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Simple Wall Switch RepairBy Jim Sulski Summary: Replacing an electric wall switch is an inexpensive project which you can do yourself with these instructions. While home repair of an electrical system can be a tricky as well as dangerous job, there are a couple of projects that the typical do-it-yourselfer can aptly handle
For example, tasks such as replacing a broken wall switch or an old or broken wall receptacle are not as difficult as they might seem. This week will look at wall switches. Simple tools will do the job and basic replacement fixtures usually cost less than a dollar. An electrical tester will also help immensely. A couple of caveats: Whenever working with electricity, be certain that the power is off to the circuit you're working on. In addition to flipping the circuit breaker to off, or removing the fuse, test the circuit with an electrical tester (see below) or plug a lamp into it to make sure it is not receiving power. Also, if the house wiring is decrepit - say it begins to crumble apart in your hands or is so brittle that it constantly breaks - call in a professional to replace it. Light switches tend to fail with repeated usage. Replacement of a simple switch, however, can take less than an hour for even the novice. Start by shutting off the power to the circuit the light is on at the fuse box or circuit breaker box. Then, remove the switch plate cover from the light switch, which is usually held down by a couple of screws in the face of the plate. Put the plate and screws aside, taking care not to loose the small screw. Underneath will be the electrical box containing the switch. At the top and bottom of the box you'll find two mounting screws holding down the switch in the box. Loosen them so that you can easily pull the switch out of the box but don't touch the sides of the switch yet. On the side of the switch should be two brass screws. Two screws only identify the switch as a single-pole switch. It's the only switch that controls the light. If the light is controlled by more than one switch - say one at the top and bottom of a staircase - there will be additional screws on the side of the switch. There might also be a small green terminal screw on the switch that's dedicated to a ground wire, which may be connected to a screw in the back of the metal switch box. Use the tester to be absolutely certain that there is no power going to the circuit. Test the tester first on an receptacle still receiving power to make sure it's working. Don't test it on a receptacle that might be on the same circuit and is also not receiving power. Then, touch one of the tester's probes to a terminal screw on the side of the switch, and the other probe to the metal box that houses the switch. If the tester light goes on, it means the switch is still getting power. Again, make sure the power to the switch is shut off. If there are only two wires connected to the switch, disconnect them by loosening the terminal screws and remove the old switch. Insert the new switch so that the toggle points down when the switch is off. Then, connect the wires to the new switch (it doesn't matter which terminal), using long nose pliers to position the bare ends of the wires clockwise around the screw shafts. Then, tighten the screws, making sure that none of the bare wire is exposed. That could cause a short circuit. Wrap the sides of the switch with electrical tape, covering the screws. This helps guard against a short circuit. If the old switch had a ground wire running from it, you can go ahead and reconnect the ground wire to the new switch. Otherwise, the new switch will be self-grounding. Then, carefully reinstall the switch in the box and use the screws at top and bottom to lock it in place so that it is straight (test the alignment by using the switch plate as a guide). Next, turn the power back on and test the switch to make sure it's functioning. If all goes well, reattach the switch plate. If there's more than one wire coming off the switch, mark each wire's position on the switch by attaching a small piece of tape to each cable. Then, remove the wires as described above and put the new switch in place. Connect the wires in their appropriate places to the new switch.
© by Jim Sulski. All rights reserved. March 8, 2005. NOTE: This column is distributed by Real Estate Matters Syndicate, PO Box 366, Glencoe, Illinois, 60022. This column may not be resold, reprinted, resyndicated or redistributed without written permission from the publisher. © 2005 by Ilyce R. Glink. Distributed by Real Estate Matters Syndicate. |
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