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<span>Contacts</span> </div> </a> <button aria-controls="toc-Contacts-sublist" class="cdx-button cdx-button--weight-quiet cdx-button--icon-only vector-toc-toggle"> <span class="vector-icon mw-ui-icon-wikimedia-expand"></span> <span>Toggle Contacts subsection</span> </button> <ul id="toc-Contacts-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> <li id="toc-Contact_terminology" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Contact_terminology"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">2.1</span> <span>Contact terminology</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Contact_terminology-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Contact_bounce" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Contact_bounce"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">2.2</span> <span>Contact bounce</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Contact_bounce-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> <li id="toc-Bounce" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-3"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Bounce"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">2.2.1</span> <span>Bounce</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Bounce-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Debouncing" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-3"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Debouncing"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">2.2.2</span> <span>Debouncing</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Debouncing-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Arcs_and_quenching" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Arcs_and_quenching"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">2.3</span> <span>Arcs and quenching</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Arcs_and_quenching-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Power_switching" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Power_switching"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">2.4</span> <span>Power switching</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Power_switching-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Inductive_loads" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Inductive_loads"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">2.5</span> <span>Inductive loads</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Inductive_loads-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Incandescent_loads" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Incandescent_loads"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">2.6</span> <span>Incandescent loads</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Incandescent_loads-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Wetting_current" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Wetting_current"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">2.7</span> <span>Wetting current</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Wetting_current-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Actuator" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1 vector-toc-list-item-expanded"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Actuator"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">3</span> <span>Actuator</span> </div> </a> <button aria-controls="toc-Actuator-sublist" class="cdx-button cdx-button--weight-quiet cdx-button--icon-only vector-toc-toggle"> <span class="vector-icon mw-ui-icon-wikimedia-expand"></span> <span>Toggle Actuator subsection</span> </button> <ul id="toc-Actuator-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> <li id="toc-Biased_switches" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Biased_switches"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">3.1</span> <span>Biased switches</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Biased_switches-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Rotary_switch" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Rotary_switch"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">3.2</span> <span>Rotary switch</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Rotary_switch-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Toggle_switch" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Toggle_switch"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">3.3</span> <span>Toggle switch</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Toggle_switch-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Special_types" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1 vector-toc-list-item-expanded"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Special_types"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">4</span> <span>Special types</span> </div> </a> <button aria-controls="toc-Special_types-sublist" class="cdx-button cdx-button--weight-quiet cdx-button--icon-only vector-toc-toggle"> <span class="vector-icon mw-ui-icon-wikimedia-expand"></span> <span>Toggle Special types subsection</span> </button> <ul id="toc-Special_types-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> <li id="toc-Mercury_tilt_switch" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Mercury_tilt_switch"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">4.1</span> <span>Mercury tilt switch</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Mercury_tilt_switch-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Knife_switch" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Knife_switch"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">4.2</span> <span>Knife switch</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Knife_switch-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Reversing_switch" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Reversing_switch"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">4.3</span> <span>Reversing switch</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Reversing_switch-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Light_switches" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1 vector-toc-list-item-expanded"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Light_switches"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">5</span> <span>Light switches</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Light_switches-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Slide_switches" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1 vector-toc-list-item-expanded"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Slide_switches"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">6</span> <span>Slide switches</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Slide_switches-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Electronic_switches" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1 vector-toc-list-item-expanded"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Electronic_switches"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">7</span> <span>Electronic switches</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Electronic_switches-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Other_switches" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1 vector-toc-list-item-expanded"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Other_switches"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">8</span> <span>Other switches</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Other_switches-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-See_also" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1 vector-toc-list-item-expanded"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#See_also"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">9</span> <span>See also</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-See_also-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Notes" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1 