: ''This article is about electrical switches. For other meanings of the word "switch", see Switch (disambiguation).'' A switch is a device for making or breaking an electricity circuit, or for selecting between multiple circuits. In the simplest case, a switch has two pieces of metal called ''contacts'' that touch to make a circuit, and separate to break the circuit. The contact material is chosen for its resistance to corrosion, because most metals form insulator oxides that would prevent the switch from working. Sometimes the contacts are Electroplating with noble metals. They may be designed to wipe against each other to clean off any contamination. Nonmetallic conductors, such as conductive plastic, are sometimes used. The moving part that applies the operating force to the contacts is called the ''actuator'', and may be a toggle or ''dolly'', a rocker, a push-button or any type of mechanical linkage ''(see photo).'' ==Contact arrangements== brake_purposes._Here_the_switch_is_shown_in_the_open_position.">Image:Tpst.jpg|300px|thumb|Triple Pole Single Throw (TPST) switch used to short the windings of a 3 phase wind turbine for brake purposes. Here the switch is shown in the open position. Switches can be classified according to the arrangement of their contacts. Some contacts are normally open until closed by operation of the switch, while others are normally closed and opened by the switch action. A switch with both types of contact is called a changeover switch. The terms ''pole'' and ''throw'' are used to describe switch contacts. A ''pole'' is a set of contacts that belong to a single circuit. A ''throw'' is one of two or more positions that the switch can adopt. These terms give rise to abbreviations for the types of switch which are used in the electronics industry. In mains wiring names generally involving the word ''way'' are used; however, these terms differ between British English and American English and the terms ''two way'' and ''three way'' are used in both with different meanings.
{| border="1" cellpadding="5" cellspacing=0 ! Electronics abbreviation !! Expansion of abbreviation ! British mains wiring name !! American mains wiring name ! Description |------- | SPST || Single pole, single throw || One way || Two way || A simple on-off switch: A is connected to B or not. |------- | SPDT || Single pole, double throw || Two way || Three way || A simple changeover switch: C (Common) is connected to L1 or to L2. |------- | SPCO || Single pole changeover
''or'' Single pole, centre off || || || Equivalent to ''SPDT''. Some suppliers use ''SPCO'' for switches with a stable off position in the centre and ''SPDT'' for those without. |------- | DPST || Double pole, single throw || Double pole || Double pole || Equivalent to two ''SPST'' switches controlled by a single mechanism |------- | DPDT || Double pole, double throw || || || Equivalent to two ''SPDT'' switches controlled by a single mechanism: A is connected to B and D to E, or A is connected to C and D to F. |------- | || || Intermediate switch || 4-way switch || ''DPDT'' switch internally wired for polarity-reversal applications: only four rather than six wires are brought outside the switch housing; with the above, B is connected to F and C to E; hence A is connected to B and D to C, or A is connected to C and D to B. |------- | DPCO || Double pole changeover
''or'' Double pole, centre off || || || Equivalent to ''DPDT''. Some suppliers use ''DPCO'' for switches with a stable off position in the centre and ''DPDT'' for those without. |} Switches with larger numbers of poles or throws can be described by replacing the "S" or "D" with a number or in some cases the letter T (for triple). In the rest of this article the terms ''SPST'' ''SPDT'' and ''intermediate'' will be used to avoid the ambiguity in the use of the word "way". ==Biased switches== A biased switch is one containing a spring (device) that returns the actuator to a certain position. The "on-off" notation can be modified by placing parentheses around all positions other than the resting position. For example, an (on)-off-(on) switch can be switched on by moving the actuator in either direction away from the centre, but returns to the central off position when the actuator is released. The momentary push-button switch is a type of biased switch. This device makes contact when the button is pressed and breaks when the button is released. ==Special types== Switches can be designed to respond to any type of mechanical stimulus: for example, vibration (the ''trembler switch''), tilt, air pressure, fluid level (the ''float switch''), the turning of a key (''key switch''), linear or rotary movement (the ''limit switch'' or ''microswitch''), or presence of a magnetic field (the ''reed switch''). The mercury switch consists of a blob of mercury (element) inside a