Light Switch Replacement Repair Guide

Difficulty

Moderate

Steps

Time Required

                          20 minutes

Sections

Light Switch
6 steps

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Better Introduction

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Introduction

What you need

Step 1

              Light Switch

Locate the breaker box in your house. This is typically either in the garage or the basement.
Open the breaker box.
Turn off the breaker that corresponds to the circuit of the switch that is to be replaced.

Locate the breaker box in your house. This is typically either in the garage or the basement.

Open the breaker box.

Turn off the breaker that corresponds to the circuit of the switch that is to be replaced.

1024

Step 2

Remove the face-plate from the light switch by unscrewing the two 7.9mm oval head slotted screws with the 3/16" slotted screwdriver until the plate comes away freely.
Optional: Touch the voltage detector to the screws holding the wires to the sides of the light switch to test for voltage.
Flip light switch on and off to ensure no electricity is flowing through the switch.
Even though power is not flowing, be careful touching bare wire and test accordingly with the voltage detector.

Remove the face-plate from the light switch by unscrewing the two 7.9mm oval head slotted screws with the 3/16" slotted screwdriver until the plate comes away freely.

Optional: Touch the voltage detector to the screws holding the wires to the sides of the light switch to test for voltage.

Flip light switch on and off to ensure no electricity is flowing through the switch.

Even though power is not flowing, be careful touching bare wire and test accordingly with the voltage detector.

Step 3

Remove the light switch from the housing by unscrewing the 25.4mm flat head Phillips screws at the top and bottom of the switch, using a Phillips #1 screwdriver.
Gently pull the light switch out of the housing.

Remove the light switch from the housing by unscrewing the 25.4mm flat head Phillips screws at the top and bottom of the switch, using a Phillips #1 screwdriver.

Gently pull the light switch out of the housing.

Step 4

Pull the old switch out from the box far enough that its connections can be clearly seen.
Confirm that the new switch has all the same contacts (screws) as the old switch, with matching colors.

Pull the old switch out from the box far enough that its connections can be clearly seen.

Confirm that the new switch has all the same contacts (screws) as the old switch, with matching colors.

Step 5

Take note of the existing wiring since the new switch will need to be wired in exactly the same configuration.
There are different ways of wiring switches and your wires may differ from those depicted in number and color. However, if your new switch matches your old switch, simply reconnecting the wires as they were connected to the old switch will ensure proper function.
Unscrew the screws on both sides of the the light switch until the wires may be unhooked. If necessary, these screws may be fully removed to prevent the straightening of the wire loops.

Take note of the existing wiring since the new switch will need to be wired in exactly the same configuration.

There are different ways of wiring switches and your wires may differ from those depicted in number and color. However, if your new switch matches your old switch, simply reconnecting the wires as they were connected to the old switch will ensure proper function.

Unscrew the screws on both sides of the the light switch until the wires may be unhooked. If necessary, these screws may be fully removed to prevent the straightening of the wire loops.

Step 6

Unhook the wires from the screws.
These wires will be stiff, do not unbend and straighten out the wires.
Begin connecting the wires to the new switch according to the wiring configuration of the original switch.
Push the switch into the housing and begin reassembling.

Unhook the wires from the screws.

These wires will be stiff, do not unbend and straighten out the wires.

Begin connecting the wires to the new switch according to the wiring configuration of the original switch.

Push the switch into the housing and begin reassembling.

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

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                    Bobby Le Nguyen

Member since: 01/30/2019

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                       Eastern Washington University, Team S27-G17, Munoz Winter 2019                        

                                                  Member of Eastern Washington University, Team S27-G17, Munoz Winter 2019 



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