vector-toc-list-item-expanded"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Notes"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">10</span> <span>Notes</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Notes-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-References" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1 vector-toc-list-item-expanded"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#References"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">11</span> <span>References</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-References-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-External_links" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1 vector-toc-list-item-expanded"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#External_links"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">12</span> <span>External links</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-External_links-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> </ul> </div> </div> </nav> </div> </div> <div class="mw-content-container"> <main id="content" class="mw-body"> <header class="mw-body-header vector-page-titlebar"> <nav aria-label="Contents" class="vector-toc-landmark"> <div id="vector-page-titlebar-toc" class="vector-dropdown vector-page-titlebar-toc vector-button-flush-left" title="Table of Contents" > <input type="checkbox" id="vector-page-titlebar-toc-checkbox" role="button" aria-haspopup="true" data-event-name="ui.dropdown-vector-page-titlebar-toc" class="vector-dropdown-checkbox " aria-label="Toggle the table of contents" > <label id="vector-page-titlebar-toc-label" for="vector-page-titlebar-toc-checkbox" class="vector-dropdown-label cdx-button cdx-button--fake-button cdx-button--fake-button--enabled cdx-button--weight-quiet cdx-button--icon-only " aria-hidden="true" ><span class="vector-icon mw-ui-icon-listBullet mw-ui-icon-wikimedia-listBullet"></span> <span class="vector-dropdown-label-text">Toggle the table of contents</span> </label> <div class="vector-dropdown-content"> <div id="vector-page-titlebar-toc-unpinned-container" class="vector-unpinned-container"> </div> </div> </div> </nav> <h1 id="firstHeading" class="firstHeading mw-first-heading"><span class="mw-page-title-main">Switch</span></h1> <div id="p-lang-btn" class="vector-dropdown mw-portlet mw-portlet-lang" > <input type="checkbox" id="p-lang-btn-checkbox" role="button" aria-haspopup="true" data-event-name="ui.dropdown-p-lang-btn" class="vector-dropdown-checkbox mw-interlanguage-selector" aria-label="Go to an article in another language. Available in 58 languages" > <label id="p-lang-btn-label" for="p-lang-btn-checkbox" class="vector-dropdown-label cdx-button cdx-button--fake-button cdx-button--fake-button--enabled cdx-button--weight-quiet cdx-button--action-progressive mw-portlet-lang-heading-58" aria-hidden="true" ><span class="vector-icon mw-ui-icon-language-progressive mw-ui-icon-wikimedia-language-progressive"></span> <span class="vector-dropdown-label-text">58 languages</span> </label> <div class="vector-dropdown-content"> <div class="vector-menu-content"> <ul class="vector-menu-content-list"> <li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-af mw-list-item"><a href="https://af.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skakelaar" title="Skakelaar – Afrikaans" lang="af" hreflang="af" data-title="Skakelaar" data-language-autonym="Afrikaans" data-language-local-name="Afrikaans" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Afrikaans</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-ar mw-list-item"><a href="https://ar.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D9%85%D9%82%D9%84%D8%A7%D8%AF" title="مقلاد – Arabic" lang="ar" hreflang="ar" data-title="مقلاد" data-language-autonym="العربية" data-language-local-name="Arabic" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>العربية</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-ast mw-list-item"><a href="https://ast.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interruptor" title="Interruptor – Asturian" lang="ast" hreflang="ast" data-title="Interruptor" data-language-autonym="Asturianu" data-language-local-name="Asturian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Asturianu</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-az mw-list-item"><a href="https://az.wikipedia.org/wiki/D%C9%99yi%C5%9Fdirici" title="Dəyişdirici – Azerbaijani" lang="az" hreflang="az" data-title="Dəyişdirici" data-language-autonym="Azərbaycanca" data-language-local-name="Azerbaijani" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Azərbaycanca</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-bn mw-list-item"><a href="https://bn.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E0%A6%9A%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%AC%E0%A6%BF_(%E0%A6%A4%E0%A6%A1%E0%A6%BC%E0%A6%BF%E0%A7%8E)" title="চাবি (তড়িৎ) – Bangla" lang="bn" hreflang="bn" data-title="চাবি (তড়িৎ)" data-language-autonym="বাংলা" data-language-local-name="Bangla" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>বাংলা</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-bg mw-list-item"><a href="https://bg.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%9A%D0%BB%D1%8E%D1%87_(%D0%B5%D0%BB%D0%B5%D0%BA%D1%82%D1%80%D0%BE%D1%82%D0%B5%D1%85%D0%BD%D0%B8%D0%BA%D0%B0)" title="Ключ (електротехника) – Bulgarian" lang="bg" hreflang="bg" data-title="Ключ (електротехника)" data-language-autonym="Български" data-language-local-name="Bulgarian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Български</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-bs mw-list-item"><a href="https://bs.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prekida%C4%8D" title="Prekidač – Bosnian" lang="bs" hreflang="bs" data-title="Prekidač" data-language-autonym="Bosanski" data-language-local-name="Bosnian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Bosanski</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-ca mw-list-item"><a href="https://ca.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interruptor" title="Interruptor – Catalan" lang="ca" hreflang="ca" data-title="Interruptor" data-language-autonym="Català" data-language-local-name="Catalan" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Català</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-cs mw-list-item"><a href="https://cs.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sp%C3%ADna%C4%8D" title="Spínač – Czech" lang="cs" hreflang="cs" data-title="Spínač" data-language-autonym="Čeština" data-language-local-name="Czech" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Čeština</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-da mw-list-item"><a href="https://da.wikipedia.org/wiki/Omskifter" title="Omskifter – Danish" lang="da" hreflang="da" data-title="Omskifter" data-language-autonym="Dansk" data-language-local-name="Danish" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Dansk</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-de mw-list-item"><a href="https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schalter_(Elektrotechnik)" title="Schalter (Elektrotechnik) – German" lang="de" hreflang="de" data-title="Schalter (Elektrotechnik)" data-language-autonym="Deutsch" data-language-local-name="German" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Deutsch</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-et mw-list-item"><a href="https://et.wikipedia.org/wiki/L%C3%BCliti" title="Lüliti – Estonian" lang="et" hreflang="et" data-title="Lüliti" data-language-autonym="Eesti" data-language-local-name="Estonian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Eesti</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-el mw-list-item"><a href="https://el.wikipedia.org/wiki/%CE%94%CE%B9%CE%B1%CE%BA%CF%8C%CF%80%CF%84%CE%B7%CF%82" title="Διακόπτης – Greek" lang="el" hreflang="el" data-title="Διακόπτης" data-language-autonym="Ελληνικά" data-language-local-name="Greek" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Ελληνικά</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-es mw-list-item"><a href="https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interruptor" title="Interruptor – Spanish" lang="es" hreflang="es" data-title="Interruptor" data-language-autonym="Español" data-language-local-name="Spanish" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Español</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-eo mw-list-item"><a href="https://eo.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C5%9Caltilo" title="Ŝaltilo – Esperanto" lang="eo" hreflang="eo" data-title="Ŝaltilo" data-language-autonym="Esperanto" data-language-local-name="Esperanto" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Esperanto</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-eu mw-list-item"><a href="https://eu.wikipedia.org/wiki/Etengailu" title="Etengailu – Basque" lang="eu" hreflang="eu" data-title="Etengailu" data-language-autonym="Euskara" data-language-local-name="Basque" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Euskara</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-fa mw-list-item"><a href="https://fa.wikipedia.org/wiki/%DA%A9%D9%84%DB%8C%D8%AF_(%D9%85%D8%AF%D8%A7%D8%B1)" title="کلید (مدار) – Persian" lang="fa" hreflang="fa" data-title="کلید (مدار)" data-language-autonym="فارسی" data-language-local-name="Persian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>فارسی</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-fr mw-list-item"><a href="https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interrupteur" title="Interrupteur – French" lang="fr" hreflang="fr" data-title="Interrupteur" data-language-autonym="Français" data-language-local-name="French" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Français</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-gu mw-list-item"><a href="https://gu.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E0%AA%95%E0%AA%B3" title="કળ – Gujarati" lang="gu" hreflang="gu" data-title="કળ" data-language-autonym="ગુજરાતી" data-language-local-name="Gujarati" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>ગુજરાતી</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-ko mw-list-item"><a href="https://ko.wikipedia.org/wiki/%EA%B0%9C%ED%8F%90%EA%B8%B0" title="개폐기 – Korean" lang="ko" hreflang="ko" data-title="개폐기" data-language-autonym="한국어" data-language-local-name="Korean" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>한국어</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-hi mw-list-item"><a href="https://hi.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%9A" title="स्विच – Hindi" lang="hi" hreflang="hi" data-title="स्विच" data-language-autonym="हिन्दी" data-language-local-name="Hindi" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>हिन्दी</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-hr mw-list-item"><a href="https://hr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prekida%C4%8D" title="Prekidač – Croatian" lang="hr" hreflang="hr" data-title="Prekidač" data-language-autonym="Hrvatski" data-language-local-name="Croatian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Hrvatski</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-id mw-list-item"><a href="https://id.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sakelar" title="Sakelar – Indonesian" lang="id" hreflang="id" data-title="Sakelar" data-language-autonym="Bahasa Indonesia" data-language-local-name="Indonesian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Bahasa Indonesia</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-it mw-list-item"><a href="https://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interruttore" title="Interruttore – Italian" lang="it" hreflang="it" data-title="Interruttore" data-language-autonym="Italiano" data-language-local-name="Italian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Italiano</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-he mw-list-item"><a href="https://he.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D7%9E%D7%A4%D7%A1%D7%A7" title="מפסק – Hebrew" lang="he" hreflang="he" data-title="מפסק" data-language-autonym="עברית" data-language-local-name="Hebrew" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>עברית</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-jv mw-list-item"><a href="https://jv.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saklar" title="Saklar – Javanese" lang="jv" hreflang="jv" data-title="Saklar" data-language-autonym="Jawa" data-language-local-name="Javanese" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Jawa</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-kk mw-list-item"><a href="https://kk.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%90%D1%83%D1%8B%D1%81%D1%82%D1%8B%D1%80%D1%8B%D0%BF_%D2%9B%D0%BE%D1%81%D2%9B%D1%8B%D1%88" title="Ауыстырып қосқыш – Kazakh" lang="kk" hreflang="kk" data-title="Ауыстырып қосқыш" data-language-autonym="Қазақша" data-language-local-name="Kazakh" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Қазақша</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-sw mw-list-item"><a href="https://sw.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swichi" title="Swichi – Swahili" lang="sw" hreflang="sw" data-title="Swichi" data-language-autonym="Kiswahili" data-language-local-name="Swahili" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Kiswahili</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-lt mw-list-item"><a href="https://lt.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jungiklis" title="Jungiklis – Lithuanian" lang="lt" hreflang="lt" data-title="Jungiklis" data-language-autonym="Lietuvių" data-language-local-name="Lithuanian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Lietuvių</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-hu mw-list-item"><a href="https://hu.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kapcsol%C3%B3" title="Kapcsoló – Hungarian" lang="hu" hreflang="hu" data-title="Kapcsoló" data-language-autonym="Magyar" data-language-local-name="Hungarian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Magyar</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-ml mw-list-item"><a href="https://ml.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E0%B4%B5%E0%B5%88%E0%B4%A6%E0%B5%8D%E0%B4%AF%E0%B5%81%E0%B4%A4%E0%B4%B8%E0%B5%8D%E0%B4%B5%E0%B4%BF%E0%B4%9A%E0%B5%8D%E0%B4%9A%E0%B5%8D" title="വൈദ്യുതസ്വിച്ച് – Malayalam" lang="ml" hreflang="ml" data-title="വൈദ്യുതസ്വിച്ച്" data-language-autonym="മലയാളം" data-language-local-name="Malayalam" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>മലയാളം</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-ms mw-list-item"><a href="https://ms.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suis" title="Suis – Malay" lang="ms" hreflang="ms" data-title="Suis" data-language-autonym="Bahasa Melayu" data-language-local-name="Malay" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Bahasa Melayu</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-min mw-list-item"><a href="https://min.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sakelar" title="Sakelar – Minangkabau" lang="min" hreflang="min" data-title="Sakelar" data-language-autonym="Minangkabau" data-language-local-name="Minangkabau" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Minangkabau</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-nl mw-list-item"><a href="https://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schakelaar" title="Schakelaar – Dutch" lang="nl" hreflang="nl" 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free encyclopedia</div> </div> <div id="contentSub"><div id="mw-content-subtitle"></div></div> <div id="mw-content-text" class="mw-body-content"><div class="mw-content-ltr mw-parser-output" lang="en" dir="ltr"><div class="shortdescription nomobile noexcerpt noprint searchaux" style="display:none">Electrical component that can break an electrical circuit</div> <style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1236090951">.mw-parser-output .hatnote{font-style:italic}.mw-parser-output div.hatnote{padding-left:1.6em;margin-bottom:0.5em}.mw-parser-output .hatnote i{font-style:normal}.mw-parser-output .hatnote+link+.hatnote{margin-top:-0.5em}@media print{body.ns-0 .mw-parser-output .hatnote{display:none!important}}</style><div role="note" class="hatnote navigation-not-searchable">This article is about the electrical component. For the video game console, see <a href="/wiki/Nintendo_Switch" title="Nintendo Switch">Nintendo Switch</a>. For other uses, see <a href="/wiki/Switch_(disambiguation)" class="mw-disambig" title="Switch (disambiguation)">Switch (disambiguation)</a>.