glass bulb. The two contacts pass through the glass, and are short circuited together when the bulb is tilted to make the mercury roll on to them. The advantage of this type of switch is that the liquid metal flows around particles of dirt and debris that might otherwise prevent the contacts of a conventional switch from closing. Other types of switch include: * centrifugal switch * dip switch * hall-effect switch * micro switch * toggle switch ==Intermediate switch== A DPDT switch has six connections, but since polarity reversal is a very common usage of DPDT switches, some variations of the DPDT switch are internally wired specifically for polarity reversal. They only have four terminals rather than six. Two of the terminals are inputs and two are outputs. When connected to a battery or other DC source, the 4-way switch selects from either normal or reversed polarity. Intermediate switches are also an important part of multiway switching systems with more than two switches (see next section). ==Multiway switching== Multiway switching is a method of connecting switches in groups so that any switch can be used to connect or disconnect the load. This is most commonly done with lighting. ===Two locations=== Switching a load on or off from two locations (for instance, turning a light on or off from either end of a flight of stairs) requires two SPDT switches. There are two basic methods of wiring to achieve this. In the first method, mains is fed into the common terminal of one of the switches; the switches are then connected through the L1 and L2 terminals (swapping the L1 and L2 terminals will just make the switches work the other way round), and finally a feed to the light is taken from the common of the second switch. A connects to B or C, D connects to B or C; the light is on if A connects to D, i.e. if A and D both connect to B or both connect to C. The second method is to join the three terminals of one switch to the corresponding terminals on the other switch and take the incoming supply and the wire out to the light to the L1 and L2 terminals. Through one switch A connects to B or C, through the other also to B or C; the light is on if B connects to C, i.e. if A connects to B with one switch and to C with the other. Wiring needed in addition to the mains network (not including protective earths): First method: *double wire between both switches *single wire from one switch to the mains *single wire from the other switch to the load *single wire from the load to the mains Second method: *triple wire between both switches *single wire from any position between the two switches, to the mains *single wire from any position between the two switches, to the load *single wire from the load to the mains If the mains and the load are connected to the system of switches at one of them, then in both methods we need three wires between the two switches. In the first method one of the three wires just has to pass through the switch, which tends to be less convenient than being connected. When multiple wires come to a terminal they can often all be put directly in the terminal. When wires need to be joined without going to a terminal a crimped joint, piece of terminal block, wirenut or similar device must be used and the bulkyness of this may require use of a deeper backbox.
===More than two locations=== For more than two locations, the two cores connecting the L1 and L2 of the switches must be passed through an intermediate switch (as explained above) wired to swap them over. Any number of intermediate switches can be inserted, allowing for any number of locations. Wiring needed in addition to the mains network (not including protective earths): *first method **double wire along the sequence of switches **single wire from the first switch to mains **single wire from the last switch to the load **single wire (neutral) from load to mains *second method **double wire along the sequence of switches **single wire from first switch to last switch **single wire from anywhere between two of the switches to the mains **single wire from anywhere between the same two switches to the load **single wire (neutral) from load to mains
== See also== *Circuit breaker *Contactor *Relay *Analogue switch *Underwriters Laboratories, Canadian Standards Association, VDA == External Links == *[http://www.indepthinfo.com/wire-switch/index.shtml How to Wire a Switch] (very us centric) Switches
