Planning Ahead

Or not.  As the case may be.

Ya think someone might ever need to replace one these switches?

No, probably not.

I'd like to thank whoever wired up these switches.  Really.  You did an awesome job.

Thanks for leaving just enough wire to wiggle the switches in the box, but not enough to get them out of the box.  And for keeping the wire so short and tidy so that there isn't enough slack (or room) to get a screwdriver in to loosen the terminals.

And an even *greater* thanks for using the push-in terminals on the *back* of the grey-bodied switch.  Try getting a screwdriver in behind that one to release the wires.

Yup, that's right.  Those switches are pulled out as far as the slack in the wire will allow.

Seriously, what's another 6-inches of wire cost?

So what should have been a fifteen minute job took two hours - including finding some wire & wire-nuts to make 6 pig-tails and gently breaking the grey switch apart to free the wires without breaking them or losing the wires back into the wall.  Though, having to make several trips from the second floor to the basement to get different tools means I don't need to spend time on the stair-master today.

These new ones look and work much better.

They are the last of the push-button ones for the "public" spaces in the house.

Another project that's not just done; it's finally Done.