An obligatory part of each repair is the connection of the chandelier to the lighting wiring. Even without paying attention to the fact that all the manipulations are connected with electrical circuits, anyone can cope with the task. The most important thing is to adhere to the stipulated rules, and then the work can be implemented independently at the proper level. Next, we consider how to properly connect the chandelier with your own hands without errors.
The most important requirements
Before you start connecting the chandelier to 2 switches, you need to familiarize yourself with all the basic conditions when dealing with electrical appliances. Moreover, if working with electricity is not a fundamental type of work, it is not necessary to study all the documentation. It is enough to familiarize yourself with the following elementary rules:
- all tools that are planned to be used during operations with electrical wiring must have high-quality insulation of the handles;
- it is best that all work is done exclusively on dead wires;
- installation of the switch for lighting is required to be carried out only in the gap of the phase wire.
When connecting a chandelier to 2 switches, all of the listed rules must be taken into account. They should not be neglected, as this can lead to irreparable consequences.
Wiring diagram
Before connecting the chandelier to 2 switches, you need to purchase a cable with three wires. It is necessary, because with this connection, one wire goes from the junction box, and the other two are required to connect the lamp.
If you do not know how to connect the chandelier to 2 switches correctly, then you should not worry about this, since all work is performed according to the same rules as connecting an ordinary lamp.
Reverse polarity severity
Many people think that installing a switch can be done on any wire. This opinion is fundamentally wrong. This is explained by the fact that if the switch breaks the neutral conductor, then the current does not pass through the chandelier lamps, but there is a phase potential on all the wires, and this, in turn, threatens to damage the current during the work.
Another unpleasant moment in a similar situation is that with this kind of connection, the lamps can dimly illuminate the room or flicker in the idle position.
Instruments
Before you connect the chandelier to 2 switches, you need to worry about the availability of proper important tools. These include screwdrivers, insulating tape, side cutters, indicator screwdrivers, pliers, a gauge and a sharp knife.
With most tools, everyone has long been familiar. Things are slightly different with measuring instruments, which can be either digital or switch. Experts prefer to use digital measuring devices, as they provide accuracy and are protected from overloads.
Wire marking
When connecting the chandelier to the 2-key switch, you will need to have an idea of the wire marking, which greatly facilitates the work, since the need to ring the wires is eliminated.
On some cords you can see the markings yellow with a green stripe. She says that this conductor is specifically designed for grounding. This conductor is strictly forbidden to use to connect devices. If the cord is marked with a blue or blue color, then this indicates that it is zero. Phase conductors can be marked with any other color than those listed above.
When connecting a chandelier to 2 switches, most often there are difficulties in households with old wiring, since in those days the wires were not marked in any way and they were all the same color. In this case, before starting work, you will certainly need to ring the wires.
Dialing wiring
Before connecting the chandelier to the 2-key switch, it is necessary to check the correct inclusion. The indicator screwdriver must indicate the presence of phase on one of the conductors in an open position. If the phase cannot be found, then this means that when connecting the switch, a mistake was made or a problem appeared in the junction box.
At least two wires should exit the chandelier. One of them must be zero, and the other - phase from the switch. If you plan to connect a multi-path chandelier, then the number of wires can be increased.
Determine the purpose of the wires is allowed using an indicator screwdriver. If the switch is on, then the voltage must be in only one of the wires. You can determine which cord suits the assigned key by turning them on one by one.
Wire connection
The wires from the chandelier to the lighting wiring are allowed to be connected by twisting, soldering or specialized terminal blocks. The most high-quality and durable way is considered to be soldering, but it is used very rarely. This is because it is very difficult to perform it at a height and in a limited space.
Twisting can only be done if the wires have the same diameter. It is strictly forbidden to twist between one-core and multi-core wires, as well as copper with aluminum. If all conditions for twisting are met, then the place of twisting will need to be wrapped with insulating tape or use insulating caps.
The most optimal and most common is the connection of wires using terminals. Currently, stores have a huge selection of terminals.
Application
When connecting a chandelier to a double switch, it becomes possible to alternately use a group of lamps or connect the device to full power. If a person does not know how to connect a chandelier to 2 switches, you should not worry about this. This is nothing complicated. Since the two-key switch consists of a pair of one-key, which are equipped in a single case, their connection diagram is almost similar.
Before you connect a chandelier to 2 switches, you first need to get acquainted with its design features and with all the elements connected to the electrical network.
Actions in case of mismatch to the required type of switch or chandelier
There are situations when more wires are exiting from a double switch than necessary, and a person does not know how to connect a chandelier to 2 switches in this case. Do not immediately panic. In this case, the optimal solution to the problem is to replace the switch and leave some of the wires free.
Also, sometimes the question arises of how to divide a chandelier into 2 switches, if it is simple. In this case, it is necessary to combine the wires that come from the various keys. Their combination can be carried out both in the switch itself and on the ceiling immediately before the connection block. In this case, the chandelier will turn on any of the keys, and to turn it off you need to have all the keys in the idle position.
