Leviton Dual Decora Momentary Switch Mod
I’ve seen several videos on converting single decora switches to momentary, but I haven’t seen any instructions on converting the dual switch versions. While considerably more expensive than their single switch cousins I find having the extra button outweighs the cost.
I’ve tried the conversion on several brands but have only had success with the Leviton 5634 series. Specifically the Leviton 5634-W
I’ve had several units in place for over a year without issue.
Be Aware
There are three versions of the switch. You want the version that only has one output screw for each switch. The three and four screw versions have different internals and as of yet, I haven’t successfully converted them.
The mod requires only a few steps.
- To start, simply remove the single Phillips screw on the back of the unit.
2. Press the tabs on each end to release the faceplate.
3. Remove the 2 pieces pictured which lock the switch open. They come out easily and are simply friction fit in place.
4. The switch should now look as pictured.
5. Re-assembly is the reverse of disassembly. The cover has two indents on the output side and 4 on the common side.
Once re-assembled you should have a 2x SPST Normally-Closed momentary switch.
Troubleshooting
I have found that there are two versions of the faceplate. One with no dividers in the switching area and one with. The divider-less version has always worked without further modification. On the version with the dividers. I have on occasion had to remove them from the top switch only as it will not fully return to closed. Pictured below are the two versions plus a modified unit.
Additional Notes
Both switches share a common ground. For most Arduino/ESP8266 applications or the like, this will be fine as they use a common ground. If you require electrical separation between the two switches the ground can be broken by removing the tab between them.
If you are using Arduino a useful button library is available at https://github.com/caitken-com/MultiFunctionButton. It provides facility for Single Press, Double Press and Long Hold.
The YouTube video below, shows the expected function. Additionally, it includes a unit that was sticking prior to removing the dividers.
We originally contributed this article to the Smarter Home Club Blog July 19, 2019. We are reposting it here to ensure our content remains available to all. Small corrections for grammar and spelling or dead links may have been made in the reposting.
