How to fix a light switch

In the event that one of the room switches has ceased to function, there is absolutely no need to immediately call an electrician for help, as it is usually possible to repair the light switch. Breakdown of this kind often occurs only due to poor contact in the automatic switch assembly, whose plates over time become covered with soot resulting from constant sparking. To resume the operation of this node, you just need to clean the contact parts of the switch, after which the device will last for a long time.

Preliminary procedures

First of all, it is important to remember that before repairing a light switch, some other electrical equipment or some part of the wiring, it is necessary to turn off the power supply at the place of work. The repair of the breakdown should be started only after the automatic circuit breaker is disconnected, directly through which electricity is supplied to the premises.

In order to repair a broken switch, you will need the following tools and devices:

• multimeter or the usual indicator of the "screwdriver" type;
• small skin;
• marker;
• standard screwdriver required volume.

How to disassemble and clean contacts

When the switch does not always work, the breakage factor is contained rather in the burnt contacts of the switching system. The stages of the repair in this case are as follows:

1. After the automatic power supply is turned off, it is necessary to check again that there is no electricity, for this purpose an indicator screwdriver or a multimeter is installed in the socket.
2. Then it is necessary to pick up the edge of the switch button with a thin narrow screwdriver and dismantle it from the case; the double switch is removed in a similar way. When removing the buttons, there is no need to make efforts, as they are more often removed without difficulty.
3. The next step is also picking up the edge of the plastic frame of the switch body and remove it.
4. Then again use the indicator screwdriver, once again making sure that there is no voltage at the terminals of the device to be dismantled.
5. In the case when the switch is a two-button switch, it is necessary to mark with a marker a wire that supplies electricity and which is common to the two switching modes.
6. In the next step, using a screwdriver, loosen the tightness of the 2 screws located on the edges of the switch body, after which they should be removed from the plastic socket.
7. In the future, insulating tape is wrapped around the exposed leads and the previously disconnected circuit breaker is connected, if necessary, for example, to confirm the fact that the breakdown is contained in the switch.

In the process of disassembling the internal system of the device, it is very important to place all the parts removed from it in order on the table, if the repairman does not have experience in this case, you can take a photo of the switch at each disassembly step.

The contacts to be cleaned are on a plastic base that looks like a hemisphere, they are located under the switch button. They certainly can be found on the distinctive features of soot of dark colors, which appears as a result of sparking and, as a rule, they are also the main cause of failure.

In order to clean the contacts from burning and dirt, you can use a small fine-grained skin.

Switch assembly

After the light switch is repaired, you need to install it in its place, you must perform the same thing, but in reverse order. In case of difficulties, you can use photos, if any, that were made when dismantling the device.

From the very beginning, the wire marked with a marker and then all the remaining wires are connected to one of the terminals. Then they fix the device in the underside and place the frame of the case and the decorating cover in its place.

It often happens that the cover can not be fixed on the base of the device. In this situation, it is necessary to unscrew the bolts that hold the switch body in the socket for a couple of turns, and after fixing all the elements, re-tighten them. In the case of the correct location of the housing switch cover must approach it in the absence of any effort.

Only after finally completing all the repair work on the circuit breaker, it is allowed to turn on the circuit breaker and test the operation of the circuit breaker. In this embodiment, it is advised to check the device a number of times, this will make sure that the arcing is gone and that the switch will work properly.

Reducing the possibility of contact burns is obtained if lighting devices and light bulbs are installed in the room.

Video

Instructions for connecting a two-button switch: