An important role in the interior of the room is performed by chandeliers. They create comfortable and cozy living conditions for the owners, allowing the room to function fully at night or in the evening, as they are sources of artificial light. Five-arm chandeliers are very popular today. They can both decorate any room and create conditions for saving electric energy due to the use of artificial light regulation.
Having made the purchase, it remains to solve the problem associated with its installation, namely, how to properly connect the five-arm chandelier to the electrical system. Sure, you can seek help from specialists, but this will lead to additional financial costs. If this is not possible, then you can independently connect the device.
The most important requirement when performing installation work is the strict observance of the basic safety rule, complete de-energization of the room. The article below will discuss how to connect a five-arm chandelier to a double switch with step-by-step comments.
Characteristics
Five-arm chandeliers are able to illuminate rooms of large areas. When installing 5 lamps having an incandescent rating of 60 watts, the total power output of the lighting device will be 300 watts. A similar amount of power will be enough to illuminate rooms with an area of up to 20 m 2 and a standard ceiling height.
This is a suspended type of lighting product. They are installed in the center of the ceiling plane. Chains and strings that are part of the lighting design are mounted on mounting hooks.
The main structural elements can be made using different materials: metal, all kinds of glass, as well as wood. Horn chandeliers are available in a variety of colors. They can be equipped with shades, lamps in the form of candles, as well as decorated with crystal or glass decor elements. The question of how to connect a five-arm chandelier to a double switch can be decided by the owner of the apartment on their own, without involving paid services of specialists.
Assembly of an electrical product
Before connecting a five-arm chandelier to a double switch, you should carefully read the text of the instruction manual for the product. In it, manufacturers give recommendations on assembling a lighting device and connecting to electrical power.
You should prepare a workplace where you can freely distribute components and necessary tools: a knife, a screwdriver and a set of wrenches. Installation is carried out in the exact sequence of actions specified in the instructions. It should be noted that the installation of shades and lamps is carried out after connecting a five-arm chandelier.
Functional value of wires and a method for determining their voltage
Before connecting a five-arm chandelier to a double switch, you need to deal with the wires - to determine what function each of them performs. So:
- phase - performs the function of delivering alternating current to the device;
- zero - returns current from the consumed object;
- grounding - a conductor that does not carry loads, which is designed to divert excess electrical energy to the ground.
To correctly determine the voltage of the conductor, a special indicator screwdriver or multimeter is required. The most commonly used indicator screwdriver. The method for determining the voltage is quite simple and does not require special knowledge. You should touch the end of the device to the bare core and look at the response of the device:
- phase wire - the indicator lights up;
- zero conductor - there will be no reaction of the indicator, it will not light up.
Conductor marking
You can also distinguish wires by color. Therefore, before you connect a five-arm chandelier with an electrical system, you should understand the marking:
- PE - conductor "grounding". Color designation: yellow-green color.
- L - wire "phase". It may have a different color of the insulating sheath.
- N - wire "zero". The insulation shell is made in blue or blue.
Set of necessary tools
To perform the process of connecting a five-arm chandelier to a double switch, it is necessary to prepare the following tools and materials:
- insulation material, PVC tape;
- electrical pliers and nippers;
- locksmith knife;
- measuring device: indicator screwdriver or multimeter;
- connection block, with several terminals.
- socket;
- two-gang switch.
Determination of voltage of wires exiting a hole in the ceiling
A similar task is faced by those who decide the question of how to connect a five-arm chandelier and a double switch. Two or three wires may be provided on the ceiling. In the event that the wiring was carried out for a very long time, then the wires will not differ in the color of the insulating sheath. But even if the cores differ in color, it is necessary to carry out their determination. This will eliminate the error when connecting the wires. To do this, follow the steps in the following sequence:
- Set the double switch to the “off” position and turn off the machine in the shield.
- We split the wires provided on the ceiling in different directions, which will eliminate their closure.
- We clean the veins.
- We set the switch keys to the “on” position.
- Touch the indicator device to the bare part of the wires.
- We mark the conductor where the indicator device did not light up. It will be a "zero".
- Turn off the switch.
- Turn off the circuit breaker in the electrical panel.
In many new buildings, four conductors come out of the ceiling. And in order not to think about how to properly connect a five-arm chandelier with 4 wires, it is best to gradually ring them with a tester in the above way.
Separation of chandelier wires into groups
From five horns are two wires, differing in the color of insulation. In total, there will be ten wires. Very often they are blue and brown. But it should be remembered that phase wires can have different colors of insulation. Before connecting a five-arm chandelier to a double switch, it is necessary to divide the wires into two groups: phase wires and neutral wires.
Conductors (5 pcs) included in group N (in the diagram below) must be blue. We unite the veins and perform their twisting. It is necessary to exclude the entry into this group of wires of a different color.
We pass to the group of wires L. We divide them into two groups. There are several options for breaking wires: 4 + 1 or 3 + 2. The current flow to each group of the dispersion elements will be carried out when one of the keys is turned on. For example, if the separation option is selected, when in one group there are 2 and in the second 3 wires, including one plate, only two lighting elements will light up, and the rest, respectively, will turn on when you click on the next plate.
If both plates are turned on, all light bulbs will function. We connect the veins of one of the groups and twist them. We carry out similar work with another group of wires. Having completed the distribution of wires, we get three groups: two L and one N.
