Is a single switch sufficient to manage several lamps? This question is reasonable knowing that we usually dedicate a single electrical supply to a single light point.
The answer is yes, however . We will show you how to do this after presenting the reasons for such a project.
The reasons behind such a connection and the tools needed
In some rooms of our home, we may need to turn on all the lighting devices at the same time. In this case, it will be more ideal to provide a single control point. And most importantly , you will save the money that would have been spent on buying several switches.
Besides, it is not always aesthetic to see a whole row of control points on your wall. And when the NF C 15-100 standard allows you to place up to 8 light points on the same 10A circuit breaker, what is stopping you from taking the plunge?
Additionally, the materials you will need consist of these few easily found items :- Lamps to connect
- Wago or domino type connectors
- Junction box
- Cutting and stripping pliers
- Screwdriver
- Extension cords, if necessary
The prerequisites for such an operation
Even if you already have the necessary equipment to carry out your project, you should not start without asking yourself questions about the rules and safety standards to be respected.
As with many electrical work, you should avoid working before making sure that the power supply has been interrupted . This is necessary to avoid an incident that could put your life in danger. This interruption should not consist solely of manually turning off the switch.
The best thing to do is to disconnect the circuit concerned by the project directly from the fuse in the electrical panel. If your installation is older, identifying the correct circuit may be difficult. To be safe from any risk, the best thing to do is to cut off the power by operating the main circuit breaker.
As we have already specified, the NF C 15-100 standard requires not to exceed 8 light points on the same electrical supply . And this is not its only requirement. There is also the obligation to provide the smallest homes, for their lighting, with 2 separate circuits. In addition, the positioning of the switch must be between 90 and 130 cm from the ground.
The actual connection
After having gathered all the tools necessary for the operation and having taken into account the rules and standards to be respected, you can move on to the next step, that of the connection. It will have to start by identifying the different wires . The electric cable connecting the lamp to the electrical supply is in fact made up of 3. The first is the neutral wire (N).
Blue in color, its role is to return the electrical charge to the source. The second is the ground (T). This is a yellow or green wire whose purpose is to send the overload to the ground. The last one is called phase (L). It is a red or black wire dedicated to the conduction of current from the switch to the lighting device.
For such a project, you should avoid making a series connection . Its simplicity should not lead you to condemn the entire circuit in the event of a malfunction of a single lamp . Furthermore, dividing the intensity is unavoidable. This results in weak lighting.
Creating a new parallel connection point is therefore essential for you . It involves the need to use a Wago type connector or a domino. After dismantling the switch, proceed, if necessary, to strip the wires. To connect the wires, follow these instructions:
- Neutral of the lighting device to the neutral of the switch
- Connecting the ground wires together
- The phase of the source at one terminal of the switch, the same for the phase of the lamp
The dominons or Wagos will be used to connect the wires by producing the number of derivations required for the connection of different lamps. They must be placed in a junction box. All you have to do is check that everything is working properly by reassembling the socket.
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