==ratings etc== it might be useful to extend the discussion to other significant aspects of switches such as voltage and current ratings, design life, environmental requirements, etc. :And we could use photos of switches. A knife switch would be a good introductory picture. A mercury bulb switch would be an unusual twist, a common wall switch (though styles differ around the world) would also be meaningful. Perhaps someone can come up with a picture of a big electric company switch. On the other side of the spectrum, we have micro switches for all sorts of mundane tasks like determining if there's paper in the paper tray. -- User:Ke4roh 12:16, 18 May 2004 (UTC) ==network switches?== It seems that we don't have anything to do with network switches. If we already have it, then we need a link to it on this page. --huwr :I also overlooked it the first time. The link is in the second sentence. -- User:Ke4roh 12:16, 18 May 2004 (UTC) ::I've now created a full disambiguation page, so hopefully the other meanings are more prominent. - User:IMSoP 06:23, 27 Jun 2004 (UTC) ==underwater cameras and reed switches== Is it true that underwater cameras use reed switches ? -- User:DavidCary 17:19, 26 Jun 2004 (UTC) ==schematic symbols== it would be great to include the schematic symbols to illustrate the various configurations too. --User:Hooperbloob 05:14, 10 Nov 2004 (UTC) ==feel free to comment on my edits (plugwash)== i've tried to deamericanise the page and also added a load of info on names of switch types and a section on multiway switching what do you guys think? User:Plugwash 16:11, 1 Dec 2004 (UTC) :Well, apart from a few Wikipedia:Manual of Style issues (e.g. please capitalise the first letter of sentences), which I've fixed easily enough, I think your additions on multi-way switching are a little hard to understand. I'll have a go at improving the diagrams once I've got GIMP installed (if no-one else gets there first), but I think the explanation could do with "tightening up" too. I'll have a go, unless I get distracted; I might also draw some schematics for the different configurations, as this should make things much easier to understand. Nonetheless, you have solved an enduring mystery for me, which is how you can have a set of 3 switches all able to toggle the same light; up till now, I'd only figured out a way that required a transistor, which seemed a bit unlikely for my parents' Edwardian house... so thanks for that! - User:IMSoP 18:47, 1 Dec 2004 (UTC) I notice you changed my table to the wiki pipe syntax is there a formally expressed preference anywhere for which syntax to use? As for the diagrams they were drawn in mspaint and im not too skilled at drawing i think the diagrams get the points accross though. User:Plugwash 20:20, 1 Dec 2004 (UTC) :Um, no, as far as I know, there isn't an official guideline on which table syntax to use; to be honest, I just changed it over for the selfish reason that ''I'' find the pipe syntax easier to read (in many cases, ''a lot'' easier to read), and I wanted to fix up some other things in the table (grammar and formatting type stuff). Besides, that pseudo-broken-HTML-syntax variant you used is just plain ''weird''! (Not your fault, I know, it's on the help page; still weird, though). So, basically, my apologies if you disagree with my preference/opinion. :As for the diagrams - no offence, but the fact that they're done in Paint, and not even done ''well'' in Paint, shows. [Tip: even in MSPaint, you can hold down shift to constrain the straight line tool to 45° angles...] Sure, they get the points across (or the first image does; the second one is a little confusing, and I had to sketch my own diagrams to make sense of it), but they don't exactly look "professional" - if you saw those in Encarta, you'd laugh. Like I say, please don't take offence, and thanks for having a crack, but if no-one else does, I will try and draw some slightly neater versions, and hopefully make them look a little more like standard wiring diagrams, too. - User:IMSoP 00:11, 2 Dec 2004 (UTC) == Why UP for ON in the USA and DOWN for ON in the UK? == This is one of those bits of trivia for which I really would like to know the answer: In Britain you flick the switch down for "on" but in America you do the reverse - you flick it up for "on". I have asked no end of authoritative bods about this and no one seems to have a historical answer to explain how and why this came to be. Does anyone here know the answer? User:MPLX 05:35, 11 Jan 2005 (UTC) :Dunno. But I can tell you that in Europe it is usually as in the UK. Except when it isn't (my flat in Valencia seemed to have all wiring installed at random). User:Chamaeleon 12:43, 11 Jan 2005 (UTC) :Don't know the answer, but (and I speak as a Brit) the American way seems better... the switch is far more likely to be knocked downwards (e.g. by something falling) and it seems sensible to switch OFF in that case. It is also worth noting that a lot of industrial switchgear (DIN rail circuit breakers spring to mind) in the UK normally switches off in the DOWN position. --User:Ali@gwc.org.uk 14:29, 11 Jan 2005 (UTC) ::I was born in England and then moved to the USA, but no matter who I ask, no one seems to know the answer. My guess is that it has something to do with cars driving on different sides of the street in the UK and USA; a modified spelling and pronunciation of the English language in the USA and even different measures for clothes, water and so on. Since the development of commercial electricity flowed from the USA to the UK like the telephone system, my guess is that the UK modified the US system. But the question is: who and why (apart from just wanting to be different, or plain bloody minded.)