DEPARTMENT OF TECHNICAL EDUCATION

ANDHRA PRADESH

NAME : R.K.L.N.MURTRHY
Designation : lecturer
Branch : ECE
Institute : GMR polytechnic, srisailam.
Year/Semester : First year
Subject : Electronic components and device
Subject code : EC-105
Topic : switches, connectors and relays
Duration : 100Mts
Sub topic : Definition and classification of switches.
Teaching aids : diagrams

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OBJECTIVES

Upon the completion of this topic the student will be able to

• Describe and classify the switches .

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 RECAP
• We discussed in previous class
:Inductors and transformers

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Definition of a switch

• A switch is a device which can connect two points in a

circuit or disconnect two points

• If the switch is acting so as to connect two points, it is

said to be ON position.

• If the switch is acting so as to disconnect two points, it is

said to be in OFF position.

• A switch is an electrical device that can either turn ON or

turn OFF a device.

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Fig 1 Switch opened

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Fig 2 Switch closed

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FUNCTION OF A SWITCH:

• In fig (a) the switch is open there is no current flowing in

the circuit. Thus the bulb does not glow.
• In fig (b) the circuit is closed by moving arm and there is a
path for the current to flow and bulb glows.
• Thus for this kind of switch there are only two possible
states which are ON and OFF.
• The moving arm can be moved to open or close a circuit
is called a pole.
• The number of poles here are one and the number of
throws here are one. so it is called single pole single
throw switch (SPDT)
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CLASSIFICATION OF SWITCHES

According to its operation, a switch is classified as

• single pole single throw switch (SPST).

• Single pole double throw switch (SPDT).

• Double pole single throw switch (DPST).

• Double pole double throw switch (DPDT).

• Multi pole multi throw switch.

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Depending on mechanism of operation switches
are classified as

• Toggle switch

• Push button switch

• Slider switch

• Rotary switch

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• Lever switch

• Micro switch

• Piano switch

• Mercury switch

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SUMMARY

• We have discussed about definition of a switch.

• Example figures of a switch with ON and OFF.

• Classification of switches according to its operation.

• Classification of switches according to its mechanism of

operation.

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QUIZ
1) A switch is a device used to

(a) turn on the circuit

(b) turn off the circuit

(c) opens the circuit

(d) turns on or turn off the circuit

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2) An ordinary switch used for the bulb is

(a) SPDT

(b) SPST

(c) DPDT

(d) DPST

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1) The moving arm can be moved to open or close
a switch is called

(a) throw

(b) hole

(c) pole

(d) switch

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Frequently asked question in
examinations

1.List different types of switches.

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