How to disassemble the light switch: a step-by-step master class

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In the operation of domestic networks, switching switches and sockets are used to connect electrical appliances and room lighting. Due to natural aging, emergency conditions and excessive load, circuit breakers can fail. Therefore, the question may often arise about how to disassemble the light switch with your own hands.

Why disassemble the switch?

The most common causes are:

  • Transformation of aesthetic appearance by replacing obsolete models with more modern ones;
  • The appearance of an unpleasant smell of burning from the switch or its excessive heating;
  • The lighting device operating from the switch does not turn on or junk;

Therefore disassembly light switch caused either by some kind of emergency, or its obsolescence. Consider the procedure for disassembling the circuit breaker.

#1. Disconnect voltage

Disable dual machine
Fig. 1: disable dual automatic

The main step, before disassembling the switch, is to remove voltage from all current-carrying elements that are involved in power supply. As with disassembling sockets, the best option for de-energizing is to turn off the input machines. If your machine breaks two wires at once - both phase and zero, then after it is turned off, you can immediately disassemble the switch.

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Disable single machine
Fig. 2: disable single machine

If there is one automatic machine at the input and you don’t know whether it disconnects the phase wire or not, then after switching it, you must use the indicator screwdriver. Which will determine the presence or absence of potential in the network. If the potential is still on the electric wire, it is necessary to disconnect the phase at switchboard or use dielectric gloves and goggles when you disassemble the switch.

If the apartment has its own distribution panel, in which the machines are not signed and you do not know the scheme connection, then turn off each circuit breaker one by one and observe the status of the light bulb when it is turned on switch. If the switch is broken and you do not have the opportunity to apply voltage to the light bulb, use the indicator to check the voltage in neighboring outlets, and if not, turn off the voltage in the apartment completely. Or use dielectric gloves.

Use dielectric gloves
Fig. 3: Use dielectric gloves in case the circuit breaker fails to turn off.

# 2 Remove the keys

In most cases, to disassemble modern switches, it is necessary to dismantle the keys. Since they serve as a decorative panel, hiding the mounting location of the switch itself to a wall or box. In some older models, the dismantling of the key is not required, since their attachment points are located directly on the body, and the key performs only its direct function.

Modern two-gang switch
Fig. 4: modern two-key switch

Look at the picture, here is an example of a two-key switch. In a model with large keys that occupy a significant area of ​​the device, you need to slightly press on one side of the key, locking it in the extreme position, and pull it towards you.

Pull the key towards you
Fig. 5: pull the key towards you

In some switch designs, even a small recess is provided for this, in which it is convenient to put your fingers and the keys are already removed from there.

The key is easily detached
Fig. 6: the key is easily detached

If you cannot pull the key with your fingers or the applied force is insufficient, you can use a flat tool. To remove the key, pry it on the side with an ordinary screwdriver.

Pry the key with a screwdriver
Fig. 7: pry the key with a screwdriver

In this case, be extremely careful, as you can easily damage the key. Of course, that the device being prepared for disposal can not be spared, but in other situations, extreme care must be taken. If necessary, you can pry the key alternately from different sides to ensure its forward movement. In the end, you should delete all the keys.

Keyless switch
Fig. 8: switch without keys

# 3 Remove the cover

In various models, the cover can be fixed with:

  • Mounting screws screwed into the panel;
    Bolt cover
    Fig. 9. Bolt cover
  • Plastic fasteners that are inserted into the corresponding grooves;
  • A special frame that fixes the cover. The frame mount is easily hooked up with a screwdriver.
Frame mount
Fig. 10: frame mount

Look, the frame is fixed using small latches, in this model there are four of them. In order to remove the frame, it is enough to pry two adjacent ones, and the rest can be easily pulled out of the attachment points.

After the decorative cover and key are removed, you can proceed to the removal of the mechanism body itself.

If there is a bolt on the old cover from the outside, disassemble should begin by removing these bolts.

Remove the bolts on the cover.
Fig. 11: unscrew the bolts on the cover

Then proceed to unscrew the housing.

# 4 Remove the case

The most common option in new keyboard switches is a bolt-on mount located on the edges of the case, which locks the entire mechanism in a box. To remove from the housing, the bolts at the attachment points are alternately unscrewed.

