SWITCHES, FUSES, &

CIRCUIT BREAKERS
OVERVIEW

Switches

Fuses

Circuit Breakers
Switches

A switch is a device used to open and close

electrical paths, thereby either stopping the
current flow or allowing the current to flow in an
electrical circuit or through an electrical
component.
Switches
There are a wide variety of switches. The wide variety of
switches available differ mechanically, electrically, and in
the arrangement of switch contacts.
Arm
Single-Pole, Single Throw Switch
(SPST) (SPST) A single pole switch is a single
circuit switch– it closes or opens only
one circuit path. The single pole switch
has one moving arm and one stationary
contact. Example: ON/OFF Switch
Contact

A schematic representation of the

simplest, most common arrangement
of switch contacts.
Switches
There are a wide variety of switches. The wide variety of
switches available differ mechanically, electrically, and in
the arrangement of switch contacts.

Arm Contact 1
(SPDT) Single-Pole, Double Throw Switch
(SPDT) A single pole switch is a single
circuit switch– it closes or opens only
one circuit path. The single pole switch
has one moving arm and two stationary
contacts. Example: High/ Low beams in
Contact 2 your car.
A schematic representation of the
simplest, most common arrangement
of switch contacts.
Switches
There are a wide variety of switches. The wide variety of
switches available differ mechanically, electrically, and in
the arrangement of switch contacts.
Contact 1 Double-Pole, Single Throw Switch
(throw)
(DPST) This double pole switch is a
Arms
single circuit switch– it closes or opens
only one circuit path. The double pole
(DPST)
switch has two moving arms and two
Contact 2
(throw)
stationary contacts. The dotted line
indicates the two arms move
simultaneously and are part of the same
A schematic representation of the assembly. Example: Dual ON/OFF
simplest, most common arrangement switch.
of switch contacts.
Switches
There are a wide variety of switches. The wide variety of
switches available differ mechanically, electrically, and in
the arrangement of switch contacts.
Contacts 1 Double-Pole, Double Throw Switch
Arms (throw)
(DPDT) The multi-pole switch has two
moving arms and two sets of stationary
contacts. The dotted line indicates the
two arms move simultaneously and are
part of the same assembly. Example:
(DPDT) Contacts 2 polarity reversal
(throw)

A schematic representation of the

simplest, most common arrangement
of switch contacts.
Switches
When looking at a schematic, switches are shown as normally
open (NO) or normally closed (NC) position.
Switches
There is a large variety of switches. The most common switches
are toggle switches, slide switches, rotary switches and push
button switches.

The toggle switch is

probably the most familiar
switch. Most of the wall
switches for the lights in our
home are toggle switches.
Switches
There is a large variety of switches. The most common switches
are toggle switches, slide switches, rotary switches and push
button switches.

The slide switch is another

very popular mechanical
device. Usually slide
switches are used on
instruments directly
mounted on printed circuit
boards where material
costs must be kept low.
Switches
There is a large variety of switches. The most common switches
are toggle switches, slide switches, rotary switches and push
button switches.

The rotary switch is primarily

used as a selector switch.
They are very popular in
electronics because they can
be designed in many different
ways, which lets the design
engineer choose many
options as how to perform
switching operation.
Switches
There is a large variety of switches. The most common switches
are toggle switches, slide switches, rotary switches and push
button switches.

The push button switch

comes in various
combinations of contacts, in
many shapes and sizes as
well as in ganged
configurations. These
switches are primarily used for
control applications on the
front panel of instruments or
other electronic equipment.
Fuses and Circuit Breakers
Protection devices protect you and your equipment from electrical
damage. Most electrical equipment has built in protection that will
sense an increase in current. The protection device immediately
shuts down the circuit.

There are two types of

protection devices used in the
electronics industry: Fuses
and Circuit Breakers. These
two types of devices are
different, but the principle of
their operation is the same,
and they produce the same
results.
Fuses
A fuse is the simplest and least expensive circuit protection
device available. A fuse is a metallic component which is placed
within an electrical circuit to monitor the current that passes
through the circuit.
A shorted circuit in an electrical system can cause excessive
current to flow through some of the components. These
components heat up and eventually burn up, perhaps
destroying the whole electrical system. Fortunately, having an
inexpensive built-in protection device, such as a fuse, to quickly
sense the short circuit condition and immediately shut the
electrical circuit will prevent equipment damage.

Schematic symbol
Fuses
A fuse is the simplest and least expensive circuit protection
device available. A fuse is a metallic component which is placed
within an electrical circuit to monitor the current that passes
through the circuit.
If the current in a protected circuit becomes
excessive the metal part inside of the fuse
heats up and melts, opening the electrical
circuit the fuse is protecting.
Fuses
A fuse is the simplest and least expensive circuit protection
device available.
Fuses have ratings. The most
important rating is the current rating,
which is stated in amps. The
amperage value is marked on every
fuse. This value is the maximum
current level that the fuse can carry.

In addition to ratings, we have two

categories of fuses: fast-acting and slow-
blow. A fast-acting fuse blows within about
one second after it senses an overload
condition. A slow-blow fuse blows between
one and thirty seconds after it senses an
overload condition, depending on the
amount of the overload.
Circuit Breakers
A circuit breaker is really two things in one: a switch and an indestructible fuse.
The function of the circuit breaker is the same as a fuse.

There are two different kinds

of circuit breakers: Thermal
and magnetic

Schematic symbol
Circuit Breakers
THERMAL Circuit Breakers work on the principle of temperature rise in the activators
sensing element. The sensor is usually a thermal bimetallic strip which heats up when
current flow is excessive. Thermal breakers are not as convenient as magnetic breakers,
because thermal breakers must cool down before they can be reset.

A1 (NC)

Input B1 (NO)

HEATING
ELEMENT
Circuit Breakers
MAGNETIC Circuit Breakers work on the principle of magnetism. The current flows
through a coil in the circuit breaker housing. As the current flows, it develops a magnetic
field. The strength of the magnetic field depends on the amount of current that flows
through the circuit and the coil. If the current exceeds the rating of the breaker, the
magnetic field becomes strong enough to produce a force to trip the breaker. This force
attracts the pole away from the throw. They are very common in the electrical field,
especially in house wiring circuits.
Summary
Understanding switch, fuse, and circuit breaker operation and construction are
essential requirements for an electronics technician. Some of the key points of the
lesson are listed below:

 A switch is a mechanical device used to open and close electrical current paths.

 The wide variety of switches available differ mechanically, electrically, and in the
arrangement of switch contacts. SPST, SPDT, DPST, DPDT, etc.

 The most common switches are toggle, slide, rotary and push button.

 There are two types of protection devices used in the electronics industry: Fuses and Circuit
Breakers.

 Fuses are low cost metallic protection devices, which heat up, melt and are destroyed
when the current rating is exceeded.

 Circuit Breakers are indestructible fuses which open or trip a circuit when they sense an
overload condition.