ELECTRICAL
SWITCHES
INTRODUCTION
• In electronics, a switch is an electrical component that
can break an electrical circuit, interrupting the current
or diverting it from one conductor to another.
• The most familiar form of switch is a manually
operated electromechanical device with one or more
sets of electrical contacts.
• Each set of contacts can be in one of two states: either
'closed' meaning the contacts are touching and
electricity can flow between them, or 'open', meaning
the contacts are separated and nonconducting.
• A pair of contacts is said to be "closed" when current can flow from one to
the other. When the contacts are separated by an insulating air gap, they
are said to be "open", and no current can flow between them at normal
voltages.
• The terms pole and throw are also used to describe switch contact
variations. The number of "poles" is the number of separate circuits which
are controlled by a switch.
1) For example, a "2-pole" switch has two separate identical sets of contacts
controlled by the same knob. The number of "throws" is the number of
separate positions that the switch can adopt.
• In electrical power wiring names generally involving the suffixed word "-
way" are used; however, these terms differ between British and American
English and the terms two way and three way are used in both with
different meanings.
Electronics Expansion British American
specification of mains electrical Description Symbol
and abbreviation wiring wiring
abbreviation name name
A simple on-off switch:
The two terminals are
SPST Single pole, One-way Two-way either connected
single throw together or disconnected
from each other. An
example is a light switch.
A simple changeover
SPDT Single pole, Two-way Three-way switch: C (COM,
double throw Common) is connected to
L1 or to L2
SPCO Single pole Similar to SPDT. Some
SPTT, c.o. changeover suppliers use SPCO/SPTT
or for switches with a stable
Single pole, off position in the centre
centre off or and SPDT for those
Single Pole, Triple without
Throw
DPST Double pole, Equivalent to two SPST
single throw Double pole Double switches controlled by a
pole single mechanism
Electronics Expansion British American
specification and of mains electrical Description Symbol
abbreviation abbreviation wiring wiring
name name
DPDT Double pole, Equivalent to two SPDT
double throw 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.
DPCO Double pole Equivalent to DPDT. Some
changeover suppliers use DPCO for
or Double pole, switches with a stable off
centre off position in the centre and
DPDT for those without.
DPDT switch internally
wired for polarity-
reversal applications:
Intermediate Four-way only four rather than six
switch switch 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.
• The moving part that applies the operating
force to the contacts is called the actuator,
and may be a toggle , a rocker, a push-button
or any type of mechanical linkage.
• Biased switches
• 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.
Toggle switch
• A toggle switch is a class of
electrical switches that are
manually actuated by a
mechanical lever, handle, or
rocking mechanism.
• Toggle switches are
designed to provide,
e.g., the control of large
amounts of electric
current or mains
voltages.
Relay Switch
• A relay is an electrically
operated switch.
• Many relays use an
electromagnet to operate a
switching mechanism
mechanically.
• When an electric current is
passed through the coil it
generates a magnetic field that
attracts the armature, and the
consequent movement of the
movable contact(s) either makes
or breaks (depending upon
construction) a connection with a
fixed contact.
• When the current to the coil is
switched off, the armature is
returned to its relaxed position by
a force, approximately half as
strong as the magnetic force.
Different type of relay
switches
• Latching relay
• Reed relay
• Polarized relay
• Contactor relay
applications
• Control a high-voltage circuit with a low-voltage
signal, as in some types of modems or audio
amplifiers.
• Control a high-current circuit with a low-current
signal, as in the starter solenoid of an
automobile.
• Isolate the controlling circuit from the
controlled circuit when the two are at different
potentials.
DIP SWITCH
• A DIP switches are
manual electric switches
that are packaged in a
group in a standard dual
in-line package (DIP).
• This type of switch is
designed to be used on
a printed circuit board
along with other
electronic components.
applications
• DIP switches were extensively used in ISA PC
cards to select IRQs and memory addresses.
• often used on arcade games.
• used on early video cards for early computers
to facilitate compatibility with other video
standards.
Hall effect switch
• A Hall effect sensor is a transducer that varies
its output voltage in response to changes in
magnetic field. Hall sensors are used for
proximity switching, positioning, speed
detection, and current sensing applications.
• The magnetic piston (1)
in this pneumatic
cylinder will cause the
Hall effect sensors (2
and 3) mounted on its
outer wall to activate
when it is fully retracted
or extended
Applications
• Hall sensors are commonly used to time the
speed of wheels and shafts, such as for
internal combustion engine ignition timing,
tachometers and anti-lock braking systems.
• They are used in brushless DC electric motors
to detect the position of the permanent
magnet.