</div> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1236090951" /><div role="note" class="hatnote navigation-not-searchable">"Toggle button" redirects here. For the graphical widget, see <a href="/wiki/Cycle_button" title="Cycle button">Cycle button</a>.</div> <figure class="mw-default-size" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:Switches-electrical.agr.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/3a/Switches-electrical.agr.jpg/310px-Switches-electrical.agr.jpg" decoding="async" width="310" height="247" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/3a/Switches-electrical.agr.jpg/465px-Switches-electrical.agr.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/3a/Switches-electrical.agr.jpg/620px-Switches-electrical.agr.jpg 2x" data-file-width="955" data-file-height="761" /></a><figcaption>Electrical switches. Top, left to right: circuit breaker, <a href="/wiki/Mercury_switch" title="Mercury switch">mercury switch</a>, wafer switch, <a href="/wiki/DIP_switch" title="DIP switch">DIP switch</a>, surface mount switch, <a href="/wiki/Reed_switch" title="Reed switch">reed switch</a>. Bottom, left to right: wall switch (U.S. style), miniature toggle switch, in‑line switch, push-button switch, rocker switch, microswitch.</figcaption></figure> <style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1129693374">.mw-parser-output .hlist dl,.mw-parser-output .hlist ol,.mw-parser-output .hlist ul{margin:0;padding:0}.mw-parser-output .hlist dd,.mw-parser-output .hlist dt,.mw-parser-output .hlist li{margin:0;display:inline}.mw-parser-output .hlist.inline,.mw-parser-output .hlist.inline dl,.mw-parser-output .hlist.inline ol,.mw-parser-output .hlist.inline ul,.mw-parser-output .hlist dl dl,.mw-parser-output .hlist dl ol,.mw-parser-output .hlist dl ul,.mw-parser-output .hlist ol dl,.mw-parser-output .hlist ol ol,.mw-parser-output .hlist ol ul,.mw-parser-output .hlist ul dl,.mw-parser-output .hlist ul ol,.mw-parser-output .hlist ul ul{display:inline}.mw-parser-output .hlist .mw-empty-li{display:none}.mw-parser-output .hlist dt::after{content:": "}.mw-parser-output .hlist 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screen{html.skin-theme-clientpref-night .mw-parser-output .sidebar:not(.notheme) .sidebar-list-title,html.skin-theme-clientpref-night .mw-parser-output .sidebar:not(.notheme) .sidebar-title-with-pretitle{background:transparent!important}html.skin-theme-clientpref-night .mw-parser-output .sidebar:not(.notheme) .sidebar-title-with-pretitle a{color:var(--color-progressive)!important}}@media screen and (prefers-color-scheme:dark){html.skin-theme-clientpref-os .mw-parser-output .sidebar:not(.notheme) .sidebar-list-title,html.skin-theme-clientpref-os .mw-parser-output .sidebar:not(.notheme) .sidebar-title-with-pretitle{background:transparent!important}html.skin-theme-clientpref-os .mw-parser-output .sidebar:not(.notheme) .sidebar-title-with-pretitle a{color:var(--color-progressive)!important}}@media print{body.ns-0 .mw-parser-output .sidebar{display:none!important}}</style><table class="sidebar nomobile nowraplinks"><tbody><tr><th class="sidebar-title" style="background-color: wheat"><a href="/wiki/Electrical_wiring" title="Electrical wiring">Electrical installations</a></th></tr><tr><th class="sidebar-heading" style="background-color: wheat"> Wiring practice by region or country</th></tr><tr><td class="sidebar-content hlist"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Electrical_wiring_in_North_America" title="Electrical wiring in North America">North American practice</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Electrical_wiring_in_the_United_Kingdom" title="Electrical wiring in the United Kingdom">United Kingdom practice</a></li></ul></td> </tr><tr><th class="sidebar-heading" style="background-color: wheat"> <a href="/wiki/Electrical_code" title="Electrical code">Regulation of electrical installations</a></th></tr><tr><td class="sidebar-content hlist"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/BS_7671" title="BS 7671">BS 7671 UK wiring regulations</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/IEC_60364" title="IEC 60364">IEC 60364 IEC international standard</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Canadian_Electrical_Code" title="Canadian Electrical Code">Canadian Electrical Code (CE Code)</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/National_Electrical_Code" title="National Electrical Code">U.S. National Electrical Code (NEC)</a></li></ul></td> </tr><tr><th class="sidebar-heading" style="background-color: wheat"> Cabling and accessories</th></tr><tr><td class="sidebar-content hlist"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/AC_power_plugs_and_sockets" title="AC power plugs and sockets">AC power plugs and sockets</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Cable_tray" title="Cable tray">Cable tray</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Electrical_conduit" title="Electrical conduit">Electrical conduit</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Mineral-insulated_copper-clad_cable" title="Mineral-insulated copper-clad cable">Mineral-insulated copper-clad cable</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Multiway_switching" title="Multiway switching">Multiway switching</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Armoured_cable" title="Armoured cable">Steel wire armoured cable</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Ring_main_unit" title="Ring main unit">Ring main unit</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Ring_circuit" title="Ring circuit">Ring circuit</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Thermoplastic-sheathed_cable" title="Thermoplastic-sheathed cable">Thermoplastic-sheathed cable</a></li></ul></td> </tr><tr><th class="sidebar-heading" style="background-color: wheat"> Switching and protection devices</th></tr><tr><td class="sidebar-content hlist"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Arc-fault_circuit_interrupter" title="Arc-fault circuit interrupter">AFCI</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Earth_leakage_circuit_breaker" class="mw-redirect" title="Earth leakage circuit breaker">ELCB</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Electrical_busbar_system" title="Electrical busbar system">Electrical busbar system</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Circuit_breaker" title="Circuit breaker">Circuit breakers</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Disconnector" title="Disconnector">Disconnector</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Fuse_(electrical)" title="Fuse (electrical)">Fuse</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Residual-current_device" title="Residual-current device">Residual-current device</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Distribution_board" title="Distribution board">Distribution board</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Consumer_unit" class="mw-redirect" title="Consumer unit">Consumer unit</a></li> <li><a class="mw-selflink selflink">Electrical switch</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Earthing_systems" class="mw-redirect" title="Earthing systems">Earthing systems</a></li></ul></td> </tr><tr><td class="sidebar-navbar"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1129693374" /><style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1239400231">.mw-parser-output .navbar{display:inline;font-size:88%;font-weight:normal}.mw-parser-output .navbar-collapse{float:left;text-align:left}.mw-parser-output .navbar-boxtext{word-spacing:0}.mw-parser-output .navbar