? User:MPLX 16:48, 11 Jan 2005 (UTC) :::i would argue that at least with lightswitches accidental switch-on is less likely to cause problems than accidental switch off (the last thing you want when things are going wrong is to suddently get plunged into darkness as well. User:Plugwash 17:38, 2 May 2005 (UTC) ==A terminal block in the backbox== Please explain a terminal block and backbox and explain how cable is saved. You seem to need three cables between the boxes in both cases, in addition to the circuit from one box through the light and the power supply back to that box.--User:Patrick 20:43, Jan 24, 2005 (UTC) :not sure how to put this. :terminal block is this stuff http://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Products/TLCON5.html (i belive americans use wirenuts instead) a backbox is simply the box your switch is mounted in. :as for cable saving it depends on which switches the live and switched lives arrive at perhaps the follwoing diagram will better explain what i mean (i drew this feel free to use it how the hell you like). its uk color code so possiblly not so approprite for an article here (i deliberately kept the diagrams on the switch page free of cable color codes to avoid confusion) : :i think it needs to be said (but im not sure how best to say it) that there are many wiring LAYOUTS for two way switching but electrically they are all one of the cuircuits that i currently show on the switch page. I have written out the wiring needed. It seems the second method always needs more. I wonder if it has any advantage.--User:Patrick 08:56, Jan 25, 2005 (UTC) :the MAIN reason for using the second method is to avoid the need to use a terminal block (wirenut in the usa) in the backbox of the first switch when live and switched live arrive at the same box. http://www.mywatergarden.com/diy/2way-switching.gif shows such a configuration. :http://www.umist.ac.uk/personal/student/Peter.Green/lamps.png is another more unusual case where the second method shown wins. :i see you also added a link to Three-way circuit which shows a HUGE degree of national bias, is written in far too much of a howto style and specifies FAR too much locally variable detail (such as cable size). User:Plugwash 11:47, 25 Jan 2005 (UTC) I did not add it because it is so useful, related articles should always be linked. Feel free to edit it; maybe we should even change it into a redirect.--User:Patrick 14:07, Jan 25, 2005 (UTC) ==Three-way circuit redirected here== i have redirected Three-way circuit to here. The old content there was a very us centric howto. If you wish to move that content to a more appropriate place feel free to get it from the history and add an external or sisterproject link to its new home from here. User:Plugwash 17:34, 2 May 2005 (UTC)
See other meanings of words starting from letter:
Words begining with Switch:
Switch
Switch
Switch-hitter
Switch-mode_power_supply
Switchback
Switchblade
Switchblade
SwitchbladeNGC
Switchblade_(album)
Switchblade_knife
Switchblade_Romance
Switchblade_Symphony
Switchboard
Switchboard_operator
Switchboard_operator
Switched-mode_power_supply
Switched-On_Bach
Switched-On_Brandenburgs
Switched_circuit
Switched_fabric
Switched_loop
Switched_mode_power_supply
Switched_Multi-megabit_Data_Services
Switched_multimegabit_data_service
Switched_multimegabit_data_services
Switched_On
Switched_On_Bach
Switched_On_Bach
Switched_On_Brandenburgs
Switched_on_Christmas_(Venus_Hum)
Switched_virtual_circuit
Switchel
Switcher
Switcher
Switcher
Switcheroo
Switchers
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Switching
Switching-mode_power_supply
Switching_(BDSM)
Switching_barriers
Switching_center
Switching_Channels
Switching_cost
Switching_costs
Switching_power_supply
Switching_regulator
Switching_router
SwitchUK
Switch_(album)
Switch_(BDSM)
Switch_(BDSM)
Switch_(command_line)
Switch_(debit_card)
Switch_(disambiguation)
Switch_(EP)
Switch_(Matrix_character)
Switch_(rod)
Switch_(rod)
Switch_(sexuality)
Switch_(sexuality)
Switch_and_Data
Switch_Bitch
Switch_Card_Scheme
Switch_file
Switch_hitter
Switch_Island
Switch_mode_power_supply
Switch_point
Switch_pylon
Switch_statement
Switch_to_right_hand_traffic_in_Czechoslovakia
Switch_to_right_side_driving_in_Czechoslovakia
Switch
