Wiring diagram for a chandelier with one switch. Features of connecting a chandelier. A very important addition

Connecting lighting fixtures seems like a simple task. It would seem, what is so difficult here - to connect two wires coming from the ceiling? However, sometimes an unexpected problem arises before the home master: what to do if there are not two, but three wires in the chandelier? How and where to connect them? Let's try to understand this issue.

Required tool

To properly connect the chandelier you will need:

• Indicator screwdriver or voltage indicator;
• Multimeter;
• pliers;
• Terminal block for three terminals;
• Insulating tape.

You will also need a stepladder or a stable stand, a marker, a sheet of paper and a passport for the lighting fixture.

Determining the purpose of the wires in the chandelier

The simplest thing is to use the electrical circuit, which can be found in the passport for the lighting device. It usually indicates the purpose of all the wires and the order in which they are connected. According to accepted standards, the color marking of wires should be done as follows:

• White or brown wire - phase;
• Blue wire - zero;
• The yellow-green wire is a protective ground wire.

If there is no documentation for the chandelier, and the color marking of the wires does not clearly indicate their belonging, it is necessary to determine their purpose using a multimeter.

Connecting a double-circuit chandelier to the mains

To properly connect a chandelier with three wires, two of which are phase wires, you need to inspect the switch and the wires coming out of the ceiling. The simplest case is when the switch is two-gang, and three wires come out of the ceiling. You can determine the purpose of these wires as follows:

1. Take an indicator screwdriver or voltage gauge.
2. Turn on both keys of the switch.
3. Alternately touch the voltage indicator to the stripped ends of all three wires. Upon contact with the phase wires, the lamp on the voltage indicator will light up.
4. Mark the phase wires with a marker.
5. Turn off the switch. Check all three wires again. The lamp should not light up!
6. Connect alternately the phase wires of the chandelier to the marked phase wires of the electrical wiring, also connect the neutral wires. The connection is made using a terminal block or twisted using insulating caps or electrical tape.
7. Check the operation of the chandelier, turning on both keys in turn.

If the switch is single-key and only two wires come out of the ceiling, then it is necessary to check them with the switch turned on with a voltage indicator and find the phase and neutral wires. The phase wires of the chandelier are connected to each other and to the phase wire of the electrical wiring, the neutral wires are also connected. Check the on and off of the chandelier.

If the switch is installed single-key, and there are three wires in the wiring, it is necessary to find out the purpose of the third wire. To do this, turn on the switch and check the presence of voltage on all wires. If the phase is found on two wires, then you need to replace the over-gang switch, and the chandelier can be connected in a three-wire circuit. If the phase is only on one wire, and the third wire has yellow-green insulation, then the connection is made as in the previous case: both phase wires of the chandelier are connected to the phase wire of the electrical wiring, and the ground conductor is insulated and removed.

Connecting a chandelier with a ground wire

If the lighting device has a metal case, it must be grounded. In new apartments, all electrical networks, including lighting, according to the standards, must have a yellow-green grounding conductor. If your network meets this requirement, then to connect the chandelier, it is enough to connect the wires with the appropriate color marking using the terminal block or twisting.

If the networks are old, and the insulation of all wires has the same color, then you should proceed in the following sequence:

1. Determine the number and purpose of wires coming out of the ceiling. If there are two wires, then turn on the switch and use the voltage indicator to find the phase and zero. The switch is turned off and the wires are connected to the corresponding wires of the chandelier, and the ground wire at the chandelier is insulated.
2. If there are three wires, then proceed in a similar way. If there are two separate circuits and a two-gang switch in the network, then the phase wires of the wiring are combined and connected to the phase wire of the chandelier, the neutral wires of the wiring and the chandelier are also connected, and the ground wire is isolated.

Safety

Care must be taken when connecting any electrical appliances. All connections and connections must be carried out only with the switch off after checking the absence of voltage on the wires. Places of twists are isolated using special caps or electrical tape. If you doubt that you can connect a chandelier with three wires correctly, it is better to entrust this matter to professionals.

Replacing lighting equipment in residential premises can be caused both by the malfunction of old fixtures and by the desire to update the interior. In spacious rooms, devices with a large number of lamps are installed, which requires their distribution into groups. To do this, connect the chandelier to a two-gang switch.