ul{display:inline-block;white-space:nowrap;line-height:inherit}.mw-parser-output .navbar-brackets::before{margin-right:-0.125em;content:"[ "}.mw-parser-output .navbar-brackets::after{margin-left:-0.125em;content:" ]"}.mw-parser-output .navbar li{word-spacing:-0.125em}.mw-parser-output .navbar a>span,.mw-parser-output .navbar a>abbr{text-decoration:inherit}.mw-parser-output .navbar-mini abbr{font-variant:small-caps;border-bottom:none;text-decoration:none;cursor:inherit}.mw-parser-output .navbar-ct-full{font-size:114%;margin:0 7em}.mw-parser-output .navbar-ct-mini{font-size:114%;margin:0 4em}html.skin-theme-clientpref-night .mw-parser-output .navbar li a abbr{color:var(--color-base)!important}@media(prefers-color-scheme:dark){html.skin-theme-clientpref-os .mw-parser-output .navbar li a abbr{color:var(--color-base)!important}}@media print{.mw-parser-output .navbar{display:none!important}}</style><div class="navbar plainlinks hlist navbar-mini"><ul><li class="nv-view"><a href="/wiki/Template:Electrical_wiring_sidebar" title="Template:Electrical wiring sidebar"><abbr title="View this template">v</abbr></a></li><li class="nv-talk"><a href="/wiki/Template_talk:Electrical_wiring_sidebar" title="Template talk:Electrical wiring sidebar"><abbr title="Discuss this template">t</abbr></a></li><li class="nv-edit"><a href="/wiki/Special:EditPage/Template:Electrical_wiring_sidebar" title="Special:EditPage/Template:Electrical wiring sidebar"><abbr title="Edit this template">e</abbr></a></li></ul></div></td></tr></tbody></table> <p>In <a href="/wiki/Electrical_engineering" title="Electrical engineering">electrical engineering</a>, a <b>switch</b> is an <a href="/wiki/Electrical_component" class="mw-redirect" title="Electrical component">electrical component</a> that can disconnect or connect the conducting path in an <a href="/wiki/Electrical_circuit" class="mw-redirect" title="Electrical circuit">electrical circuit</a>, interrupting the <a href="/wiki/Electric_current" title="Electric current">electric current</a> or diverting it from one conductor to another.<sup id="cite_ref-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-1"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>1<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-2" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-2"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>2<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> The most common type of switch is an electromechanical device consisting of one or more sets of movable <a href="/wiki/Electrical_contact" title="Electrical contact">electrical contacts</a> connected to external circuits. When a pair of contacts is touching current can pass between them, while when the contacts are separated no current can flow. </p><p>Switches are made in many different configurations; they may have multiple sets of contacts controlled by the same knob or actuator, and the contacts may operate simultaneously, sequentially, or alternately. A switch may be operated manually, for example, a <a href="/wiki/Light_switch" title="Light switch">light switch</a> or a keyboard button, or may function as a <a href="/wiki/Sensor" title="Sensor">sensing element</a> to sense the position of a machine part, liquid level, pressure, or temperature, such as a <a href="/wiki/Thermostat" title="Thermostat">thermostat</a>. Many specialized forms exist, such as the <a href="/wiki/Toggle_switch" class="mw-redirect" title="Toggle switch">toggle switch</a>, <a href="/wiki/Rotary_switch" title="Rotary switch">rotary switch</a>, <a href="/wiki/Mercury_switch" title="Mercury switch">mercury switch</a>, <a href="/wiki/Push-button" title="Push-button">push-button</a> switch, <a href="/wiki/Reversing_switch" class="mw-redirect" title="Reversing switch">reversing switch</a>, <a href="/wiki/Relay" title="Relay">relay</a>, and <a href="/wiki/Circuit_breaker" title="Circuit breaker">circuit breaker</a>. A common use is control of lighting, where multiple switches may be wired into one circuit to allow convenient control of light fixtures. Switches in high-powered circuits must have special construction to prevent destructive arcing when they are opened. </p> <meta property="mw:PageProp/toc" /> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Description">Description</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Switch&action=edit&section=1" title="Edit section: Description"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <figure class="mw-default-size mw-halign-right" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:Tactile_switches.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/11/Tactile_switches.jpg/220px-Tactile_switches.jpg" decoding="async" width="220" height="137" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/11/Tactile_switches.jpg/330px-Tactile_switches.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/11/Tactile_switches.jpg/440px-Tactile_switches.jpg 2x" data-file-width="509" data-file-height="318" /></a><figcaption>Three tactile push-button switches</figcaption></figure> <p>The most familiar form of switch is a manually operated electromechanical device with one or more sets of <a href="/wiki/Electrical_contacts" class="mw-redirect" title="Electrical contacts">electrical contacts</a>, which are connected to external circuits. 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 the switch is nonconducting. The mechanism actuating the transition between these two states (open or closed) is usually (there are other types of actions) either an "<i>alternate action</i>" (flip the switch for continuous "on" or "off") or "<i>momentary</i>" (push for "on" and release for "off") type. </p><p>A switch may be directly manipulated by a human as a control signal to a system, such as a computer keyboard button, or to control power flow in a circuit, such as a <a href="/wiki/Light_switch" title="Light switch">light switch</a>. Automatically operated switches can be used to control the motions of machines, for example, to indicate that a garage door has reached its full open position or that a machine tool is in a position to accept another workpiece. Switches may be operated by process variables such as pressure, temperature, flow, current, voltage, and force, acting as <a href="/wiki/Sensor" title="Sensor">sensors</a> in a process and used to automatically control a system. For example, a <a href="/wiki/Thermostat" title="Thermostat">thermostat</a> is a temperature-operated switch used to control a heating process. A switch that is operated by another electrical circuit is called a <a href="/wiki/Relay" title="Relay">relay</a>. Large switches may be remotely operated by a motor drive mechanism. Some switches are used to isolate electric power from a system, providing a visible point of isolation that can be padlocked if necessary to prevent accidental operation of a machine during maintenance, or to prevent electric shock. </p><p>An ideal switch would have no voltage drop when closed, and would have no limits on voltage or current rating. It would have zero <a href="/wiki/Rise_time" title="Rise time">rise time</a> and <a href="/wiki/Fall_time" title="Fall time">fall time</a> during state changes, and would change state without "bouncing" between on and off positions. </p><p>Practical switches fall short of this ideal; as the result of roughness and oxide films, they exhibit <a href="/wiki/Contact_resistance" title="Contact resistance">contact resistance</a>, limits on the current and voltage they can handle, finite switching time, etc. The ideal switch is often used in circuit analysis as it greatly simplifies the system of equations to be solved, but this can lead to a less accurate solution. Theoretical treatment of the effects of non-ideal properties is required in the design of large networks of switches, as for example used in telephone exchanges. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Contacts">Contacts</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Switch&action=edit&section=2" title="Edit section: Contacts"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <figure class="mw-default-size" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:On-Off_Switch.