: ''This article is about electrical switches. For other meanings of the word "switch", see Switch (disambiguation).'' A switch is a device for making or breaking an electricity circuit, or for selecting between multiple circuits. In the simplest case, a switch has two pieces of metal called ''contacts'' that touch to make a circuit, and separate to break the circuit. The contact material is chosen for its resistance to corrosion, because most metals form insulator oxides that would prevent the switch from working. Sometimes the contacts are Electroplating with noble metals. They may be designed to wipe against each other to clean off any contamination. Nonmetallic conductors, such as conductive plastic, are sometimes used. The moving part that applies the operating force to the contacts is called the ''actuator'', and may be a toggle or ''dolly'', a rocker, a push-button or any type of mechanical linkage ''(see photo).'' ==Contact arrangements== brake_purposes._Here_the_switch_is_shown_in_the_open_position.">Image:Tpst.jpg|300px|thumb|Triple Pole Single Throw (TPST) switch used to short the windings of a 3 phase wind turbine for brake purposes. Here the switch is shown in the open position. Switches can be classified according to the arrangement of their contacts. Some contacts are normally open until closed by operation of the switch, while others are normally closed and opened by the switch action. A switch with both types of contact is called a changeover switch. The terms ''pole'' and ''throw'' are used to describe switch contacts. A ''pole'' is a set of contacts that belong to a single circuit. A ''throw'' is one of two or more positions that the switch can adopt. These terms give rise to abbreviations for the types of switch which are used in the electronics industry. In mains wiring names generally involving the word ''way'' are used; however, these terms differ between British English and American English and the terms ''two way'' and ''three way'' are used in both with different meanings.
_switch_used_to_short_the_windings_of_a_3_phase_wind_turbine_for_<a_href=\){kind=link}
{| border="1" cellpadding="5" cellspacing=0 ! Electronics abbreviation !! Expansion of abbreviation ! British mains wiring name !! American mains wiring name ! Description |------- | SPST || Single pole, single throw || One way || Two way || A simple on-off switch: A is connected to B or not. |------- | SPDT || Single pole, double throw || Two way || Three way || A simple changeover switch: C (Common) is connected to L1 or to L2. |------- | SPCO || Single pole changeover
''or'' Single pole, centre off || || || Equivalent to ''SPDT''. Some suppliers use ''SPCO'' for switches with a stable off position in the centre and ''SPDT'' for those without. |------- | DPST || Double pole, single throw || Double pole || Double pole || Equivalent to two ''SPST'' switches controlled by a single mechanism |------- | DPDT || Double pole, double throw || || || Equivalent to two ''SPDT'' switches controlled by a single mechanism: A is connected to B and D to E, or A is connected to C and D to F. |------- | || || Intermediate switch || 4-way switch || ''DPDT'' switch internally wired for polarity-reversal applications: only four rather than six wires are brought outside the switch housing; with the above, B is connected to F and C to E; hence A is connected to B and D to C, or A is connected to C and D to B. |------- | DPCO || Double pole changeover
''or'' Double pole, centre off || || || Equivalent to ''DPDT''. Some suppliers use ''DPCO'' for switches with a stable off position in the centre and ''DPDT'' for those without. |} Switches with larger numbers of poles or throws can be described by replacing the "S" or "D" with a number or in some cases the letter T (for triple). In the rest of this article the terms ''SPST'' ''SPDT'' and ''intermediate'' will be used to avoid the ambiguity in the use of the word "way". ==Biased switches== A biased switch is one containing a spring (device) that returns the actuator to a certain position. The "on-off" notation can be modified by placing parentheses around all positions other than the resting position. For example, an (on)-off-(on) switch can be switched on by moving the actuator in either direction away from the centre, but returns to the central off position when the actuator is released. The momentary push-button switch is a type of biased switch. This device makes contact when the button is pressed and breaks when the button is released. ==Special types== Switches can be designed to respond to any type of mechanical stimulus: for example, vibration (the ''trembler switch''), tilt, air pressure, fluid level (the ''float switch''), the turning of a key (''key switch''), linear or rotary movement (the ''limit switch'' or ''microswitch''), or presence of a magnetic field (the ''reed switch''). The mercury switch consists of a blob of mercury (element) inside a glass bulb. The two contacts pass through the