Tools for the job

Before starting installation, you need to select the necessary tools. These include:

Wires in the chandelier

The device purchased in the store is supplied with instructions. The rules require that it be in Russian. However, if there is no memo or there is no domestic translation, you should know the following rules:

If there is no marking, you can ring the circuit using the device. In any case, an additional check of the quality and correctness of the assembly will not hurt.

general description

When the luminaire is equipped with several lamps, and the wiring allows you to use a two-gang switch to a chandelier, there are many options for distributing the luminous flux. You can choose any of the following:

Installation activities

If the room already has an electrical network that suits the owner and is suitable for the lighting fixture, then this will reduce the time and material costs of installation. However, connecting from scratch is also common.

To do this, you need to choose the location of the future location of the chandelier. As a rule, this is the middle of the ceiling, although modern design solutions can offer its installation almost anywhere. Fastening is carried out on special brackets.

Cabling

Having chosen a point for placing the lighting fixture, you need to determine where the double switch will be installed to connect the chandelier. You will also need a junction box, which is mounted just below the ceiling on the wall. Its form can be any.

Having marked the installation locations, it is necessary to prepare a route for laying the wire. This is a three-core (for networks with grounding, the number of cores will be 4) cable of the appropriate section, which depends on the power and number of lamps. You can calculate it using a special table. The channel is cut from the intended installation site of the lamp to the splitter and further to the box where the switch will be.

If there is no voltage in the room, then a channel is laid from the central shield with the placement of a cable similar to the room one - to the connecting box. From it, a common zero and earth (if any) go straight to the chandelier, and the phase wire is fed to the place of the proposed switch. It is also necessary to lay a two-core cable from it, through which the phase will be supplied first to the switch box, and then to the lamp.

After the wire transfer is completed, you need to connect them. The phase supplied from the box is attached to the common contact of the disconnecting device. The ends leading to the chandelier - to the outgoing terminals. Such fittings perform the function of a phase break. For safety reasons, a neutral wire cannot be laid through it.

Desoldering the lamp

Before connecting a double switch to a chandelier, it is necessary to divide all the lamps in the device into the required groups. This splitting is performed depending on the desired lighting conditions. There may be several options, the choice is made arbitrarily. When connecting cartridges, the rule should be taken into account: the phase approaches the central contact, zero - to the side. All neutral wires are combined with the corresponding core coming from the junction box.

After distribution, these ends are closed to each other separately: the first and second groups are connected to a double cable coming from the switch through the connection box. If a grounding conductor is provided, it must be combined with a contact marked PE or a special symbol.

distribution box

Having connected the wires in the lighting fixture and in the switch, you need to assemble the circuit in the junction box. This can be done in several ways:

Having decided on the method of combining the wires, you should connect them together. The order is:

• The common zero core from the main shield is connected to a similar chandelier wire.
• Phase from the power supply - with the appropriate end going to the switch.
• Group cords from the luminaire - with those extending from the switching device.
• PE contact - with earth from the lighting device.

The last step will be to turn on the circuit in the switchboard. It is not difficult to do this, since all ends are connected to certain places: phase to the circuit breaker, zero to the zero terminal, and the PE conductor to the ground bus. After a visual examination of the correctness of the assembled circuit, it must be checked with a multimeter with the switch on and off. After making sure that the circuit is working, you can apply voltage.

In the case of installing a new chandelier in the old place, all electrical fittings are already installed, there is a bracket and wires. It is necessary to determine their phasing. This can be done like this:

• Spread the ends apart and turn on the switch keys. Indicator to determine the presence of voltage. Where it is absent, there will be zero or a common wire. The other two contacts are phase contacts.
• To dial using the device, you need to disassemble the switch and the junction box.

When carrying out such activities, it is worth remembering that working with electric current is dangerous. Therefore, before installation, turn off the voltage and check its absence with a serviceable device. If there are no skills in the production of electrical work, it is recommended to contact specialists.

It is not necessary to call an electrician to do a job that you can easily do yourself. In this article, we will tell you how to connect a chandelier to a single-gang or two-gang switch with your own hands.

The principle of connecting a chandelier

When connecting a chandelier to a switch, you need to understand the principle of operation. It's pretty simple. The light bulb is on when two wires are connected to it, this is a phase wire (designation in the diagram L) and zero (designation in the diagram N). When connecting a light bulb (chandelier), one of the conductors goes directly from the junction box to the chandelier (lamp), the second is also connected to the chandelier, but through a gap (switch).

