Three Way Switch Switch Replacement Repair Guide

Difficulty

Easy

Steps

Time Required

                          20 - 30 minutes

Sections

Switch
11 steps

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Introduction

What you need

Step 1

              Switch

Locate and turn off the circuit breaker for your switch.
Try to turn the switch to ensure you turn the power off.

Locate and turn off the circuit breaker for your switch.

Try to turn the switch to ensure you turn the power off.

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Step 2

Use the screwdriver to remove the 15mm Flathead screws on the wall plate.
Remove the wall plate from the wall.

Use the screwdriver to remove the 15mm Flathead screws on the wall plate.

Remove the wall plate from the wall.

Step 3

After you wear insulated gloves, gently pull out the switch and use a voltage detector to ensure no power is going to the switch.
Please ensure you wear insulated gloves before this step!

After you wear insulated gloves, gently pull out the switch and use a voltage detector to ensure no power is going to the switch.

Please ensure you wear insulated gloves before this step!

Step 4

Label the black live or load wire which connects to the power or the device and usually on the down position of the switch.
Use the screwdriver to loosen the 5mm Phillips #1 screw so that you can remove the live or load wire from the switch.

Label the black live or load wire which connects to the power or the device and usually on the down position of the switch.

Use the screwdriver to loosen the 5mm Phillips #1 screw so that you can remove the live or load wire from the switch.

Step 5

Label the two traveler wires where the up position is held by gold screws of the old switch.

Label the two traveler wires where the up position is held by gold screws of the old switch.

Step 6

Use the screwdriver to loosen the 5mm Phillips #1 screws so that you can remove these two traveler wires.
After the wires are removed, disconnect the old switch.

Use the screwdriver to loosen the 5mm Phillips #1 screws so that you can remove these two traveler wires.

After the wires are removed, disconnect the old switch.

Step 7

You will find there are one or two wires left in the outlet box.
Ground wire is the bare copper wire.
The white one is the neutral wire that may be in another outlet box.
Please label the neutral wire and the ground wire.

You will find there are one or two wires left in the outlet box.

Ground wire is the bare copper wire.

The white one is the neutral wire that may be in another outlet box.

Please label the neutral wire and the ground wire.

Step 8

Using your new switch, link two traveler wires to the positions with gold screws of the new switch and tighten the 5mm Phillips #1 screws.
Link the live or load wire to the position with a black screw and tighten the 5mm Phillips #1 screw.
Please ensure you link the wires to the correct places.

Using your new switch, link two traveler wires to the positions with gold screws of the new switch and tighten the 5mm Phillips #1 screws.

Link the live or load wire to the position with a black screw and tighten the 5mm Phillips #1 screw.

Please ensure you link the wires to the correct places.

Step 9

If there is a green 5mm Phillips #1 screw on the new switch, please link the ground wire to and tighten it.
For the intelligent switch, there would be a green wire so that you can group the ground wire with the green wire and tighten them with a wire nut.

If there is a green 5mm Phillips #1 screw on the new switch, please link the ground wire to and tighten it.

For the intelligent switch, there would be a green wire so that you can group the ground wire with the green wire and tighten them with a wire nut.

Step 10

There is an extra white wire on the intelligent switch.
Group the neutral wire with the white wire and use the wire nut to tighten them.

There is an extra white wire on the intelligent switch.

Group the neutral wire with the white wire and use the wire nut to tighten them.

Step 11

Turn the power on and check whether the new switch works.
Gently push the wires back to the outlet box while you need to leave some space for the switch.
Secure the new switch with the 10mm Phillips #1 screws.
Finally, secure the wall plate.

Turn the power on and check whether the new switch works.

Gently push the wires back to the outlet box while you need to leave some space for the switch.

Secure the new switch with the 10mm Phillips #1 screws.

Finally, secure the wall plate.

To reassemble your device, follow these instructions in reverse order.

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                    Tao Zhuo

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                       York University, Team S1-G30, Melo-Thaiss Winter 2021                        

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What you need#

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Introduction

What you need

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