glass, and are short circuited together when the bulb is tilted to make the mercury roll on to them. The advantage of this type of switch is that the liquid metal flows around particles of dirt and debris that might otherwise prevent the contacts of a conventional switch from closing. Other types of switch include: * centrifugal switch * dip switch * hall-effect switch * micro switch * toggle switch ==Intermediate switch== A DPDT switch has six connections, but since polarity reversal is a very common usage of DPDT switches, some variations of the DPDT switch are internally wired specifically for polarity reversal. They only have four terminals rather than six. Two of the terminals are inputs and two are outputs. When connected to a battery or other DC source, the 4-way switch selects from either normal or reversed polarity. Intermediate switches are also an important part of multiway switching systems with more than two switches (see next section). ==Multiway switching== Multiway switching is a method of connecting switches in groups so that any switch can be used to connect or disconnect the load. This is most commonly done with lighting. ===Two locations=== Switching a load on or off from two locations (for instance, turning a light on or off from either end of a flight of stairs) requires two SPDT switches. There are two basic methods of wiring to achieve this. In the first method, mains is fed into the common terminal of one of the switches; the switches are then connected through the L1 and L2 terminals (swapping the L1 and L2 terminals will just make the switches work the other way round), and finally a feed to the light is taken from the common of the second switch. A connects to B or C, D connects to B or C; the light is on if A connects to D, i.e. if A and D both connect to B or both connect to C. The second method is to join the three terminals of one switch to the corresponding terminals on the other switch and take the incoming supply and the wire out to the light to the L1 and L2 terminals. Through one switch A connects to B or C, through the other also to B or C; the light is on if B connects to C, i.e. if A connects to B with one switch and to C with the other. Wiring needed in addition to the mains network (not including protective earths): First method: *double wire between both switches *single wire from one switch to the mains *single wire from the other switch to the load *single wire from the load to the mains Second method: *triple wire between both switches *single wire from any position between the two switches, to the mains *single wire from any position between the two switches, to the load *single wire from the load to the mains If the mains and the load are connected to the system of switches at one of them, then in both methods we need three wires between the two switches. In the first method one of the three wires just has to pass through the switch, which tends to be less convenient than being connected. When multiple wires come to a terminal they can often all be put directly in the terminal. When wires need to be joined without going to a terminal a crimped joint, piece of terminal block, wirenut or similar device must be used and the bulkyness of this may require use of a deeper backbox.
===More than two locations=== For more than two locations, the two cores connecting the L1 and L2 of the switches must be passed through an intermediate switch (as explained above) wired to swap them over. Any number of intermediate switches can be inserted, allowing for any number of locations. Wiring needed in addition to the mains network (not including protective earths): *first method **double wire along the sequence of switches **single wire from the first switch to mains **single wire from the last switch to the load **single wire (neutral) from load to mains *second method **double wire along the sequence of switches **single wire from first switch to last switch **single wire from anywhere between two of the switches to the mains **single wire from anywhere between the same two switches to the load **single wire (neutral) from load to mains
== See also== *Circuit breaker *Contactor *Relay *Analogue switch *Underwriters Laboratories, Canadian Standards Association, VDA == External Links == *[http://www.indepthinfo.com/wire-switch/index.shtml How to Wire a Switch] (very us centric) Switches
Switch