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/80/On-Off_Switch.jpg/110px-On-Off_Switch.jpg" decoding="async" width="110" height="147" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/80/On-Off_Switch.jpg/165px-On-Off_Switch.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/80/On-Off_Switch.jpg/220px-On-Off_Switch.jpg 2x" data-file-width="480" data-file-height="640" /></a><figcaption>A toggle switch in the "on" position</figcaption></figure> <p>In the simplest case, a switch has two conductive pieces, often <a href="/wiki/Metal" title="Metal">metal</a>, called <i>contacts</i>, connected to an external circuit, that touch to complete (make) the circuit, and separate to open (break) the circuit. The contact material is chosen for its resistance to corrosion, because most metals form <a href="/wiki/Electrical_insulation" class="mw-redirect" title="Electrical insulation">insulating</a> oxides that would prevent the switch from working. Contact materials are also chosen on the basis of <a href="/wiki/Electrical_conductivity" class="mw-redirect" title="Electrical conductivity">electrical conductivity</a>, hardness (resistance to abrasive wear), mechanical strength, low cost and low toxicity. The formation of oxide layers at contact surface, as well as surface roughness and contact pressure, determine the <a href="/wiki/Contact_resistance" title="Contact resistance">contact resistance</a>, and <a href="/wiki/Wetting_current" title="Wetting current">wetting current</a> of a mechanical switch. Sometimes the contacts are <a href="/wiki/Electroplating" title="Electroplating">plated</a> with <a href="/wiki/Noble_metal" title="Noble metal">noble metals</a>, for their excellent conductivity and resistance to corrosion. They may be designed to wipe against each other to clean off any contamination. Nonmetallic conductors, such as conductive plastic, are sometimes used. To prevent the formation of insulating oxides, a minimum wetting current may be specified for a given switch design. </p><p><span class="anchor" id="Two-way_switch"></span><span class="anchor" id="Three-way_switch"></span><span class="anchor" id="Four-way_switch"></span><span class="anchor" id="Contact_arrangements"></span><span class="anchor" id="Contact_terminology"></span> <span class="anchor" id="contact_terminology"></span> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Contact_terminology">Contact terminology</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Switch&action=edit&section=3" title="Edit section: Contact terminology"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <figure class="mw-default-size" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:Tpst.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/da/Tpst.jpg/310px-Tpst.jpg" decoding="async" width="310" height="225" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/da/Tpst.jpg/465px-Tpst.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/da/Tpst.jpg/620px-Tpst.jpg 2x" data-file-width="1024" data-file-height="743" /></a><figcaption>Triple-pole single-throw (TPST or 3PST) <a href="/wiki/Knife_switch" title="Knife switch">knife switch</a> used to short the windings of a three‑phase wind turbine for <a href="/wiki/Dynamic_braking" title="Dynamic braking">braking</a> purposes. Here the switch is shown in the open position.</figcaption></figure> <p>In electronics, switches are classified according to the arrangement of their contacts. A pair of contacts is said to be "<i>closed</i>" when current can flow from one to the other. When the contacts are separated by an <a href="/wiki/Insulator_(electric)" class="mw-redirect" title="Insulator (electric)">insulating air gap</a>, they are said to be "<i>open</i>", and no current can flow between them at normal voltages. The terms "<i>make</i>" for closure of contacts and "<i>break</i>" for opening of contacts are also widely used. </p><p>The terms <b>pole</b> and <b>throw</b> are also used to describe switch contact variations. The number of "<i>poles</i>" is the number of electrically separate switches which are controlled by a single physical actuator. For example, a "<i>2-pole</i>" switch has two separate, parallel sets of contacts that open and close in unison via the same mechanism. The number of "<i>throws</i>" is the number of separate wiring path choices other than "open" that the switch can adopt for each pole. A single-throw switch has one pair of contacts that can either be closed or open. A double-throw switch has a contact that can be connected to either of two other contacts, a triple-throw has a contact which can be connected to one of three other contacts, etc.<sup id="cite_ref-3" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-3"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>3<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p><span class="anchor" id="Break-before-make"></span><span class="anchor" id="Make-before-break"></span> In a switch where the contacts remain in one state unless actuated, such as a <a href="/wiki/Push-button" title="Push-button">push-button</a> switch, the contacts can either be <b>normally open</b> (abbreviated "<b>n.o.</b>" or "<b>no</b>") until closed by operation of the switch, or <b>normally closed</b> ("<b>n.c.</b>" or "<b>nc</b>")<sup id="cite_ref-NB_NC_4-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-NB_NC-4"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>nb 1<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> and opened by the switch action. A switch with both types of contact is called a <i>changeover switch</i> or <i>double-throw switch</i>. These may be "<b>make-before-break</b>" ("<b>MBB</b>" or shorting) which momentarily connects both circuits, or may be "<b>break-before-make</b>" ("<b>BBM</b>" or non-shorting) which interrupts one circuit before closing the other. </p><p>These terms have given rise to abbreviations for the types of switch which are used in the <a href="/wiki/Electronics" title="Electronics">electronics</a> industry such as "<i>single-pole, single-throw</i>" (SPST) (the simplest type, "on or off") or "<i>single-pole, double-throw</i>" (SPDT), connecting either of two terminals to the common terminal. In <a href="/wiki/Mains_electricity" title="Mains electricity">electrical power</a> wiring (i.e., house and building wiring by <a href="/wiki/Electrician" title="Electrician">electricians</a>), names generally involve the suffix <i>"-way"</i>; however, these terms differ between <a href="/wiki/British_English" title="British English">British English</a> and <a href="/wiki/American_English" title="American English">American English</a> (i.e., the terms <i>two way</i> and <i>three way</i> are used with different meanings). </p><p><span class="anchor" id="Table_of_switch_comparisons"></span><span class="anchor" id="Table_of_switch_types"></span> </p> <table class="wikitable"> <tbody><tr> <th>Electronics specification and abbreviation </th> <th valign="top">Expansion <br />of<br />abbreviation </th> <th>British<br />mains <br />wiring<br />name </th> <th>American <br />electrical<br />wiring<br />name </th> <th>Description </th> <th>Schematic </th> <th>Symbol IEC 60617 </th></tr> <tr> <td><b>SPST</b><br />(1P1T)</td> <td>Single pole, single throw</td> <td>One-way</td> <td>Two-way</td> <td>A simple on-off switch: The two terminals are either connected together or disconnected from each other. An example is a <a href="/wiki/Light_switch" title="Light switch">light switch</a>.</td> <td rowspan="2"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:SPST-Switch.svg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/46/SPST-Switch.svg/100px-SPST-Switch.svg.png" decoding="async" width="100" height="29" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/46/SPST-Switch.svg/150px-SPST-Switch.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/46/SPST-Switch.svg/200px-SPST-Switch.