Among the models of circuit breakers presented on the domestic market, samples under the well-known Legrand brand, which are popular all over the world, occupy a special place. Products from this manufacturer combine a stylish design and excellent performance. A wide variety of assortment allows you to choose and purchase a Legrand switch, which is optimally suitable for any modern interiors.
Company and product information
Legrand is a company from France headquartered in the small town of Limoges. Specialists and engineers of this company have been manufacturing electrical products for many years. Only in recent years, Legrand has significantly expanded its business through the acquisition of other companies in more than 60 countries.
History reference
The company's founding date is 1866, when its specialists opened the production of table porcelain. And only in 1904 this company was headed by Frederic Legrand, in whose honor it was named.
With the discovery of electricity, porcelain components began to be used for the manufacture of circuit breakers and other electrical products that are beginning to be in great demand.
In 1984, the first subsidiaries were opened in North America, and in 1989 the Italian brand Bticino was acquired. Today, several Legrand brands are represented in Russia, including Vantage, Zucchini, Bticino, Etika, Cablofil and ESTAP.
Product Features
Among all the diversity on the Russian market, two brands of this company stand out, which are usually considered separately. The first one is Legrand Celiane, a division of the company engaged in the production of premium circuit breakers. They are presented in a wide range of different colors, ranging from white, graphite, titanium and up to ivory. These products are distinguished by a stylish design, sophistication of rounded shapes and the ability to fit into any modern interior.
The assortment of this series includes the following models:
- non-contact (silent) switches;
- sensory devices;
- feedthrough products;
- single-key and two-key samples;
- devices with backlight or indication.
By their design, they can be with switches in the form of a button or with special levers. Today, increasingly, these models are used as elements of the Smart Home and are truly unique devices that have no equal.
Products from Legrand Valena are only slightly different from the models already considered and are also characterized by the perfection of lines and shapes. Their lineup is so vast that the most demanding buyer can choose wiring products suitable for a particular interior.
Switch Features
A feature of modern Legrand circuit breakers is the presence of samples that cannot be attributed to any particular category. First of all, it is a single-key wall model, equipped with a control panel, which is included in the kit of the switching device. The following samples are referred to the same type of products:
- with a cord or button instead of a regular key;
- touch light switches having electronic "stuffing";
- two-gadget appliances;
- Legrand switch through passage.
The presence in the assortment of this manufacturer of sensor models used with motion sensors significantly expands the scope of their application.The same is noted for Legrand breakers, which allow organizing original switching schemes.
The demand for such decisions is explained by the need to turn on the light at the entrance to the room and turn it off at the exit from it.
The wiring diagram for a two-gang switch with 2 places from Legrand allows you to control a chandelier or other illuminator from different points of the room. In addition, the assortment of these products traditionally contains samples that are built into walls or mounted on them in an open form.
Advantages of Legrand switches
The popularity of Legrand products is explained by their advantages when compared with models from other manufacturers. The advantages of circuit breakers in this class include:
- reliability in operation, achieved due to high quality workmanship;
- an extensive assortment and a large number of design solutions;
- compliance with the latest technological trends;
- functionality.
The manufacturer from France also offers various models for open and flush mounting.
Every year, new collections of Legrand products appear on the Russian market, which are very appreciated by both ordinary users and specialists. The complete set of installation products from Legrand is recognized as one of the best in the world, since the French manufacturer pays great attention to its improvement. Thanks to these efforts, the company managed to achieve a record price-quality ratio of most samples, which cannot be found today.
Device, principle of operation
Switches of this type are relatively simple devices by which it is possible to switch electrical circuits and control lighting fixtures. Their design and principle of operation is easier to consider on the example of a single-key product, consisting of the following main parts.
- switching module with integrated switching mechanism;
- special fasteners that allow fixing the device in a wall niche (used for flush mounting);
- decorative case;
- control key.
The principle of operation of the mechanical switch does not need a detailed analysis, since in this case there is a simple closure and opening of the working contacts. More complex is the version of the touch device, for switching which an electronic filling is used, which acts on the executive relay. But in this case, it all comes down to closing and opening the contacts through which power is supplied to the lighting device.
Connection diagrams of different types of switches
The choice of wiring diagram for the switching device depends on its design and version. The simplest mechanical switches are included in the gap of the supply electrical circuit, supplying a voltage of 220 volts to the illuminators. For a two-key device, the switching circuit is complicated due to the presence of two switched branches laid to the junction box or directly to the chandelier.
In the box there is a crossover (connection in the necessary order) of conductors that are suitable from the switch and extending to the chandelier.
Switching devices with several keys are able to control a large number of groups of lighting devices. In this case, the connection scheme is complicated, but the principle of switching remains the same. In the Legrand line, such models are available in each series, including Quteo, Anam, Galea Life, and others.
Touch switches and illuminated devices are specifically mounted, in which a separate power supply circuit is provided “for own needs”. At the same time, a small part of the energy is spent on the operation of a capacitive sensor or a neon bulb mounted in a switch housing.The connection diagram of the switching devices is given in the installation instructions.
Such devices are often found in a series of switches from Legrand called Ethics, Valena, etc.
Mounting Features
A user who is not familiar with the basics of electricity can connect a switching device from the company in question, including a two-gang switch Legrand through passage. The main thing is the ability to handle the simplest tool and the knowledge of what needs to be done. The procedure for models with two keys looks like this:
- The power supply circuit is disconnected.
- Conductors are prepared for connection.
- The keys and the protective cover are removed from the switch.
- The bare ends of the conductors are connected to the contacts, and then the decorative panel and keys are replaced.
When installing double switches equipped with a pair of keys, special attention is paid to the wiring of the withdrawn conductors. Each of them is intended to control "their" switching chain of a loop-through system, organized within a long corridor, for example. It also takes into account the presence on the device of marking indicating the connection zones of the supply and discharge cable cores.