What if the number of keys is less than the conductors on the chandelier?
If there is no desire to restore all wiring, then in this case, you can combine all the individual groups of lamps into one. In extreme variations, it is allowed to use several switches, but only on condition that this allows wiring.
Recently, the most common question: how to connect a chandelier with 2 switches with a remote control? In such an environment, everything will depend on the number of bulbs that are connected to the switch.
The specifics of connecting the wires in the chandelier
Purchasing the latest lighting fixtures and seeing an abundance of cords in them, many are wondering how to make a chandelier with 2 switches and make connections of these contacts.
As practice shows, many chandeliers, especially those made in China, often do not have the required connections. In this case, before you pick up the chandelier with 2 switches, you definitely need to know how many separate groups of bulbs are planned. All of them, which will be part of one group, must be connected in parallel, and twisted wires of the same color together. Such manipulations are required to be carried out with each group of bulbs.
After this, it is necessary to combine among themselves all the wires from each group that are blue marked, and output one wire from them, which subsequently needs to be connected to the neutral conductor. All remaining wires are output and connected to the circuit breaker wires.
Connection
When acquiring a five-arm lighting device, the question arises of how to assemble a chandelier for 2 switches with your own hands. Connection will be no more complicated than it would have to do with any other chandelier.
In order to connect a five-arm chandelier, it is necessary to split the groups, each of which will have two or three lamps. After that, all the manipulations will be identical. All wires that are inside the chandelier must be connected and properly insulated. If you use special terminals, then in this case, installation work will be greatly simplified.
Grounding
Modern buildings without fail are equipped with special wiring with grounding conductors. This is done in accordance with existing rules and regulations.
As mentioned earlier, such wiring is marked in yellow-green. For a chandelier with two groups of lamps, four wires will come out of the ceiling. If the chandelier is equipped with iron elements, then in this case, you should use a special terminal for connecting the ground. When connecting this type of design, it is also important to ground on the chandelier. If upon purchase of such a lighting device, there was no terminal in the kit, then the ground wire is generally not allowed to be connected. The most important thing is to insulate it qualitatively and hide it under the chandelier body. It is advisable to do this qualitatively. Reliable insulation avoids the risk of short circuits. You should also hide the wires as well as possible under the body of the lighting element. High-quality installation of the chandelier will allow not only to give lighting to the room, but also to make its interior special (in particular, when it comes to design models).
Common mistakes
When connecting a chandelier to a double switch, sometimes people without experience in this field make certain mistakes. The most common of these are the following:
- Any chandelier connection circuit has a phase that comes in the junction box. Then it falls to the input contact, disconnects and returns to the wiring with other wires, going directly to the ceiling. The peculiarity is that zero should come into the box and then go to the chandelier, while not dropping to the switch. This is the most common mistake of novice electricians and amateurs who, by inexperience, confuse the markings and lower both phase and zero to the switch. This leads to the fact that while turning on the key knocks the machine. In order to prevent such a mistake, it is always necessary to remember that in no case zero should go into the switch, but go immediately to the ceiling.
- The following error is related to zero. There are situations when two wires are confused with each other and a zero is entered through the switch, and not a phase, as it should be. In such a situation, it is possible that the lighting device will still function, but the voltage in it will change continuously. This inattention can lead to very unpleasant consequences (such as electric shock during the change of the bulb).
- The following error occurs as a result of connecting the phase conductor on the switch not to the main common contact, but to one of the outgoing ones. Such an error will lead to the fact that only one half of the lighting device will work. Such erroneous actions can also be detected by the disappearance of the operability of the backlight of the switch. If the diode backlight suddenly stops working, then this is the first sign that an error was made during the connection.
- Sometimes apartment owners when connecting a chandelier are faced with real mysticism. They initially assemble the entire circuit correctly, but after a certain time they discover that it is not the phase that passes through the switch, but zero. In this situation, a lot of questions arise. The answer is very simple. Sometimes during the repair work of the general wiring, the electricians involved in their work change the meter or initially perform the actions incorrectly. Unfortunately, no one is safe from such situations, especially when it comes to multi-story housing.
The whole process of preparing and connecting the chandelier to the power of the double switch is very simple. The most important thing in this situation is to adhere to certain recommendations and carefully handle the wires. Unfortunately, no one is safe from mistakes, especially for inexperienced masters. In order to avoid them, it is necessary to correctly and extremely carefully carry out all the stages of installation and clearly follow the diagram. Before starting work, it is imperative that you carefully look at the instructions that came with the chandelier, which shows all the technical parameters, as well as a detailed diagram and procedure for connecting all the wires. In this case, you can protect yourself from unpleasant consequences not only during the performance of work, but also with the direct operation of the lighting device. If you are not confident in your abilities and experience in working with electricity, it is best to seek the qualified help of electricians who professionally and efficiently perform all the required work. In this case, you can save yourself and others from problems during operation.