SWITCHES

-Bicol, Meryll Mae G. ARC - 3101

Switch a device that open or closed the circuitry in an electric circuit. It is an electric component that can break an electric circuit Interrupting the current or diverting it from one conductor to another rated by current and voltage, duty, poles and throw, fusibility and enclosure switches are rated as 250v, 600v, or 5kv as required

The current rating is the amount of current that the switch can carry continuously and interrupt safely. Switches intended for normal use in light and power circuits are called general-use safety switches and are rated NO for normal duty. Switches intended for frequent interrupting are rated HD for heavy duty. Switches intended to be opened load only occasionally, such as service switches are rated LD for light duty.

Basic Structure of a Switch

Manually Operated Electromechanical Device It is the most familiar form of switch with one or more sets of electrical contacts, which are connected to external circuits
Power Switching When a switch is in the on state, its resistance is near zero and very little power is dropped in the contacts; when a switch is in the off state, its resistance is extremely high and even less power is dropped in the contacts. Mechanism of Switch "toggle" (flip switch for continuous "on" / "off") "momentary" (push-for "on" / push-for "off") type

A toggle switch in the "on" position.

A momentary switch in the off position.

A switch may be directly manipulated by a human as a control signal to a system, such as a computer keyboard button, or to control power flow in a circuit, such as a light switch. Automatically operated switches can be used to control the motions of machines, for example, to indicate that a garage door has reached its full open position or that a machine tool is in a position to accept another work piece. Switches may be Operated by Process Variables pressure temperature flow current voltage force They act as sensors in a process and used to automatically control a system. For example, thermostat is a temperature-operated switch used to control a heating process. Relay

It is a switch operated by another electrical circuit.

Large switches may be remotely operated by a motor drive mechanism. Some switches are used to isolate electric power from a system, providing a visible point of isolation that can be padlocked if necessary to prevent accidental operation of a machine during maintenance, or to prevent electric shock.

Ideal Switch no voltage drop when closed no limits on voltage or current rating have zero rise time and fall time during state changes change state without "bouncing" between on and off positions often used in circuit analysis as it greatly simplifies the system of equations to be solved, however this can lead to a less accurate solution

Electrical switches - Top, left to right: circuit breaker, mercury switch, wafer switch, DIP switch, surface mount switch, reed switch. Bottom, left to right: wall switch (U.S. style), miniature toggle switch, in line switch, push-button switch, rocker switch, microswitch.

Two Conductive Pieces of Switch metal, called contacts, connected to an external circuit, that touch to complete (make) the circuit, and separate to open (break) the circuit resistance to corrosion hardness(resistance to abrasive wear) mechanical strength low cost low toxicity nonmetallic conductors, such as conductive plasctics are sometimes used. To prevent the formation of insulating oxides, a minimum wetting current may be specified for a given switch design
Contact Terminology Two States of Set of Contacts "closed" meaning the contacts are touching and electricity can flow between them "open" meaning the contacts are separated and the switch is non conducting make - closure of contacts break - opening of contacts

 normally open ("n.o." or "no") contacts remain in one state unless actuated until closed by operation of the switch normally closed("n.c." or "nc") - contacts remain in one state unless opened by the switch action changeover switch - a switch with both types of contact "make-before-break" ("MBB" or shorting) - momentarily connect both circuits "break-before-make" ("BBM" or non-shorting) - interrupts one circuit before closing the other Switch Contact Variations "poles" - number of separate circuits which are controlled by a switch at one time For example, a "2-pole" switch has two separate identical sets of contacts controlled by the same knob. "throws" - number of separate positions that the switch can adopt within a pole Types of Throws Switch single-throw switch has one pair of contacts that can either be closed or open double-throw switch - has a contact that can be connected to either of two other contacts triple-throw switch - has a contact which can be connected to one of three other contacts

Poles and Schematics

Triple-pole single-throw (TPST or 3PST) knife switchused to short the windings of a 3 phase wind turbine forbraking purposes. Here the switch is shown in the open position.

Switches with larger numbers of poles or throws can be described by replacing the "S" or "D" with a number (e.g. 3PST, 4PST, etc.) or in some cases the letter "T" (for "triple") or "Q" (for "quadruple"). In the rest of this article the terms SPST,SPDT and intermediate will be used to avoid the ambiguity.

Gas Plasma / Electric Arc It is formed when the power being switched is sufficiently large, the electron flow across opening switch contacts is sufficient to ionize the air molecules across the tiny gap between the contacts as the switch is opened.
Plasma

It is low resistance and is able to sustain power flow, even with the separation distance between the switch contacts steadily increasing. The plasma is also very hot and is capable of eroding the metal surfaces of the switch contacts.
Puffer This may be used to blow a sudden high velocity burst of gas across the switch contacts, which rapidly extends the length of the arc to extinguish it quickly. Inductive loads When a strongly inductive load such as an electric motor is switched off, the current cannot drop instantaneously to zero; a spark will jump across the opening contacts.

Incandescent loads When turned on, an incandescent lamp draws a large inrush current of about ten times the steady-state current; as the filament heats up, its resistance rises and the current decreases to a steady-state value.
Wetting current It is the minimum current needing to flow through a mechanical switch while it is operated to break through any film of oxidation that may have been deposited on the switch contacts.

Actuator The moving part that applies the operating force to the contacts and may be a toggle or dolly, a rocker, a push-button or any type of mechanical linkage.

Biased / Latching switches

It maintains its state after being activated. The momentary push-button switch is a type of biased switch. The most common type is a "push-to-make" (or normally-open or NO) switch, which makes contact when the button is pressed and breaks when the button is released. Example: key of a computer keyboard

Rotary switch

A three-deck stacked rotary switch.