Important! For safety reasons, the neutral conductor must not be led through the switch. It should go without a break to the light bulb (chandelier) from the junction box.

You should not rely on the fact that the electricians correctly connected the wiring according to the colors of the wires (zero working conductor - blue or blue, zero protective conductor - yellow-green). They could be wrong. It is for this reason that before starting work, it is necessary to look at where the phase conductor (phase) is and where the zero (zero) exits the ceiling or junction box. For these purposes, you need a screwdriver with a voltage indicator. When determining the phase and neutral conductor, it is necessary to check the voltage indicator where you are sure that it is. This can be done in a working outlet or floor panel. After that, we determine and remember which conductors come out of the ceiling. There is nothing complicated here, you need to touch the indicator screwdriver to the wire, and if the indicator lamp lights up, then this is a phase conductor.

Wires can come out of the ceiling in the following order:

1. Two wires. This is a phase conductor and zero. This scheme means that only all lamps together can be connected.
2. Three wires. Two phase conductors and one zero. With this scheme, you can distribute the inclusion of lamps in the chandelier.
3. Two two-wire wires - there is also the possibility of distributing the inclusion of lamps.
4. Three wires come out of the ceiling, but without the possibility of distributing the inclusion of lamps. The third wire has a yellow-green color and is a zero protective conductor (ground).

Consider the main options for connecting a chandelier to switches.

Connecting a chandelier to a single-gang switch

If only two wires come out of the ceiling, this means that it is possible to connect only a single-gang switch with all the lamps turned on at the same time and it doesn’t matter how many wires come out of the chandelier, two, three or five.

Scheme of connection to a single-key switch: 1 - single-key switch; 2 - junction box; 3 - chandelier

If three wires come out of the chandelier, then they must be connected to each other in color, so that in the end there are two bundles of wires. Then we simply connect the wires from the chandelier and from the ceiling.

If two wires come out of the chandelier, then turning on all the lamps is possible only at the same time. If three wires come out of the chandelier, then this means: one common conductor for all lamps, which must be connected to the neutral conductor. The second and third wires are for the first and second section of lamps in the chandelier, respectively (for example, 1 + 2 lamps for a three-lamp chandelier or 3 + 2 lamps for a five-lamp chandelier, etc.).

Connecting a chandelier to a two-gang switch

The conditions for connecting a two-gang switch are three wires from the ceiling (zero and two phase wires) and three wires from a chandelier (three- or five-lamp chandelier). In this case, using a voltage indicator, we determine the neutral and phase conductors that come out of the ceiling. To determine the common conductor for all the lamps, there is nothing easier, it is one, and the other two are of the same color, which means they go to two sections of the lamps. This is specifically done by the manufacturer so that even a non-electrician can connect the chandelier. Then we connect the zero conductor from the ceiling to the common one in the chandelier, and each section of the lamps with phase conductors that go through a two-gang switch.

Scheme of connecting a chandelier to a two-gang switch: 1 - a two-gang switch; 2 - junction box; 3 - chandelier

Important! When working on connecting a chandelier and installing switches, it is necessary to turn off the electricity supply to the corresponding branch.

As a rule, there is a separate branch for the overhead light, which can be turned off with a package switch without de-energizing the sockets. To illuminate the room during installation, use lamps connected to sockets.

The connection of electrical wires must be carried out using terminal blocks. It is allowed to connect the electrical wiring with mandatory insulation. A reliable connection is considered to be twisting with soldering.

Important! It is impossible to connect copper and aluminum wires with a twist. It's a fire hazard! They can only be connected using terminal blocks.

In the interior of a house or apartment, everything is interconnected and must be done correctly. Installation of the coating on the ceiling must be verified with the type and method of connecting the central lighting chandelier. For example, when installing a stretch ceiling, the ceiling lamp is installed at the same time, and when sticking tiles, it can be installed much later.

Choosing a chandelier is not an easy task. In the store, the lamps seem to be smaller in size, and it is not always clear how this or that model is connected, what consumables will be needed for it and how long it will last. But finally, the choice has been made!

After the long-awaited purchase of the chandelier, it should be installed and properly connected. If we talk about a single-key switch, everything is simple there. But in some cases, the wiring diagram for a chandelier with a double switch can seem intimidating.

