Ways & Gangs, Panels & Switches Explained
Link to Sager
The 1-minute explanation
Ways are how many switches control the same light
Gangs are how many lights (or groups of lights aka circuits) can be controlled from a panel
A panel is the physical surface for controlling your lights
A switch is the electronic control mechanism behind the panel
The long read
Manufacturers don’t really use the same naming for the way their products work which leads to a lot of confusion regarding ways, gangs, panels, and switches. We’re going to clear that up for you. We’ll also include images explaining some of these concepts that you can also find in the product description in our lighting store.
Ways
Let’s start with ways. A ‘way’ is a term for how many switches are controlling the same light. The most simple switch is a standard 1-way on/off switch. Most of the lights in your house will likely be controlled by these 1-way switches. A 1-way switch can have 1, 2, or 3-gangs (we’ll get to gangs in a bit), or have a single dimmer switch.
Some of your lights may be controlled by 2-way switches. A 2-way switch means two separate switches control the same light. They always work in pairs (or more). Examples of 2-way switches are a light in your hallway controlled by switches at each end, or a light in your stairwell controlled by a switch at the top and bottom of the stairs. Confusingly, a 2-way switch is also sometime called a 3-way switch, multi-way switch or hotel switch.
There are two ways in the smart-switch world to have 2-way switches. One is the traditional way where both switches are wired to the light and each other. Another way has a primary and secondary switch only the primary switch is connected to the light and the secondary switch is wirelessly connected to the primary switch. I prefer the traditional way because it still functions even if your WiFi goes down but there are cases where the primary-secondary setup is useful, for example if you don’t have the control wire connecting the two switches.
We carry the traditional version, but if you really need the primary/secondary version reach out to us and I’ll special order them.
Gangs
Gangs are just an electricians way of saying ‘light or groups of lights on a single circuit’. Your standard ceiling lamp is a ‘gang’ but the cluster of LED’s in your bathroom can also a gang. A panel can have up to 3 gangs on it, which means it will also have 3 buttons on it, each for a single gang. Some examples:
Ways & Gangs
There are a few scenarios where you may need a 2-way, 2-gang (or even 3-gang) switch. In my house I have hallway lights upstairs and downstairs. I can control both sets of hallway lights from two separate panels, one upstairs and one downstairs. Each panel has 2 buttons on it. This is a 2-way, 2-gang example.
Panels
A panel is simply put the control surface for your lights. Depending on what kind of switches you have right now, you’ll probably need a single or dual panel. Sometimes more. Single panels are square 86mm x 86mm, dual panels are wider 156mm x 86mm.
A panel can have up to three buttons on it. They can come in either 1, 2, or 3 gang configurations or with a dimmer switch.
If you’re replacing older switches, these are often 1-gang each. If you have lots lights controlled from a single panel, this means you have really wide (and ugly) panels. I personally suggest replacing these wider panels with multi-gang single panels and filling in the old gaps in. This is a really easy way to clean up and modernize your living spaces.
Switches
A switch is the control mechanism behind the panel. A switch can be 1, 2, or 3-gang. Alternatively, you can have a dimmer switch with on/off, brighter, and darker buttons. We don’t carry, and haven’t found, dimmer switches that are more than 1-way or 1-gang. The switch is also the part that you connect to your wiring. The switches we carry all require at least 3 wires, a L (Line), N (Neutral), and L1 (Load) wire.The Line wire is the wire that comes into the switch from your electrical box. It carries power to the switch. The L1 (L2, L3) wire(s) are the Load wires and carry power from the switch to the light.The Neutral wire completes the circuit and allows the switch itself to be powered. This is also why your lights have a Neutral wire but the wiring to your switch may be missing it. Older mechanical switches didn’t need a Neutral wire because that switch isn’t powered. If you need to bring a Neutral wire to your switch, this requires a bit of elbow grease and fish tape (aka wire snake).Now you know!
So now you know your stuff about ways, gangs, panels and switches! Every house is a little different in how it’s wired and can differ in what you want and where you want it. But it’s really just about understanding what you want to do and what the terms are so you can find the exact product you need.
Contact us to discuss your requirements of 3 gang switch. Our experienced sales team can help you identify the options that best suit your needs.
And if you have any questions about what you need, contact me and just let me know! I’m Happy to help.
US or UK? The device selection does vary somewhat.
Also, I’m not sure what you mean by “one panel.“
In the US, this is a typical triple gang switch. It is about three times wider than a single switch.
In the US, this is a typical single gang switch with three controls. It is the same size as a single switch.
In the UK, this is a triple gang switch. The faceplate has the same dimensions as a single switch, there are just more buttons on it.
Yes, you can replace any or all three of those with individual single smart switches and it will work just fine. Then you just buy a cover plate for a three gang switch. You can get one of those at Home Depot, or if you want something fancier you can buy from one of the online specialty stores.
https://www.kyleswitchplates.com/3-gang-wall-plates/
Or Some smart switch manufacturers, notably Lutron and Leviton, offer three gang cover plates for their own switches:
https://www.homedepot.com/p/Leviton-Decora-3-Gang-Midway-Nylon-Wall-Plate-White-R52-PJ263-00W/
But as far as the switches themselves, you just get any single smart switch which is compatible with SmartThings and read the manufacturer directions for how to put it in a multi gang box.
That looks like a standard three gang US switch. So again, you should be able to select single switches that work with SmartThings and just put three of them in the box with a three gang cover plate. Just read the instructions carefully, in some cases you have to remove the heat sink side tabs from the switches to get everything to fit, which reduces the total load that they can carry.
If you want a toggle switch, GE has one that should work:
https://byjasco.com/products/ge-enbrighten-z-wave-plus-smart-switch-quickfit-and-simplewire-toggle
@TheSmartestHouse May also have one in their Zooz line, I’m not sure.
The Zooz Toggle switches will work here as well:
On Off ZEN23 here
Dimmer ZEN24 here
One thing to remember about these is that the stay in the neutral position and don’t actually toggle like the switches you have now.
If you’re open to changing the style to decora, there are more choices like the ZEN21, ZEN22 switches or ZEN26 and ZEN27 which will work better in 3-way / 4-way set-ups (with more than 1 switch controlling the same light).
If you’d like to keep the exact functionality of your toggle switches with them mechanically toggling up and down, you can also install a relay behind them to add Z-Wave functionality but keep in mind that the switch will then behave like in a 3-way when you will need to toggle it down to turn the light on if you first turn it off via Z-Wave and the other way round.
Here is a good 1 Relay device and you can also use this 2 Relay module to automate 2 switches at the same time (space and money saver).
I really did not like the solution.
It is prepared to Classic app. The virtual switches are ok in new app, but we have one switch out of use.
I made some chenges in Zigbee Multi Switch, from Smartthings, and it is working better. And local execution, what is better, for me at least.
A problem I saw is that, in new app, the original switch stay with icon of a light. The childs with switch icon. Can I change this icons in new app?
Thanks
I am working on it.
With the changes I did, second and third buttons work locally, but the first still cloud.
I did some tests and second and third depends on the first, so, it is still cloud. I am trying to do the first work local, but I am not having success.
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