Electric switch

A device that makes, breaks, or changes the course of an electric circuit. Basically, an electric switch consists of two or more contacts mounted on an insulating structure and arranged so that they can be moved into and out of contact with each other by a suitable operating mechanism.

The term switch is usually used to denote only those devices intended to function when the circuit is energized or deenergized under normal manual operating conditions; as contrasted with circuit breakers, which have as one of their primary functions the interruption of short-circuit currents. Although there are hundreds of types of electric switches, their application can be broadly classified into two major categories: power and signal.

In power applications, switches function to energize or deenergize an electric load. On the low end of the power scale, wall switches are used in homes and offices for turning lights on and off; dial and push-button switches control power to electric ranges, washing machines, and dishwashers. On the high end of the scale are load-break switches and disconnecting switches in power systems at the highest voltages (several hundred thousand volts).

For power applications, when closed, switches are required to carry a certain amount of continuous current without over heating, and in the open position they must provide enough insulation to isolate the circuit electrically.

Load-break switches are required also to have the capability of interrupting the load current. Although this requirement is easily met in low-voltage and low-current applications, for high-voltage and high-current circuits, arc interrupters, similar to those used in circuit breakers are needed. In medium-voltage applications the most popular interrupter is the air magnetic type, in which the arc is driven into an arc chute by the magnetic field produced by the load current in a blowout coil.

Some load-break switches may also be required to have the capability of holding the contacts in the closed position during short-circuit conditions so that the contacts will not be blown open by electromagnetic forces when the circuit breaker in the system interrupts the short-circuit current.

For signal applications, switches are used to detect a specified situation that calls for some predetermined action in the electrical circuit. For example, thermostats detect temperature; when a certain limit is reached, contacts in the thermostat energize or de-energize another electrical switching device to control power flow.

Switches for signaling purposes are often required to have long life, high speed, and high reliability. Contaminants and dust must be prevented from interfering with the operation of the switch. For this purpose, switches are usually enclosed and are sometimes hermetically sealed.

Switches frequently are composed of many single circuit elements, known as poles, all operated simultaneously or in a predetermined sequence by the same mechanism. Switches are often typed by the number of poles and referred to as single- pole or double-pole switches, and so on. It is also common to express the number of possible switch positions per pole, such as a single-throw or double-throw switch.