DIY A Two Way Switch Practical Approach

in steemstem •  7 years ago  (edited)

light-switch.jpg
Image Source
In electrical engineering , a switch is an
electrical component that can "make" or "break" an electrical circuit , interrupting the
current or diverting it from one conductor to another.The mechanism of a switch removes or restores the conducting path in a circuit when it is operated. It may be operated manually, for example, a light switch or a keyboard button, may be operated by a moving object such as a door, or may be operated by some sensing element for pressure, temperature or flow. A switch will have one or more sets of contacts, which may operate simultaneously, sequentially, or alternately.
Source

There are various types of switches. We have the one gang one way switch, one gang two way switch, etc.
Have you ever entered a house and you discovered you can switch on and off the light in the building from two different switches? Or have you heard of a bed switch?

A two way switch is important in areas where you have two exits, or on a corridor, or a bedroom, for safety and convienence purpose.

Its probably a magic to you but am here to make you understand how to design such a switch for your house or your bedroom and enjoy the convenience of not needing to get out of your bed before switching on and off your light.

In our lessson today we shall be making use of the one gang two way switch(SPDT-Single Pole Double Throw) to carry out the design.

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To design a two way switch in a house, office or industrial facility you need 2 numbers of SPDT switches, some length of a 1.5mm2 corper cable, a Plier, Screw Driver, insulation tape.
Look at the image above closely you will see this inscription or labeling C, L1 and L2. The C stands for Common, L1 stands for live 1, L2 stands for live 2.

Once you get your piping or trunking with the patress boxes for the switch set in the right position, next is to run your cables.

You need to cut Four Lengths of 1.5 mm2 Corper Cables, two of the cables will run straight from one patress box to the other. The remaining two cables;one goes from the common(C) of one of the switch to the supply from the distribution board and the other cable goes from the common (C) of the other switch to the live end of the lampholder.
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Now the two cables that was run from one of the patrex box to the other, you use your plier to pile the insulator a little and connect one end of the conductor to the L1 terminal of switch one and connect same cable to L1 of switch 2, connect the end of the other cable to L2 of switch 1 and the other end to L2 of Switch 2.

IMG_20180125_225732.jpg

With your load(lampholder and bulb)connected to one end of the live coming from one switch and the other end of the load(lamp holder and bulb)connected to the neutral wire from the distribution board.

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Now your cirucuit is complete. If you switch on the light from switch 1 you can put it off from switch 2. Here you have successfully designed and installed your two way switch control for your bedroom, kitchen, corridor etc.

Thanks for going through. Incase you find this article interesting and educative,please dont forget to upvote,comment, follow me @jmonas2044 and also resteem for others to see

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