Required Tools

First, let's prepare the working inventory. We will need:

• An indicator screwdriver is needed to check the circuit and find the phase.
• A set of slotted and Phillips screwdrivers that every owner probably has. Required for assembly and disassembly of the structure.
• A multimeter is the most important device that will help check the integrity of the connection of individual parts of the network.
• The terminal block will facilitate the assembly of wires when connecting. For household appliances, a block with a diameter of 2 to 4 mm is suitable.

All this can be purchased at any electrical center, the rest of the devices can be found at home: a chair for working under the ceiling, a knife, electrical tape and a marker.

The purpose of the wires in the chandelier

To determine the purpose of the wires coming out of the chandelier, use the instructions. But if the instruction is in a foreign language, follow these rules:

• If the wires from several lamps are connected in one terminal cell with an outward contact, this is “Phase-L”. In this case, the connection is usually made in two groups: one unites the wires that connect only a few lamps to the phase, the second connects the remaining contacts. Thus, a circuit is obtained that allows the use of a multi-key switch with the possibility of turning on / off each group of lamps in turn.
• Earthing contact - PE, usually painted yellow. May be required if the house has a central ground. It is rare in houses younger than 2000.
• Zero wire - N. A single core to which zero contacts from all lamps are connected. It is determined using a multimeter or a special factory marking.

You need to know that at the moment there is a law on electrical work, which prohibits the use of all wire alloys except copper.

General scheme for connecting a chandelier

If the chandelier is equipped with one or three lamps, and the switch has several keys, then there are three options for connecting this light device.

• When turned on, all lamps will light up;
• For switches with multiple keys, you can set the lamps to start in sequence;
• In a multi-track chandelier, you can create an alternate, group start of lamps or simultaneously using one key.

If two wires come out of the hole in the ceiling, then the first connection option can be made. The manufacturer's instructions should indicate that the chandelier is connected in accordance with its functionality. Basically, luminaires with several lamps combine paired contacts of ceiling lamp connections, which can be connected according to the second principle.

The third connection scheme is considered more complex. The wires are connected in such a way that when the switch is turned on, each lamp lights up individually. In this case, it is necessary to connect all available wires in parallel.

Connecting a 3-horn chandelier without grounding

Connecting a chandelier to a double switch looks a little more complicated. But in fact, everything is simple, just understand the purpose of the wires and connect them correctly.

There are usually two or three wires coming out of the ceiling. In our case, when there is no grounding contact in the house, only two cables are required. You can determine where the phase is with a multimeter or an indicator screwdriver. It is enough to touch the bare ends of the wire and, if the light turns on or the signal goes off, then the live wire is a phase.

Next step. It is necessary to check the cables leading to the switch and the chandelier for breaks. You should not focus on the factory marks and the color of the wire, it is better to double-check everything yourself.
We clean the ends of the cable with a special tool for stripping insulation or with a lighter: gently heat the insulation for five seconds and tear off the burnt area with a sharp movement. But first of all, it is necessary to completely de-energize the apartment by turning off the introductory machine. It is best to completely de-energize the apartment.

If you have a multi-core cable installed, we press the ends of the wires with lugs, but if you use a monolithic cable, additional insulation is not required. We distribute the wires into groups and fix them in the terminal block.

Remember, incorrect distribution of cables can lead to a short circuit inside the luminaire!

To determine which cable is responsible for what, you can use the color of the upper shell. In the chandelier, white and black wires are most often used. We fasten them by color and that's it, do not confuse. At the end, a small twist of two groups is obtained, which are responsible for a certain part of the lamps through which the current will pass.

We fasten the block to the base of the chandelier, if you slightly tighten the screws on the terminal, this can lead to rapid overheating and oxidation.

Electrical part of the chandelier assembly

Inside the ceiling there is an electric cartridge, a lamp is screwed into it and two contacts leave, one is phase, the other is zero. Live wire can be made in several colors, and zero almost always has a blue tint. The live cable is fixed in the center of the electric chuck, and the zero cable is fixed from below with the help of a factory latch. The bulbs are attached to the main base of the lighting fixture, in which the wires are distributed as required by a single switch, for example, you can take any two-gang switch.

Technically competent connection of the chandelier to the switch will allow you to adjust the lighting depending on the situation. For example, let's take a three-arm lamp, one switch key will turn on one lamp, and the other two, or vice versa, everything will depend on the technical feasibility and time of day.
Using the example of a chandelier connection diagram with a double switch, you can see how such a connection will look like: the first key turns on one lamp, and the second all the rest.

