Broken light switch
November 23, 2010 1:00 PM   Subscribe

Broken light switch.

We have a double light switch identical to this one, and one of the switches looks like it's coming out of the plate. This is the broken side and this is the other side for comparison.

My questions:

1. Is this dangerous?
2. How much should I be rushing to get it fixed/fix it?
3. Is it a simple enough job that I could follow some instructions online and do it myself? (having never done anything electrical before!)
posted by ellieBOA to Home & Garden (9 answers total) 1 user marked this as a favorite
 
Best answer: 1. Yes-ish, especially if you have little ones around. If you don't stick your finger in it, you'll be fine.
2. Put it in the to do list for "soon but not immediately."
3. It should be. Shut off your electricity first. Shut off your electricity first. Shut off your electricity first. Otherwise, I've personally replaced a switch via online instructions without dying or burning my house down. You'll need basic tools, screwdriver (probably phillips), maybe wire cutters. Oh, and shut off your electricity first.

If you are scared of doing it, it's a fairly cheap electrician job.
posted by Mister Fabulous at 1:32 PM on November 23, 2010 [1 favorite]


Best answer: 1. Is it dangerous? More than if it were intact, but not horribly so - unless you see sparks when it switches
2. How soon should you fix it? I'm anal - I'd do it soon - within a week for sure
3. Replacing a light switch is trivial. The only tool you should need is a screwdriver. If it's the kind of switch where there are several switches controlling one light it's somewhat more complicated. For the most part, the job entails this:
  1. turn on the light(s)
  2. Turn off the breaker/mains so that the light goes out
  3. take off the switch plate
  4. remove the switch, changing wires from old to new one at a time
  5. put in the new switch
  6. put the switch plate back on
  7. turn on the breaker/mains and check your work
For this, you will need a screwdirver and (maybe) a flashlight.

I did this exact task last week and it literally took me longer to find the right breaker than it did to change out two switches on the same circuit (and a special note to my son, Stuart, who might be reading this one day: I understand that you were 3 and that you were exploring how switches work, but you managed to weld the contacts on one and completely break another. And while $4 per switch might be worth a one-time learning experience, it's not something that I wanted like to pay every week, so that's why I sounded so upset).
posted by plinth at 1:34 PM on November 23, 2010


Best answer: Straightforward how-to video.
posted by Mister Fabulous at 1:34 PM on November 23, 2010


Response by poster: No kids around, doesn't spark when switched on/off, thankfully.

I am notoriously untechnical so I think an electrician is the way to go, "changing wires from old to new one at a time" sounds daunting. Thanks guys.
posted by ellieBOA at 1:36 PM on November 23, 2010


Response by poster: Although the video seems very straightforward, thanks Mister Fabulous. Will show it to the other half when he gets back and see if he thinks he can do that.
posted by ellieBOA at 1:38 PM on November 23, 2010


Best answer: Don't be daunted yet - go to the store and look at a switch - they're usually packaged so that you can see the terminals. For a typical switch, there will be two. Imagine yourself unscrewing one on the old switch, pulling out the wire and screwing it onto the new one. Then imagine yourself doing it twice. It's really hard to do it wrong and it's a good way to get confidence for the next time. Consider asking a (more experienced) friend to just look over your shoulder in exchange for a beer. That will be ultimately cheaper and more valuable in the long run than hiring an electrician.
posted by plinth at 1:41 PM on November 23, 2010


Response by poster: It's probably a life skill I should acquire! Will remember to turn off the power first, and then to go back and check I've turned it off.
posted by ellieBOA at 1:42 PM on November 23, 2010


If you are unsure or hesitant to mess with electrical wiring because of the possibility of it not being shut off a simple and cheap (about $10) voltage proximity tester will verify that there is no power to the switch before you start exposing current carrying conductors.
posted by Mitheral at 5:26 PM on November 23, 2010


Seconding a voltage tester to make extra sure you turn the correct breaker off.
posted by shopefowler at 8:11 PM on November 23, 2010


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