==ratings etc== it might be useful to extend the discussion to other significant aspects of switches such as voltage and current ratings, design life, environmental requirements, etc. :And we could use photos of switches. A knife switch would be a good introductory picture. A mercury bulb switch would be an unusual twist, a common wall switch (though styles differ around the world) would also be meaningful. Perhaps someone can come up with a picture of a big electric company switch. On the other side of the spectrum, we have micro switches for all sorts of mundane tasks like determining if there's paper in the paper tray. -- User:Ke4roh 12:16, 18 May 2004 (UTC) ==network switches?== It seems that we don't have anything to do with network switches. If we already have it, then we need a link to it on this page. --huwr :I also overlooked it the first time. The link is in the second sentence. -- User:Ke4roh 12:16, 18 May 2004 (UTC) ::I've now created a full disambiguation page, so hopefully the other meanings are more prominent. - User:IMSoP 06:23, 27 Jun 2004 (UTC) ==underwater cameras and reed switches== Is it true that underwater cameras use reed switches ? -- User:DavidCary 17:19, 26 Jun 2004 (UTC) ==schematic symbols== it would be great to include the schematic symbols to illustrate the various configurations too. --User:Hooperbloob 05:14, 10 Nov 2004 (UTC) ==feel free to comment on my edits (plugwash)== i've tried to deamericanise the page and also added a load of info on names of switch types and a section on multiway switching what do you guys think? User:Plugwash 16:11, 1 Dec 2004 (UTC) :Well, apart from a few Wikipedia:Manual of Style issues (e.g. please capitalise the first letter of sentences), which I've fixed easily enough, I think your additions on multi-way switching are a little hard to understand. I'll have a go at improving the diagrams once I've got GIMP installed (if no-one else gets there first), but I think the explanation could do with "tightening up" too. I'll have a go, unless I get distracted; I might also draw some schematics for the different configurations, as this should make things much easier to understand. Nonetheless, you have solved an enduring mystery for me, which is how you can have a set of 3 switches all able to toggle the same light; up till now, I'd only figured out a way that required a transistor, which seemed a bit unlikely for my parents' Edwardian house... so thanks for that! - User:IMSoP 18:47, 1 Dec 2004 (UTC) I notice you changed my table to the wiki pipe syntax is there a formally expressed preference anywhere for which syntax to use? As for the diagrams they were drawn in mspaint and im not too skilled at drawing i think the diagrams get the points accross though. User:Plugwash 20:20, 1 Dec 2004 (UTC) :Um, no, as far as I know, there isn't an official guideline on which table syntax to use; to be honest, I just changed it over for the selfish reason that ''I'' find the pipe syntax easier to read (in many cases, ''a lot'' easier to read), and I wanted to fix up some other things in the table (grammar and formatting type stuff). Besides, that pseudo-broken-HTML-syntax variant you used is just plain ''weird''! (Not your fault, I know, it's on the help page; still weird, though). So, basically, my apologies if you disagree with my preference/opinion. :As for the diagrams - no offence, but the fact that they're done in Paint, and not even done ''well'' in Paint, shows. [Tip: even in MSPaint, you can hold down shift to constrain the straight line tool to 45° angles...] Sure, they get the points across (or the first image does; the second one is a little confusing, and I had to sketch my own diagrams to make sense of it), but they don't exactly look "professional" - if you saw those in Encarta, you'd laugh. Like I say, please don't take offence, and thanks for having a crack, but if no-one else does, I will try and draw some slightly neater versions, and hopefully make them look a little more like standard wiring diagrams, too. - User:IMSoP 00:11, 2 Dec 2004 (UTC) == Why UP for ON in the USA and DOWN for ON in the UK? == This is one of those bits of trivia for which I really would like to know the answer: In Britain you flick the switch down for "on" but in America you do the reverse - you flick it up for "on". I have asked no end of authoritative bods about this and no one seems to have a historical answer to explain how and why this came to be. Does anyone here know the answer? User:MPLX 05:35, 11 Jan 2005 (UTC) :Dunno. But I can tell you that in Europe it is usually as in the UK. Except when it isn't (my flat in Valencia seemed to have all wiring installed at random). User:Chamaeleon 12:43, 11 Jan 2005 (UTC) :Don't know the answer, but (and I speak as a Brit) the American way seems better... the switch is far more likely to be knocked downwards (e.g. by something falling) and it seems sensible to switch OFF in that case. It is also worth noting that a lot of industrial switchgear (DIN rail circuit breakers spring to mind) in the UK normally switches off in the DOWN position. --User:Ali@gwc.org.uk 14:29, 11 Jan 2005 (UTC) ::I was born in England and then moved to the USA, but no matter who I ask, no one seems to know the answer. My guess is that it has something to do with cars driving on different sides of the street in the UK and USA; a modified spelling and pronunciation of the English language in the USA and even different measures for clothes, water and so on. Since the development of commercial electricity flowed from the USA to the UK like the telephone system, my guess is that the UK modified the US system. But the question is: who and why (apart from just wanting to be different, or plain bloody minded.)