Three-way Switch Replacement

ID: 140172

Description: A three-way switch is a common type of light...

Steps:

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

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

5. While wearing insulated gloves, gently pull out the switch and use a Duspol or any other Voltmeter to test if there is voltage at the contacts.
6. You can also use a single pole phase tester, but that's not the proper way to do it.
7. Do not work on live circuits if you are not an experienced professional.

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

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

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

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

17. 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.
18. Link the live or load wire to the position with a black screw and tighten the 5mm Phillips #1 screw.
19. Please ensure you link the wires to the correct places.

20. If there is a green 5mm Phillips #1 screw on the new switch, please link the ground wire to and tighten it.
21. 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.

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

24. Turn the power on and check whether the new switch works.
25. Gently push the wires back into the outlet box.
26. You’ll also need to leave some space for the switch.
27. Secure the new switch with the 10mm Phillips #1 screws.
28. Finally, secure the wall plate.