Types of Light Switches

The light switch is a common household fixture that can be used to control the lighting in a home. It controls a single or multiple lights and can be installed in a number of different configurations. There are a variety of types, including single, multi-gang and remote-controlled switches. One of the newest types is the wireless switch, which uses a transmitter within the switch and a receiver connected to the light to operate it without any wires. This is an ideal alternative to hardwired switches and can be especially useful for retrofitting lighting into older homes.

Safety:

Always turn off the power to a light switch before opening it or attempting any repairs. Light switches can be very dangerous if not properly grounded and may carry significant voltage even when the switch is in the off position. Use a voltage tester to verify that the switch has been turned off and that no current is running through it.

Inside a switch:

A light switch has 2 paths for the electricity to take. When the toggle is in the on position it connects the two wires together, allowing the circuit to pass through the switch and onto the light or device. When the switch is in the off position it disconnects the 2 wires and breaks the circuit.

Inside a switch the toggle is on a pivot that moves a lever on the inside, which in turns activates the contactors. The contactors are cooled by air so they don't burn your fingers when you touch them. As the toggle is moved, it pushes the lever and activates the contacts, which close and then open quickly. This is done to prevent shocks and sparking when the toggle is opened or closed rapidly.

The switch also has a bare copper grounding terminal that must be connected to the heavy-gauge copper ground wire in a home's electrical system. This wire is often run to a receptacle outlet or to a junction box on the wall where it is then run to a fixture or back to the service panel.

There are many types of light switches available for residential and commercial use. They come in a variety of configurations, with single or multiple switches on the base, and in a selection of shapes and sizes. Single switches have one switch that controls a single light; multiple switches can be double, triple or quadruple and have different functions on each switch.

The switches are installed in a switch box on the wall, which is normally mounted in a stud bay or on an accessible ceiling. The wires that connect to a switch run from the source cable (usually white and black) to the switch box and then from the switch boxes to the fixture. The incoming and outgoing wires are typically labeled for their connection to the switch (COM and L1 or L2). The COM terminal on the switch box is connected to the live or neutral wire in the circuit, while the L1 and L2 terminals on the switches are connected to each other.

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