It operates with a twisting motion of the operating handle with at least two positions. A rotary switch may have multiple levels or "decks" in order to allow it to control multiple circuits. For example, a radio controlled overhead crane may have a large multi-circuit rotary switch to transfer hard-wired control signals from the local manual controls in the cab to the outputs of the remote control receiver.

Toggle switch

It is a class of electrical switches that are manually actuated by a mechanical lever, handle, or rocking mechanism. It is a switch where a definitive click is heard, is called a "positive on-off switch". Large toggle switch, depicted in circuit "open" position, electrical contacts to left; background is 1/4" square graph paper

Kill Switch / Emergency Stop / E-Stop It is a safety mechanism used to shut off a device in an emergency situation in which it cannot be shut down in the usual manner.

Emergency stop button - The arrows indicate that the stop button must be turned to reset the switch before the equipment can be restarted.

Elevators often have a red two-way button on the control panel which is either marked "Emergency Stop" or "Run/Stop". Normally, the button is in the "up" or unpushed position, allowing the elevator to "run" in normal service.

Load Control Switch

It is a remotely controlled relay that is placed on home appliances which consume large amounts of electricity, such as air conditioner units and electric water heaters.

Membrane Switch It is an electrical switch for turning a circuit on and off. Electronic membrane switches

Pull Switch It is a switch that is actuated by means of a chain or string.

Push Switch It is a momentary or non-latching switch which causes a temporary change in the state of an electrical circuit only while the switch is physically actuated.

Push-to-make switch electronic symbol Time / Timer Switch

Push-to-brake switch electronic symbol

It operates an electric switch controlled by the timing mechanism.

Touch Switch It is a type of switch that only has to be touched by an object to operate. Two Types Capacitance switch needs only one electrode to function Resistance switch needs two electrodes to be physically in contact with something electrically conductive (for example a finger) to operate. Piezo Touch Switch It is based on mechanical bending of piezo ceramic, typically constructed directly behind a surface. Transfer Switch It is an electrical switch that switches a load between two sources.

Centrifugal Switch It is an electric switch that operates using the centrifugal force created from a rotating shaft, most commonly that of an electric motor or gasoline engine.

Fireman Switch It is a specialized switch disconnector / isolator. Switch used to shut off petrol pumps at a petrol station in the event of a fire

Classification of Switches General Use Switch intended for use in the general distribution and branch circuit rated in amperes. It is capable of interrupting the rated current at a rated voltage. General Use Snap Switch is a form of general use switch installed in flush device boxes or an outlet box cover. AC Geneial Use Snap Switch AC - DC General Use Switch Isolating Switch Intended for isolating an electric circuit from the source of power. Switch used to shut off petrol pumps at a petrol station in the event of a fire Motor Circuit Switch

Alternate and Momentary

N/O and N/C

Lever Positions and Circuits

(ON) is momentary Note: There is a distinction between throwand position. Among two position switches there are single throw ON-NONEOFF and double throw ON-NONE-ON.

Isolated Circuits for Illumination

Types of Terminals

Mounting Options

Types of Actuators

Typical Heavy Duty (Hd), 3 Pole Fusible Switch In Industrial Type Nema Enclosure

Unless otherwise noted, a switch is assumed to be single throw. Since the NEC states generally that the grounded neutral conductor of a circuit should not be broken, most switches carry the neutral through unbroken, by means of a solid link within the switch. This gives rise to the term Solid Neutral ISNI Switch. Switches are available in 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5-pole construction. Poles are indicated by a "P"; thus 3-pole is written "3P", and so on. A switch may be constructed with or without provision for fusing. If provided, the switch is fusible; if not, the switch is nonfusible.

Modern Electrical Switches wireless switches luxurious coverplates minimalist sleek architecture cutting edge technology infinite interior decor combinations smooth and glossy mirror finish exotic stingray leather (galuchat) classic woven metal super-soft electronic push-buttons/ touchplates ergonomically designed sophisticated

Yellow Light Switch This concept has a map displaying the location of lights in your home indicated by light bulb icons; pressing the icons turns on the corresponding lights.

Revolving Light Switch

"Rotate the power switch and the overhead lamp progressively opens to show the light."

'Turn Me On' Light Switch

A cool switch design by Chris Haines that requires you to breathe hard into its ear hole in order to illuminate your room.

'Tio' Light Switch System Its an interesting design from Tim Holley, that gives kids a visual reminder of how much energy they used by leaving the lights on.

Off Light Switch Hook This cool hook switch comes from electrical engineer Scott Amron, that gives extra utility to a normal light switch in order to add a real incentive to keep it switched "off" as often as possible. Hidden Light Switch If you have a hidden door this is a cool option, if not you can use it to turn on and off the lights in your room.

Cubic Switchplate It creates an illusion of a three dimensional cube-shaped light box, without the need of taking up anymore real estate than a normal flat switch. Coin Light Switch "A very simple modification to a standard electrical coverplate."

Berker Switches These glittery and stylish switches have been made using Swarovski crystals; behind the crystal there exists an optical system that also controls other items in the house.

Sentido Switches It works using a patented multi-touch technology for a multiple keypress. "By touching more than one area simultaneously, an extra comfort function is activated. This can be used to switch all the lights in the room on or off in a single movement instead of multiple movements.

Green Light Switches

Sexy and Sleek Switch Mona Touch Sensitive

These rotative light switch designs' display negative and positive signals that will represent the use of energy.

Push-In Disappearing Outlet

Modern Toggle