Your switches are damaged, poorly recessed or no longer suited to your decor ?
Learning how to change switches yourself saves you having to call an electrician and all the expense that goes with it.
By taking the right precautions, it's within everyone's reach.
At home, it is very useful to know how to do some small DIY tasks.
Changing a switch is one of those useful little tricks to know to avoid spending money unnecessarily; and no need for an electrician's CAP to achieve this.
• Flat head screwdriver
• New switch with its case and cover. (Choose an automatic switch, your bill will be reduced)
• A utility knife
• A universal clamp
Before you begin, the electricity should be turned off. To take no risk, turn off the electricity to the whole house directly on the main circuit breaker.
1. Remove the switch to be replaced
• Using your flat-head screwdriver, disengage the switch cover by levering it up. It is just "clipped", it will not damage it.
• It is now necessary to unscrew the electrical box. This is held by 2 screws on each side of the switch. All you have to do is unscrew them.
2. Disconnect the wires
- Pull slightly on the case so that you can turn it over and access the wires behind it.
- If your switch is a classic switch, it has 2 wires. The red which corresponds to the phase and which is connected to the electrical panel, and the other which is connected to the lighting.
- The "back and forth" switches have 3 wires:the red which corresponds to the phase, the blue to the neutral, and the green and yellow to the ground.
- Before disconnecting the wires, check how they are connected because they will have to be reconnected in the same way. My trick is to take a photo with my phone.
- To disconnect the wires, either unclip them or gently unscrew them.
3. Install the new switch
• Strip the wires with the cutter on 7 to 8 mm.
• Prepare the wires:to do this, use the universal pliers to "twist" the ends of the bare wires in order to make them fit easily into the new switch.
• Take the new casing and screw the wires in all the way. Pay attention to the connection of the wires. Connect red to P (as phase) and blue to N (as neutral). After screwing, check that there is no play for optimal connection.
• All you have to do is reposition the new box in the wall and screw in the screws on each side of the switch.
• Clip the cover, and you're done.
You can find them in all the specialized supermarkets, but they are not necessarily close by.
To order it online, we have found a specialized and inexpensive website for you:RadioSpares. They have additional promotions, so take a good look to choose your switch. The only difficulty is that these are spare parts, which can take a little time to choose.
And you, do you change your switches yourself? Share your experience in comments.