Zero and phase wires that come out of the base and side of the cartridge do not have their own voltage, but are designed for its transportation. In each type of lighting fixture, zero is not connected through a switch, but is supplied directly. The main part of the wires with zero contact coming out of the cartridges is concentrated in the center of the lamp and forms a kind of plexus. The strands of wires that protrude from the base of the cartridge receive a positive charge from the central network and are divided into two groups.

Depending on the desired lighting functionality, full or partial, it is best to connect the chandelier in stages, as indicated in this article. The phase cable and the zero plexus must be connected in turn to each of the three wires inside the chandelier. A third, grounding cable is optional.

Switching in junction box

Consider the most common ways to switch off.
Twisting is the most popular and favorite method of separating wires in Russia. This method is very simple, you need to strip the ends of the wires and twist them together, after which it is desirable to wrap with electrical tape.

Soldering - used to better contact the wires with each other. It is usually used in places requiring increased security: hospitals, schools. But it is worth remembering that, under increased loads, this method of connection is prohibited.

Welding is the safest type of connection and requires special welding skills. Creates perfect contact between all connected wires.

Crimping - carried out using a special sleeve. A time-tested method, the connection can last more than 20 years.

The use of special screw terminals is the youngest type of connection. Allows you to connect different combinations of wires into one common network. Very often used for quick installation.

Three cables go from the main distributor to the switch, the same number goes to the chandelier. The main power source is the central cable. The phase cable is connected to the residential cable leading to the switch. At that time, another cable going to the chandelier is connected in the box to the current outlet wire. The cable from the lamp, which is connected to the lamp, is fastened inside the box with a plastic clamp.

Connection in a two-gang switch

This step can be carried out by absolutely anyone who knows at least a little about electrics. The center of the wire connection is located in the switch, it is here that the sequence of switching on / off the lamps is set. The switch with two keys has a mount for two or three contacts: phase, zero, ground. The grounding contact can be found on switches with a metal case. Their main purpose is to connect wires into one common system.

Need to know. A phase wire is connected to the central mount in the switch, which is always under high voltage.

When working with wires, you need to be especially careful, follow the fire safety rules, turn off the apartment or house from electrical energy. For this reason, it is necessary to carry out work on connecting the ceiling chandelier during daylight hours.

There is one significant plus in connecting a chandelier to several switches: energy savings when there is no need for a general light. It is better to place the switch near the door so that it is convenient to use it when leaving the room. Thanks to these small efforts, you will save the family budget even if you connect the chandelier to the wires correctly with your own hands.

Connecting electrical lighting fixtures does not look complicated if there are only two outlets. If there are more, the task becomes more difficult. In this case, various connection schemes can be used. The article discusses various situations that may arise when connecting a chandelier.

To hang and connect the lamp, you will need the following tools:

• A multimeter or indicator screwdriver will be required if you need to determine the purpose of the contacts.
• Terminal clips or caps are used for a secure connection.
• Pliers.
• Marker.
• Screwdriver.

Connection

You also need a stepladder that has a suitable height for work.

How to connect a chandelier with three or four wires

Before carrying out work, it is advisable to read the instructions for the lighting device. It usually describes the connection in detail.

The installation process of the luminaire may be different depending on the number of outlets on the ceiling and the keys on the switch.

If there are only two outputs on the ceiling, then one of them is phase, the other is zero. In this case, there is no grounding. When connecting a chandelier, one of them is connected to any contact, the other to the remaining one. If necessary, all contacts of the chandelier corresponding to the phase voltage must be combined.

double switch

To connect a chandelier that has 3 wires or more, you need to see if there is grounding. If it is, connect to the corresponding output of the chandelier. If it does not provide for this, then it must be isolated.

When there are zero and two phases, it is necessary to determine where they are and mark them with a marker. If one switch is used, then the following options are possible:

• All lamps turn on at once.
• Some of the lamps turn on.

The second situation is convenient when the owner does not need light from all light sources.

In the first case, both phases of the chandelier are connected to the power phase, zero - to zero. Now, when turned on, all the lamps will light up.

Marking

Each of the phase outputs is connected to certain lamps in the luminaire. In the second situation, which lamps are to be lit, and the corresponding contact is connected to the power supply. The rest of the exit is isolated.