The Light Switch - The Gatekeeper For Electricity
The Light Switch - The Gatekeeper For Electricity
The light switch is the gatekeeper for electricity in your home. It controls the flow of power to your lights, blinds, appliances and more, turning them on or off with a flick of a lever or push of a button. There are many different types of switches on the market, but they all serve a similar purpose. The differences between them are primarily in their appearance and functionality, rather than size or shape. Depending on your personal preferences and the needs of your home, one switch may work better for you than another.
Most people don’t think of their light switches as an important part of their home, but they should. A good switch can improve your quality of life and the overall look and feel of a room. However, because of the many available options, selecting the best switch can be confusing. This article will help you understand the difference between the different light switch types and select the right one for your home.
Light switches are designed to control the flow of current to lighting and other electrical devices that run on AC power (120 volts). They can be either power-through or end-of-line. Power-through switches have a black wire that connects to the electrical circuit’s power source and a white wire that connects to a fixture or light bulb. When the switch is flipped to the on position, the brass arm of the switch flips up and joins two electrical contacts together, completing a circuit that turns on a light. When a switch is flipped to the off position, the metal gate snaps open and interrupts the flow of electricity to the fixture or light bulb.
End-of-line switches, on the other hand, are designed to serve as a stopper and can only be activated by a switch or fixture that is already in place. They have a white wire that connects to the fixture or light, a black wire that comes from the power source and a green or copper wire that is connected to a grounding terminal. When the switch is flipped to the off position, it breaks the connection between the black and white wires and stops the flow of electricity.
When selecting a switch, it is also important to note the size of your wall box and face-plate to ensure that the switch fits properly. Also, it is always a good idea to turn off the power to your house before installing any electrical hardware.
The most common type of light switch is a single-pole, double-throw (on/off) switch. These are typically made of porcelain or bakelite, although some are now molded from fire resistant plastics such as polycarbonate or ABS. They can be surface-mounted or flush-mounted, and come in a wide selection of styles from classic to modern. Single-pole switches have one switch that controls a single light, while multiple configurations offer double, triple or quadruple switches on the base to control a number of lights.