Touch switches

Remote switches

These switches can control the luminaire from a distance. With the help of a special remote control, a command is transmitted to the lighting device via a radio channel. The switch in this case is a receiver equipped with switching contacts that cut into the supply wire of the lamp.

Remote switches

A remote control is attached to this type of switch. Often it looks like a regular keychain. The range of its action largely depends on the material from which the remote control is made, but usually this distance is 20-25 m. The remote control runs on power, which depends on batteries. This scheme involves microprocessor controllers. They allow for additional functions: setting the timer, adjusting the light intensity, etc.

Switches with built-in sensors

These special sensors have detectors that can determine the level of movement of the environment. More precisely, the absence or presence of a fairly large object in the affected area, as well as the intensity of illumination.

Switches with built-in sensors

The signals from the sensor are sent to the controller, which analyzes them. When the predetermined parameters are fixed, a signal is sent to the executive body. After that, the closing-opening of the contacts of the circuit occurs. So the switch works only after it detects the movement of an object in the reach zone. The device saves a lot of energy and is quite easy to operate.

Pass-through or toggle switches

This is a kind of keyboard models. Unlike pass-through switches, they do not open / close contacts, but simply switch them. That is, one of the lamps connected to this switch lights up or goes out. Toggle switches are needed in order to use them to control the connection of light in several rooms at the same time. They can be removed from each other, the main thing is that not only one, but also several lighting fixtures can be connected to such devices.

Pass-Through Circuit Breaker Design

Externally, the mid-flight switch is no different from the usual one, except for the presence on the key of a conditional image in the form of two triangles and a device diagram on the back of the dielectric base.

Inside the pass switch there are three contacts: two fixed and one movable (toggle), driven by the external key of the device. The changeover contact has two possible operating positions - on one of the fixed terminals. By pressing a key, the moving contact moves from one terminal to another, breaking one circuit and closing the second.

This design feature of the pass-through switch is based on a network diagram in which one lighting fixture can be controlled from two different places. The neutral and ground wires from the junction box are led to the lighting device, and a gap is made in the phase conductor by two feed-through switches, between which two alternative lines are laid.

The operation of the circuit with 3 types of switches - conventional, through and cross

As you can see, with any combination of the positions of the switch contacts, we can always turn the light on and off from any of them.

The two outputs of one switch are connected to two outputs of the second switch, and the other two outputs of this switch are connected to the other two outputs of the first switch. 5 Frequently Asked Questions Answered There are questions people ask when choosing these systems: How many wires do the switches need to run? Such devices are inserted into the gap of two wires connecting the pass-through switches.

The device is called so because when switching, it reverses the connection of suitable wires to outgoing wires - crosswise. The cross switch works only in combination with walk-through switches and in lighting circuits it is switched on between them. Photo - diagram of the operation of the cross switch The main difference between the cross switches and the cross switches is that the former can be used independently, while the latter cannot. What terminals are the wires connected to.

Related article: Energy savings per hundred

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All parts are made of high quality materials and are controlled at all stages of production.Principle of operation Below is a connection diagram of the intermediate switches, which provides independent switching on and off of the light from two different places. It also has two contacts, the same mechanism for switching contacts, but different in the way they are switched. Devices that turn off the light are no exception.

In order not to be mistaken what kind of switch, you should familiarize yourself with the switching circuit, which is present on the switch body. To control one device that emits light from three or more places, cross switches are used.

Through switches

When you press the button of any of the three switches, the chain is opened. A neutral wire is pulled into the junction box from the shield.

By pressing the switch button PV2, the circuit will be closed. As you can see, with any combination of the positions of the switch contacts, we can always turn the light on and off from any of them.
Double cross switch Schneider Electric

Sealed

 

A special type of switches - hermetic switches designed for installation in rooms with high humidity or dust: in baths, saunas, showers. Also, like waterproof sockets, they are classified according to the degree of protection. So, a switch that is installed in a bathroom or shower must have a protection class of at least IP-44. Read more about protection classes in our article.

11. Switch with built-in motion sensor

As the name implies, the switch, or rather, the sensor connected to it, reacts to movements: the light turns on when a person is in the field of view of the sensor, and turns off when that person disappears from it.Most often, the principle of operation of such sensors is based on tracking infrared radiation.

Switches with built-in motion sensors save energy. With the help of them, you can also adjust the intensity of lighting, turn on spotlights, a siren, CCTV cameras and control other useful equipment. Unfortunately, the price of these super-mechanisms is appropriate.

Helpful Hints

• For the bathroom and kitchen, use sealed switches with a moisture and dust protection class of at least IP - 44
• Rope switches will harmoniously fit into the nursery: the baby can easily reach the cord and be able to quickly turn on the light in the dark if he suddenly has a bad dream at night
• For the living room, dimmers are best, as watching TV and reading a book require different amounts of light.
• For your convenience, flights of stairs in a private house should be equipped with either walk-through switches or switches with built-in motion sensors

Device modification

The process of reworking a simple switch in the checkpoint is available to everyone with their own hands. Its appearance is no different from its counterpart. It can have 1 key, 2 or more. The difference between these devices is visible only from the inside. The feedthrough is used to switch circuits, so it is more correct to call it a switch. Most often, at home, you have to use a conventional single-key marching switch. In large rooms, a device with several keys is sometimes required.

The alteration consists in adding a contact: instead of 2, you need to put 3. How to connect a pass-through switch to the network? A three-core cable must be laid between a pair of fixtures.Phase always goes to the switch, zero to the light fixture. Nowadays, photorelay circuits are made on transistors KT315B or on Q6004LT. Our task is to make a do-it-yourself walk-through switch from an ordinary mid-flight switch.

Marking on the switch housing

On the part of the switch where the contacts are located, there is usually a special marking indicating the characteristics of the switching product. At a minimum, these are the rated voltage and current, as well as the degree of protection according to IP and the designation of the wire clamps.

When the light is turned on in fluorescent lamps, a sharp surge of inrush current occurs in the circuit. If LED or incandescent bulbs are used, then this jump is not so big.

Otherwise, the circuit breaker must be designed for such high loads, otherwise there is a risk of burning the contacts in its clamps.

Why is it so important for fluorescent electric lamps to choose special switches

For installation in a bedroom or corridor, a switch with IP03 is quite suitable. For bathrooms, it is better to raise the second digit to 4 or 5. And if the switching product is installed outdoors, then the degree of protection must be at least IP55.

Read also: How to determine the value of a ceramic capacitor

Contact clamps for electrical wires on the switch can be:

• screw with and without pressure plate;
• screwless springs.

The former are more reliable, while the latter greatly simplify the wiring. Moreover, the best option is screw clamps with the addition of a pressure plate. When tightened, they do not destroy the wire core with the tip of the screw.

Also in the marking of the switches there are terminal designations:

1. "N" - for the zero working conductor.
2. "L" - for a conductor with a phase.
3. "EARTH" - for zero grounding of the protective conductor.

Plus, usually using "I" and "O" indicates the position of the key in the "ON" and "OFF" modes. There may also be manufacturer logos and product names on the case.