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="512" data-file-height="148" /></a></span></td> <td><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:Symbol_circuit_breaker_(one-pole).svg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/49/Symbol_circuit_breaker_%28one-pole%29.svg/50px-Symbol_circuit_breaker_%28one-pole%29.svg.png" decoding="async" width="50" height="58" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/49/Symbol_circuit_breaker_%28one-pole%29.svg/75px-Symbol_circuit_breaker_%28one-pole%29.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/49/Symbol_circuit_breaker_%28one-pole%29.svg/100px-Symbol_circuit_breaker_%28one-pole%29.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="43" data-file-height="50" /></a></span> </td></tr> <tr> <td><b>SPST-NO</b> <p><b>Form A</b><sup id="cite_ref-:0_5-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-:0-5"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>4<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> </td> <td>Single pole, single throw, normally open </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td>A simple on-off switch. The two terminals are normally disconnected (open) and are closed when the switch is activated. An example is a <a href="/wiki/Push_switch" title="Push switch">pushbutton switch</a>.</td> <td> </td></tr> <tr> <td><b>SPST-NC</b><br /><b>Form B</b><sup id="cite_ref-:0_5-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-:0-5"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>4<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </td> <td>Single pole, single throw, normally closed </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td>A simple on-off switch. The two terminals are normally connected together (closed) and are open when the switch is activated. An example is a <a href="/wiki/Push_switch" title="Push switch">pushbutton switch</a>. </td> <td><span typeof="mw:File/Frameless"><a href="/wiki/File:SPST-NC-Switch.svg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/9b/SPST-NC-Switch.svg/100px-SPST-NC-Switch.svg.png" decoding="async" width="100" height="29" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/9b/SPST-NC-Switch.svg/150px-SPST-NC-Switch.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/9b/SPST-NC-Switch.svg/200px-SPST-NC-Switch.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="325" data-file-height="94" /></a></span></td> <td> </td></tr> <tr> <td><b>SPDT</b><br /><b>Form C</b><sup id="cite_ref-:0_5-2" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-:0-5"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>4<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </td> <td>Single pole, double throw</td> <td>Two-way</td> <td>Three-way</td> <td>A simple break-before-make changeover switch: C (COM, Common) is connected either to L1 or to L2.</td> <td rowspan="2"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:SPDT-Switch.svg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b6/SPDT-Switch.svg/100px-SPDT-Switch.svg.png" decoding="async" width="100" height="48" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b6/SPDT-Switch.svg/150px-SPDT-Switch.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b6/SPDT-Switch.svg/200px-SPDT-Switch.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="325" data-file-height="156" /></a></span></td> <td><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:Symbol_change_over_switch.svg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/72/Symbol_change_over_switch.svg/50px-Symbol_change_over_switch.svg.png" decoding="async" width="50" height="58" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/72/Symbol_change_over_switch.svg/75px-Symbol_change_over_switch.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/72/Symbol_change_over_switch.svg/100px-Symbol_change_over_switch.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="43" data-file-height="50" /></a></span> </td></tr> <tr> <td><b>SPCO<br />SPTT, c.o.</b></td> <td>Single pole changeover<br /><i>or</i><br />single pole, centre off <i>or</i><br />single pole, triple throw</td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td>Similar to <i>SPDT</i>. Some suppliers use <i>SPCO/SPTT</i> for switches with a stable off position in the centre and <i>SPDT</i> for those without.</td> <td>  </td></tr> <tr> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td>Serial switch or two-circuit switch<sup class="noprint Inline-Template Template-Fact" style="white-space:nowrap;">[<i><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed" title="Wikipedia:Citation needed"><span title="This claim needs references to reliable sources. (January 2024)">citation needed</span></a></i>]</sup></td> <td> </td> <td><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:Symbol_Series_switch.svg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/cd/Symbol_Series_switch.svg/50px-Symbol_Series_switch.svg.png" decoding="async" width="50" height="58" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/cd/Symbol_Series_switch.svg/75px-Symbol_Series_switch.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/cd/Symbol_Series_switch.svg/100px-Symbol_Series_switch.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="43" data-file-height="50" /></a></span> </td></tr> <tr> <td><b>DPST</b><br />(2P1T)</td> <td>Double pole, single throw</td> <td>Double pole</td> <td>Double pole</td> <td>Equivalent to two <i>SPST</i> switches controlled by a single mechanism.</td> <td><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:DPST-symbol.svg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8a/DPST-symbol.svg/100px-DPST-symbol.svg.png" decoding="async" width="100" height="81" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8a/DPST-symbol.svg/150px-DPST-symbol.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8a/DPST-symbol.svg/200px-DPST-symbol.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="325" data-file-height="263" /></a></span></td> <td><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:Symbol_circuit_breaker_(two-pole).svg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/93/Symbol_circuit_breaker_%28two-pole%29.svg/50px-Symbol_circuit_breaker_%28two-pole%29.svg.png" decoding="async" width="50" height="58" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/93/Symbol_circuit_breaker_%28two-pole%29.svg/75px-Symbol_circuit_breaker_%28two-pole%29.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/93/Symbol_circuit_breaker_%28two-pole%29.svg/100px-Symbol_circuit_breaker_%28two-pole%29.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="43" data-file-height="50" /></a></span> </td></tr> <tr> <td><b>DPDT</b><br />(2P2T)</td> <td>Double pole, double throw</td> <td></td> <td></td> <td>Equivalent to two <i>SPDT</i> switches controlled by a single mechanism.</td> <td rowspan="2"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:DPDT-symbol.svg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/ec/DPDT-symbol.svg/100px-DPDT-symbol.svg.png" decoding="async" width="100" height="127" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/ec/DPDT-symbol.svg/150px-DPDT-symbol.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/ec/DPDT-symbol.svg/200px-DPDT-symbol.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="330" data-file-height="420" /></a></span></td> <td><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:Symbol_change_over_switch_(two-pole).svg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4e/Symbol_change_over_switch_%28two-pole%29.svg/50px-Symbol_change_over_switch_%28two-pole%29.svg.png" decoding="async" width="50" height="58" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4e/Symbol_change_over_switch_%28two-pole%29.svg/75px-Symbol_change_over_switch_%28two-pole%29.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4e/Symbol_change_over_switch_%28two-pole%29.svg/100px-Symbol_change_over_switch_%28two-pole%29.