Preparatory work for installing the product on the ceiling plane
Before connecting a five-arm chandelier to a two-gang switch, it is necessary to suspend a lighting device. To do this, carry out the following work.
Mounting element mounting. In apartments of houses of old buildings, the base of the ceiling is reinforced concrete blocks. In the central part of the ceiling of each room, the builders formed a hole, where they then installed a hook and led out electric wires. Therefore, installing a new chandelier will not be difficult, because there is already a mounting hook.
But still you need to make sure that the installed mount can support the weight of the new lighting fixture. The determination method is quite simple. We hang the load with a mass exceeding the mass of the new chandelier. The best option would be to use a hook on a metal strip, which is inserted into the channel of the reinforced concrete floor.
When you first install the chandelier in the room of a private house building, some work is necessary. To eliminate the risks of a break in a five-arm lighting device, a solid fastening structure must be installed. To do this, you need to install a wooden beam in the attic. Its location should correspond to the installation location of the chandelier on the ceiling. At the center point of the ceiling, you need to prepare a hole for the fastener. We install the hook, fixing it on a wooden beam. The length of the hook can be adjusted with a special tool installed on its thread.
Installation work on the formation of wiring. We form the location of the mounting box and switch. The mounting box is installed in the upper part of the wall plane near the ceiling, and the switch is near the doorway. Then we prepare the groove for laying the copper cable on the surfaces of the wall and ceiling. It is laid from the lamp to the mounting box and to the installation site of the switch. Then we perform the same groove from the box to the electrical panel.
We install the junction box, lay the cable in the prepared route and seal it with a solution. If the room has recently been repaired, you can lay external wiring by masking its cable with the channel into which the cable is laid. We carry out the connection of wires in the installation box. Then we make the necessary isolation of the places from the connection and lay in the plane of the box, avoiding the intersection of the connected wires. Close the lid and fix it.
Two-key switch connection method
After removing the conductors into the sub-socket, arranged in the wall niche, we proceed to the installation, as well as to the connection of the turning-off product:
- Remove the front of the switch housing. After completing this action, you should look at the back of the connection block, where the letter values are applied.
- If the wires are very long, cut them using wire cutters.
- We clean the wires from isolation.
- Lead L is connected to a common contact located at the bottom of the terminal. We carry out its fixation.
- The outgoing conductors L are connected to the upper terminals and fix them.
- We install the switch in the socket.
- We screw the fastening elements located on the sides of the case using a screwdriver.
- We return the cover of the switch to its place, alternately set its keys.
How to connect a five-arm chandelier to a two-gang switch: user manual
Before performing electrical work, you need to install a stepladder and check whether the room is disconnected. The circuit breaker located in the shield must be turned off. To do this, its lever must be set to the “off” position.
Only after this can you start connecting the five-arm lamp:
- We install the chandelier on the fastener.
- We carry out the connection of wires in the block. First of all, we connect the wires that are marked. It will be zero conductors returning current from the chandelier. To do this, insert the bare ends of the connecting cores on both sides of the terminal and tighten them with small screws using a screwdriver.
- In the same block, we connect the remaining wires of the device and the conductors emerging from the ceiling opening. The wires of the electrical appliance, divided into two parts, are connected to the phase wire located on the ceiling plane, in the same way as the marked conductors.
- We fix the adapter connector.
- We install a decorative detail.
- We screw incandescent lamps in five rounds.
- We connect the room to electricity by setting the circuit breaker to the “on” position.
- Perform alternate clicks on the plate. The lamps divided into groups should light up alternately.
- Turn off the keys of the switch.
- Install the lights.
Light scattering elements installed on the chandelier should light up, not blink. Their flashing occurs in the event of a short circuit in the circuit.
Connecting the ground wire
Information on working with the ground wire often arises when deciding how to connect a five-arm chandelier to a double switch. This conductor has a yellow-green insulation color and is designated PE. It is mandatory to be mounted in fixtures having a metal base structure.
In the version when this conductor was used for wiring, a phase, zero and ground wire will come out of the hole in the ceiling. The PE conductor is connected in the terminal block to a similar one from the chandelier. If such a core is absent in the wiring, then PE must be insulated using a PVC tape, and left in the decorative element of the device without connecting to the wires. It does not affect the functionality of the lighting device.
Compliance with the rules for connecting conductors
This is an important point in the matter of how to connect a five-arm chandelier. It is very important during electrical work not to neglect the rules for connecting wires, since the operability of an electrical device will depend on this. Experienced craftsmen give the following tips:
- When connecting several cores of the lamp into a general twist, it is necessary to solder the connection using a soldering iron and tin, which will eliminate the oxidation of the contacts, and they will not heat up.
- Connect the conductors using a terminal block. It can be purchased at retail outlets.
- If a group of twisted wires does not extend into the terminal strip hole, then the soldering method can be used. For this, a copper wire with a cross section of at least 0.5 mm 2 is required. Its length is a maximum of 10 cm. Solder it to the connected wires and insulate the connection. Insert the end of the soldered core into the terminal strip.
- Before installing the product, insert the groups of its wires into the plane of the terminal block and tighten the small screws. The wire of the zero switch must be installed in the terminal opposite the installed group of zero wires of the chandelier. Accordingly, phase wires opposite to phase.
You can connect a five-arm chandelier to both a single switch and a double one yourself. It is important to strictly follow the recommendations of the lighting manufacturer and the above instructions. The main thing in working with electricity is the complete de-energization of the room during the installation work.