? User:MPLX 16:48, 11 Jan 2005 (UTC) :::i would argue that at least with lightswitches accidental switch-on is less likely to cause problems than accidental switch off (the last thing you want when things are going wrong is to suddently get plunged into darkness as well. User:Plugwash 17:38, 2 May 2005 (UTC) ==A terminal block in the backbox== Please explain a terminal block and backbox and explain how cable is saved. You seem to need three cables between the boxes in both cases, in addition to the circuit from one box through the light and the power supply back to that box.--User:Patrick 20:43, Jan 24, 2005 (UTC) :not sure how to put this. :terminal block is this stuff http://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Products/TLCON5.html (i belive americans use wirenuts instead) a backbox is simply the box your switch is mounted in. :as for cable saving it depends on which switches the live and switched lives arrive at perhaps the follwoing diagram will better explain what i mean (i drew this feel free to use it how the hell you like). its uk color code so possiblly not so approprite for an article here (i deliberately kept the diagrams on the switch page free of cable color codes to avoid confusion) : :i think it needs to be said (but im not sure how best to say it) that there are many wiring LAYOUTS for two way switching but electrically they are all one of the cuircuits that i currently show on the switch page. I have written out the wiring needed. It seems the second method always needs more. I wonder if it has any advantage.--User:Patrick 08:56, Jan 25, 2005 (UTC) :the MAIN reason for using the second method is to avoid the need to use a terminal block (wirenut in the usa) in the backbox of the first switch when live and switched live arrive at the same box. http://www.mywatergarden.com/diy/2way-switching.gif shows such a configuration. :http://www.umist.ac.uk/personal/student/Peter.Green/lamps.png is another more unusual case where the second method shown wins. :i see you also added a link to Three-way circuit which shows a HUGE degree of national bias, is written in far too much of a howto style and specifies FAR too much locally variable detail (such as cable size). User:Plugwash 11:47, 25 Jan 2005 (UTC) I did not add it because it is so useful, related articles should always be linked. Feel free to edit it; maybe we should even change it into a redirect.--User:Patrick 14:07, Jan 25, 2005 (UTC) ==Three-way circuit redirected here== i have redirected Three-way circuit to here. The old content there was a very us centric howto. If you wish to move that content to a more appropriate place feel free to get it from the history and add an external or sisterproject link to its new home from here. User:Plugwash 17:34, 2 May 2005 (UTC)
See other meanings of words starting from letter:
S
SB | SC | SD | SE | SF | SG | SH | SI | SJ | SK | SL | SM | SN | SO | SP | SR | SS | ST | SU | SW | SX | SY | SZ |Words begining with Switch:
Switch
Switch
Switch-hitter
Switch-mode_power_supply
Switchback
Switchblade
Switchblade
SwitchbladeNGC
Switchblade_(album)
Switchblade_knife
Switchblade_Romance
Switchblade_Symphony
Switchboard
Switchboard_operator
Switchboard_operator
Switched-mode_power_supply
Switched-On_Bach
Switched-On_Brandenburgs
Switched_circuit
Switched_fabric
Switched_loop
Switched_mode_power_supply
Switched_Multi-megabit_Data_Services
Switched_multimegabit_data_service
Switched_multimegabit_data_services
Switched_On
Switched_On_Bach
Switched_On_Bach
Switched_On_Brandenburgs
Switched_on_Christmas_(Venus_Hum)
Switched_virtual_circuit
Switchel
Switcher
Switcher
Switcher
Switcheroo
Switchers
Switches
Switches
Switchfoot
Switchframe
Switchgear
Switchgrass
Switching
Switching-mode_power_supply
Switching_(BDSM)
Switching_barriers
Switching_center
Switching_Channels
Switching_cost
Switching_costs
Switching_power_supply
Switching_regulator
Switching_router
SwitchUK
Switch_(album)
Switch_(BDSM)
Switch_(BDSM)
Switch_(command_line)
Switch_(debit_card)
Switch_(disambiguation)
Switch_(EP)
Switch_(Matrix_character)
Switch_(rod)
Switch_(rod)
Switch_(sexuality)
Switch_(sexuality)
Switch_and_Data
Switch_Bitch
Switch_Card_Scheme
Switch_file
Switch_hitter
Switch_Island
Switch_mode_power_supply
Switch_point
Switch_pylon
Switch_statement
Switch_to_right_hand_traffic_in_Czechoslovakia
Switch_to_right_side_driving_in_Czechoslovakia
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