Making a feed-through switch with your own hands

Every detail matters when it comes to insulation and heating. The feed-through switch, an essential part that regulates the flow of electricity to heating systems, is one feature that is frequently disregarded. Although it might appear like a difficult task best left to experts, with the correct advice and resources, you can easily make a feed-through switch on your own.

In addition to saving money, building your own feed-through switch improves your knowledge of the heating system in your house. With a little do-it-yourself creativity, you can customize the switch to fit your needs exactly and guarantee peak performance.

We’ll guide you through the process of creating a feed-through switch from scratch step-by-step in this article. Everything will be covered, from choosing the appropriate materials to wiring it properly, making it an easy project even for inexperienced do-it-yourselfers.

Making a through switch with your own hands

Not many people are aware that light sources can be controlled from various locations. This holds true for expansive living rooms and bedrooms, as well as lengthy hallways, passageways, or interior staircases. Not having to go back to the switch to turn off the light is convenient. A typical, unaltered switch lacks this feature. Toggle switches and duplicate switches are other names for feed-through switches. The secret is that you cannot purchase or manufacture this device yourself.

Design of the room’s switch arrangement

Difference between a simple switch and a feed-through switch

A simple switch differs from a feed-through switch in that the latter has three electrical contacts with a switching mechanism between them. In addition to the main convenience – the ability to turn off the light from different remote points, the use of such a switch allows you to significantly save electricity, and this is an undoubted plus. A three-core wire is laid in the groove or outside between the switches. When connecting two-key pass-through switches, there should be two such wires. Few apartments have such wiring, so to equip the house with such a switch, you need to lay the wire at the stage of repair work, or hollow out the wall anew for three-core cables. All kinds of lamps can be used as light sources, from LED to incandescent bulbs. In addition to lamps, it is also possible to connect other electrical appliances that need to be controlled from different locations, such as a boiler, using this scheme.

Varieties of feed-through switches

• Single-key switch (with or without illumination)
• Two-key (backlit or not)
• Three-key
• Intermediate
• Surface-mounted
• Built-in

There are two drawbacks to these mechanisms:

1. It is impossible to tell from the buttons what position the device is in.
2. The light cannot be switched on simultaneously at several points.

Wiring diagram for two-point control

The scheme is simple enough for anyone to understand; all they need to do is know how to hold a screwdriver. The quantity of connection terminals and wires that need to be run are the only differences. The switch is wired such that when the zero is fed to it, the phase goes to it and not the light source. A junction box and two feed-through switches of the same size are required. The junction box receives the lamp cable and the switch’s three-core cable. It is not possible to turn on two lights at once.

Feed-through switch connection for a single lighting point

Step-by-step guide

Phase connection in step one. From the junction box, the phase is led to the first switch’s input contact.

Step 2: The electrical contacts on both outputs are docked with comparable electrical contacts on a different mechanism.

Step 3: Attach the second switch’s input electrical contact to the lamp’s connecting wire.

Step 4: Connect the second wire from the lamp to the junction box’s zero.

Crucial! The power of lighting devices is taken into consideration when purchasing switching cable.

This is how the fixtures are switched out.

Wiring diagram for three-point control

Three points of control for light sources are sometimes required. For instance, in hallways, large rooms, and stairwells. If the cross switches are utilized in addition to the through switches, this scheme can also be put into practice. Two pairs of one-step switching electrical contacts are formed by their four contacts, two of which are input and two of which are output. Electric wires with four cores are required for this type of wiring.

In addition to feed-through switches, cross-over switches are also employed.

The installation of this scheme is carried out in this sequence:
Step 1. Through switches are installed and three-core wires are led out of them.
Step 2. Luminaires that will be used in parallel are fixed in place, and their wires are brought to the box.
Step 3. A box is installed in a convenient place, in which all the communications are brought in. Due to the large number of electrical wires, switching is quite complex, so it is important to understand their labeling at once.
The connection looks like this:
The input pair of electrical contacts of the first on/off switch is connected to the electrical wires going to the second pair of parallel cross-over switches, and so in series up to the luminaire. The phase is brought to the input electrical contact of the first switch, and the second wire of the lighting fixture – to the zero of the mounting box. Three-core cables are run to the already screwed through switches, and four-core cables to the crossing switches.

Visit this link to learn about safety precautions and standards for installing switches and sockets in apartments: https://aqua-rmnt.com/ehlektrosnabzhenie/ustanovka-rozetok-i-vyiklyuchateley.html.

Are you trying to upgrade the insulation and heating in your house? A clever method of improving energy efficiency is to install a feed-through switch. With the help of this straightforward gadget, you can manage the power in particular locations, saving energy and cutting down on your utility costs. You can easily make your own feed-through switch if you have a few basic tools and a bit of do-it-yourself spirit. This upgrade will not only improve the efficiency of temperature regulation in your house, but it will also help create a more sustainable and greener living space. To begin this energy-saving project, simply follow our step-by-step instructions!

Wiring without using a wiring box

Switches can also be connected without the need for a junction box.

Two choices are available:

1. Use of impulse relays. In cases where the switchboard is located within the apartment and there is room for a module, a pulse relay is installed on the DIN rail. The switches themselves are connected in parallel, and the wires from them and from the light source are led directly into the electrical panel. The load will be controlled by the relay, and the current does not flow to the switch itself, so you can choose a smaller cross-sectional wire. In case there is no space in the switchboard, you can buy a relay for a sub socket or a mounting box in the ceiling.
2. Using feed-through switches. They close and open the phase wire from the chuck of the lighting fixture, and a current flows through their contacts, which requires a wire corresponding to the load. But instead of a junction box, all communications (power from the switchboard, the lighting fixture wire and from the second switch) are brought into the sub-socket that comes first. It should be made deeper than the normal one. For example, cut out the bottom of a standard box to accommodate the twists of all the wires. Ground and zero wires from the electric box are connected to the zero and ground of the lamp, insulated and hidden in the socket. The phase of the lamp is connected to the phase of the second socket and insulated there as well. All other wires are connected to the switch terminals.

Video: How to connect a feed-through switch

You need a backlight in order to locate the switch with ease in the dark. These devices can be connected by you, and they are sold in specialty stores. You can read our article at https://aqua-rmnt.com/ehlektrosnabzhenie/kak-podklyuchit-vyiklyuchatel-s-podsvetkoy.html to find out how to do it.

How to make a pass-through switch from an ordinary switch

We buy two switches from the same company, one with one key and the other with two. Using switches made for open wiring is more convenient. One purchases a model of switch that allows the terminals to be switched in order to turn a regular switch into a pass-through switch. As a result, the circuits will be able to open and close on their own. As a result, one circuit will be turned on in one position and another in the other. Instead of using two keys, the front panel is equipped with a single key, and the pass-through switch is operational.

Installing a feed-through switch in your house can be a worthwhile and economical project. It gives you the freedom to simply regulate the flow of electricity throughout your home. Even for individuals with only rudimentary DIY knowledge, this project can be completed fairly easily with the correct supplies and tools.

It’s important to comprehend the fundamentals of electrical wiring and safety precautions before beginning. Before beginning any electrical project, make sure to always turn off the main power supply. Make sure everything is connected correctly by using insulated tools and adhering to a step-by-step instruction manual. To avoid mishaps and prolong the life of your electrical system, safety should always come first.

Never forget that it’s always a good idea to consult with a professional electrician if you’re unsure about any step or lack experience. They can offer advice, review your work, and make sure everything complies with safety regulations. You’ll have peace of mind and a dependable feed-through switch that meets the needs of your house if you take the time to complete the task correctly.

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