Remove the housing bolts
Fig. 12: unscrew the housing bolts

The second fixation option is spring struts, which in addition to mounting in a box also allow you to adjust the angle of rotation of the main unit of the automatic switch. In such a situation, the spacers are loosened with a screwdriver until the switch freely leaves the socket. This is done by unscrewing the bolts.

Loosen struts
Fig. 13: loosen the spacers

In models with bolted housing, you can also see these spacers that allow you to adjust the angle of rotation. But to unscrew them in order to disassemble the device is not necessary.

It should be noted that in the event of a breakdown, a situation is possible when the wires are charred from the mount or they are loose in the crimping places. Then the core may fall out of the box. Such a drop when the voltage is off, although safe from the point of view of electric shock, nevertheless, the main part of the switch may suffer from a drop. Therefore, before removing the mechanism, it is better to support it with your fingers at the time of dismantling.

# 5 Disconnect the wires

After the core of the switch is pulled out of the box, it should remain hanging on the same wires.

Wire core
Fig. 14: core on wires

Therefore, to disassemble it further, disconnect the wiring fastener from the sipes. The supply wires can have a different way of attaching to the lamellas, because of which their disconnection will be different. The most common options are:

  • Fixing with screws - in this case they are simply unscrewed with a screwdriver;
  • Fixing with clamps - in order to disassemble the fastening of the wires, you just need to push on the corresponding levers.
  • Using crimps is a rather old method, it is not used in modern models, since unloading a sleeve is a rather laborious task and its reuse is not always possible.
  • Through twisting - the rules prohibit the use of twisting, but in practice you can easily encounter such a connection. Which often causes a malfunction or failure of the electrical switch.
Disconnect the wires
Fig. 15: disconnect the wires

It should be noted that this procedure should be done carefully so that small parts do not crumble. If your goal was to install a new double switch, you can simply throw away the old one. And if you disassembled the device to fix any malfunction, then after disconnecting the wire, you must inspect it.

# 6 Inspect the switch

If your goal was to identify any malfunctions, carefully inspect the mounting points of the phase leads. Perhaps traces of melting or oxidation will be clearly visible on them. In the presence of thermal destruction of plastic, you can immediately replace the entire switch. Oxidation sites can cause poor contact and must be cleaned.

Due to the fact that its cost is relatively low, it is simply inexpedient to carry out any replacement of parts and attachment points of the case to damaged parts.

There is also the possibility that the switch remained intact, and the electrical wiring suffered from excessive overheating. In such situations, you can observe annealing of live parts, melting of insulation and other damage. These factors will indicate that you may need to replace the wiring or some part of it.

If all parts do not contain any signs of burning, then there may be no contact in the on position. To check for such a malfunction, use a multimeter and check for the presence or absence of contact. In some models, it is enough to simply get to the mechanism and restore its normal operation. Therefore, such a malfunction is quite possible to eliminate by yourself.

Nuances when disassembling various types of switches

  1. Three-key switches are often used to power a large number of spotlights, ceiling lights and other lighting devices. The design of such models is distinguished by rather thin keys. But, as for the two-key, the dismantling of the three-key switch begins with the removal of each of them in turn. To simplify this procedure, many models are equipped with a small rectangular hole at the bottom of the keys, into which a screwdriver can easily fit.
  2. If you want to disassemble the dimmer (adjustable switch with rotary knob). That its dismantling fundamentally no different from the classical model. The only difference is that instead of the keys you have to first remove the knob.
  3. The touch switch is disassembled by removing the outer panel. For this purpose, you can use either an ordinary screwdriver or a special catch, which you can make yourself from the wire, if it is not included. In this case, special care must be taken so that the glass does not crack.
  4. If the switch is paired with a socket, then to dismantle the first, you will need to remove the socket with it. In this case, the cover of the outlet will have to be removed, since under it, often, one of the mounting bolts is hidden.
  5. Feed-through switches have the same design as ordinary ones, and, accordingly, the same dismantling order. The only difference is the number of wires, since the phase is connected in several positions simultaneously.

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