Ways & Gangs, Panels & Switches Explained
You can find more information on our web, so please take a look.
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 dont really use the same naming for the way their products work which leads to a lot of confusion regarding ways, gangs, panels, and switches. Were going to clear that up for you. Well also include images explaining some of these concepts that you can also find in the product description in our lighting store.
Ways
Lets 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 (well 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 dont 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 Ill special order them.
Link to Sager
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 LEDs 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, youll 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 youre 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 dont carry, and havent 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 didnt need a Neutral wire because that switch isnt 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 its wired and can differ in what you want and where you want it. But its really just about understanding what you want to do and what the terms are so you can find the exact product you need.
And if you have any questions about what you need, contact me and just let me know! Im Happy to help.
Ok, am scratching my head. Dont want to call an electrician to change a light switch, as that would be embarrassing..
I have a three gang switch, all controlling three individual lights. Simple on/off for each one, no complexity with other switches.
I want to change to plastic switch, so bought a lisse three gang switch, hoping for a simple, three wires into each at the top, into three out wires at the bottom. How wrong I was!
Looking at this, would I be correct in thinking the following.
From left to right.
S1 - live in at the bottom com, out at the 1 way at the top.
S2 - live in at the top com, and then also out at the top.
S3 - live in at the bottom right Com, and out at the top 1 way?
Feels weird but thought best ask.
I do need to also check the back of the existing switch, but thats for the weekend when I can turn off the electric without incurring the wrath of the offspring for interrupting his evening gaming sessions