There are three kinds of switches in your home. A single pole, three way and a four way. The single pole is by far the easiest and I have explained how to install it in an older blog. If you scroll down and look on the right you will find it in the archives. The three way is what I will be explaining today. I will definitely be explaining the most confusing one soon, THE FOUR WAY.
The three way switch
If you have any questions please ask in the comment link below, I will answer them to the best of my ability, also if you have future projects that you would like step by step instructions please post in the comment box I will usually answer the same day.
A three way switch is a switch that is used in conjunction with other switches to turn on the same lights or lights. Now if you have 2 switches and only 2 switches turning on the same lights or light you definitely have 3way switches. IF YOU ARE NOT SURE DO NOT ASSUME!!! If there is a third switch controlling the same group of lights or light one of the switches is a 4way switch and you will purchase the wrong switch, it won't work and you will be mad at me. The best thing to do is to check first. To do this follow these steps.
1) Tools.
a) Thin flat head screw driver
b) Phillips head screw driver
c) drill(optional)
d) wire strippers(maybe)
e) ac tester
f) electrical tape
2) Shut the power off to the switch. If your old switch still works (yes people change switches that still work) turn it on. Go to your panel (your panel has the breakers or the fuses in it) and turn the breakers off one by one. Changing a switch is a one man job but if you want to avoid running back a forth another person standing there and yelling at you when the light shuts off helps. Or shutting all the breakers off and the main just to be sure is what I would recommend. This is electricity SAFETY FIRST!!!!!
3) Remove the plate cover from the switch. This will be the easiest part of your project. On the top and bottom of the switch there will be small screws. You will need the thin flat head screwdriver to remove these. If the location you are installing the switch has multiple switches you will need to remove all the plate screws. Then remove the plate and place the screws and the plate together for replacing later. Do not lose those little screws believe me they are easy to lose.
4) Remove the switch from the wall. OK the fun part. Take a drill or a Phillips head screw driver and take out the screws on the top and bottom of the switch. Now grab the yoke of the switch(that's the top and bottom of the switch) do not grab the switch by the side we want to be sure the power is off and the only way to do this is to pull out the switch. The power is located on the side so if you grab it by the sides and for some reason the power is still on you will get shocked. This is electricity SAFETY FIRST!!!!! So grab the yoke and pull out the switch. If you are in a box with multiple switches you may need to remove multiple switches to be able to pull your switch out far enough to easily work on it. Wires commonly get stuck behind other switches so take the extra step you will wind up doing it anyway after trying to work with short wires and fail. Trust me I tried too.
5) Check and make sure power is turned off!!!! This is the most important part of this project. Your tester should have a black and red lead on it. Set your tester to 120v ac and place one lead on one of the screws of the switch and the other lead on the metal box. If you don't have a metal box then you definitely have romex and you will have bare wires in the box. These bare wires are your ground, place your other lead on the bare wires. If you do not have a metal box or bare wires Stop and call an electrician, we need to ensure the power is off. I'm sorry but we don't want anyone getting hurt. While keeping your one lead on either the box or the bare wires place the other lead on each screw ensuring that your meter shows no power. I don't want to scare anyone but it does hurt when you get shocked and most importantly it can kill you. Electricity is fun for me and I work with it everyday but you probably don't, so be careful.
6) Decide what kind of switch you have. A three way switch is pretty easy to identify. It has three screws with three wires connected to it. Just because you have 3 screws doesn't mean you have a three way switch in operation there. All three screws have to have wires on them, sometimes people by the wrong switch and put it in anyway. Its a waste of money but it happens. I've done it when I didn't have a single pole and I didn't have time to go get at the store and the only thing i had was a three way. Anyway if your switch has three screws with 2 wires you have a single pole so take a look at the blog on single post in my archive. If you already have the switch skip to #8 if you don't put the switch back in for safety never leave wires exposed for other people to play with. This is electricity SAFETY FIRST!!!!!
7) Go to the store and buy the switch. Your ready to buy the switch. This is the easiest and for some people the most frustrating. Do yourself a favor and look at the switch before you buy it. I don't know how many times I went out and bought a switch that was in the wrong bin. I get all the way back and then I decide to look at it turn around and go back to the store. Don't think because its in a box that says three way you have a three way. People take out the switches and put them in the wrong box. Believe me it has happened to me plenty of times in the past, but not anymore, i check. Also your new switch will not say "ON" or "OFF" on it, that's a single pole.
8) Identify your wires. On a three way switch there are 2 travelers and an odd ball wire. I am not going to explain how this works in this article just the replacement today. That will be a full article in its self. An easy way to identify this is by looking at your switch. You should have 2 silver screws and 1 black screw. The wire on the black screw is the wire that we are going to mark with your electric tape. Mark it before you take the wires off the switch. If you don't have a black screw on your switch look in your box. Are 2 wires coming from the same pipe or romex and 1 wire coming from a different pipe or romex. The odd ball is your odd ball mark it.
9) Remove the wires from the switch. Unscrew the the screws over the wires and remove the wires from the switch.
10) Connecting the new switch. Pick up your switch and make sure it is a three way switch. Hold it with your left hand so the screws face up and the decorative side is facing you. Take the marked wire and wrap it around the black screw, make sure the wire is completely under the screw and tighten. You may need to strip a little more insulation off the wire to get a good loop around the screw. Sometimes the loop is too long and you may need to shorten the exposed copper on your wire. If you need to make a new loop this is how you do it. Strip about an inch of exposed copper on your wire. To make a good loop your strippers usually have a small hole near the teeth of the tool. Place the wire half way into the hole and bend, that should give you a nice loop. Take the remaining wires and wrap it around the remaining screws and tighten.
11) Installing the new switch. Your switch at this point should be facing you. There is no upside down here so carefully push the switch into the position. While pushing the switch in the wires should be pushed in so they fall easily into the box. It takes practice so get the wires in there so it doesn't look like a knot. The two screws on the switch's yoke should be lined up with the holes on the top and bottom of the box. Screw the top one in almost all the way. Now screw in the bottom one so the yoke touches the drywall. Finish screwing in the top screw so the the switch is snug to the drywall. Do not over tighten just snug. This probably made the bottom one lose so make that one snug too.
12) Finishing. Put the plate back on. Please for me make sure your screws are all facing the same way on your plate(i know but its a pet peeve) If your box has multiple switches you may need to slide your switch left or right to get the plate on. Turn the power on because you just finished installing your first switch. Enjoy
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John
Check your state and local codes before starting any project. Follow all safety precautions. Every effort has been made to ensure accuracy and safety. I can not be held responsible for damages or injuries resulting from the use of the information in this document.
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