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="43" data-file-height="50" /></a></span> </td></tr> <tr> <td><b>DPCO</b></td> <td>Double pole changeover <br /> <i>or</i> double pole, centre off</td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td>Schematically equivalent to <i>DPDT</i>. Some suppliers use <i>DPCO</i> for switches with a stable center position and <i>DPDT</i> for those without. A DPDT/DPCO switch with a center position can be "off" in the center, not connected to either L1 or L2, or "on", connected to both L1 and L2 at the same time. The positions of such switches are commonly referenced as "on-off-on" and "on-on-on" respectively.</td> <td>  </td></tr> <tr> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td>Intermediate switch</td> <td>Four-way switch</td> <td><i>DPDT</i> switch internally wired for polarity-reversal applications: only four rather than six wires are brought outside the switch housing. Also called cross switch, crossover switch or reversing switch.<sup class="noprint Inline-Template Template-Fact" style="white-space:nowrap;">[<i><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed" title="Wikipedia:Citation needed"><span title="This claim needs references to reliable sources. (January 2024)">citation needed</span></a></i>]</sup> </td> <td><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:Crossover-switch-symbol.svg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b5/Crossover-switch-symbol.svg/100px-Crossover-switch-symbol.svg.png" decoding="async" width="100" height="124" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b5/Crossover-switch-symbol.svg/150px-Crossover-switch-symbol.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b5/Crossover-switch-symbol.svg/200px-Crossover-switch-symbol.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="330" data-file-height="410" /></a></span></td> <td><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:Symbol_cross_switch.svg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/ac/Symbol_cross_switch.svg/50px-Symbol_cross_switch.svg.png" decoding="async" width="50" height="56" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/ac/Symbol_cross_switch.svg/75px-Symbol_cross_switch.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/ac/Symbol_cross_switch.svg/100px-Symbol_cross_switch.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="43" data-file-height="48" /></a></span> </td></tr> <tr> <td><b>2P6T</b></td> <td>Two pole, six throw</td> <td></td> <td></td> <td>Changeover switch with a COM (Common), which can connect to L1, L2, L3, L4, L5, or L6; with a second switch (2P, two pole) controlled by a single mechanism.</td> <td><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:2P6T-symbol.svg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/9d/2P6T-symbol.svg/100px-2P6T-symbol.svg.png" decoding="async" width="100" height="172" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/9d/2P6T-symbol.svg/150px-2P6T-symbol.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/9d/2P6T-symbol.svg/200px-2P6T-symbol.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="99" data-file-height="170" /></a></span></td> <td>  </td></tr></tbody></table> <p>Switches with larger numbers of poles or throws can be described by replacing the "S" or "D" with a number (e.g. 3PST, SP4T, etc.) or in some cases the letter "T" (for "triple") or "Q" (for "quadruple"). In the rest of this article the terms <i>SPST</i>, <i>SPDT</i> and <i>intermediate</i> will be used to avoid the ambiguity. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Contact_bounce">Contact bounce</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Switch&action=edit&section=4" title="Edit section: Contact bounce"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading4"><h4 id="Bounce">Bounce</h4><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Switch&action=edit&section=5" title="Edit section: Bounce"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <figure typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:Bouncy_Switch.png" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/ac/Bouncy_Switch.png/260px-Bouncy_Switch.png" decoding="async" width="260" height="147" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/ac/Bouncy_Switch.png/390px-Bouncy_Switch.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/ac/Bouncy_Switch.png 2x" data-file-width="512" data-file-height="289" /></a><figcaption><a href="/wiki/Oscilloscope" title="Oscilloscope">Oscilloscope</a> snapshot showing voltage fluctuations caused by a switch bouncing between on and off (even swinging above V<sub>high</sub> and below V<sub>low</sub>) many times over 2.6 <a href="/wiki/Millisecond" title="Millisecond">ms</a> before settling</figcaption></figure> <p>Contact bounce (also called <i>chatter</i>) is a common problem with mechanical switches, <a href="/wiki/Relay" title="Relay">relays</a> and <a href="/wiki/Battery_contact" class="mw-redirect" title="Battery contact">battery contacts</a>, which arises as the result of electrical <a href="/wiki/Contact_resistance" title="Contact resistance">contact resistance</a> (ECR) phenomena at interfaces. Switch and relay contacts are usually made of springy metals. When the contacts strike together, their momentum and elasticity act together to cause them to bounce apart one or more times before making steady contact. The result is a rapidly pulsed electric current instead of a clean transition from zero to full current. The effect is usually unimportant in power circuits, but causes problems in some <a href="/wiki/Analogue_electronics" title="Analogue electronics">analogue</a> and <a href="/wiki/Logic_circuit" class="mw-redirect" title="Logic circuit">logic circuits</a> that respond fast enough to misinterpret the on‑off pulses as a data stream.<sup id="cite_ref-Walker1998_6-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Walker1998-6"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>5<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> In the design of micro-contacts, controlling surface structure (<a href="/wiki/Surface_roughness" title="Surface roughness">surface roughness</a>) and minimizing the formation of <a href="/wiki/Passivation_(chemistry)" title="Passivation (chemistry)">passivated layers</a> on metallic surfaces are instrumental in inhibiting chatter. </p><p>In the <a href="/wiki/Hammond_organ" title="Hammond organ">Hammond organ</a>, multiple wires are pressed together under the piano keys of the manuals. Their bouncing and non-synchronous closing of the switches is known as <i>Hammond Click</i> and compositions exist that use and emphasize this feature. Some <a href="/wiki/Electronic_organ" class="mw-redirect" title="Electronic organ">electronic organs</a> have a switchable replica of this sound effect.<sup id="cite_ref-7" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-7"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>6<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading4"><h4 id="Debouncing">Debouncing</h4><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Switch&action=edit&section=6" title="Edit section: Debouncing"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <figure class="mw-default-size mw-halign-right" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:TS_contact_bounce_filter.svg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/53/TS_contact_bounce_filter.svg/250px-TS_contact_bounce_filter.svg.png" decoding="async" width="220" height="267" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/53/TS_contact_bounce_filter.svg/330px-TS_contact_bounce_filter.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/53/TS_contact_bounce_filter.svg/500px-TS_contact_bounce_filter.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="737" data-file-height="894" /></a><figcaption>SPST switch bounce filter using a <a href="/wiki/Schmitt_trigger" title="Schmitt trigger">Schmitt trigger</a> and capacitor</figcaption></figure> <p>The effects of contact bounce can be eliminated by: </p> <ul><li>Use of <a href="/wiki/Mercury-wetted_relay" class="mw-redirect" title="Mercury-wetted relay">mercury-wetted contacts</a>, but these are now infrequently used because of the hazards of mercury.</li> <li>Alternatively, contact circuit voltages can be <a href="/wiki/Low-pass_filter" title="Low-pass filter">low-pass filtered</a> to reduce or eliminate multiple pulses from appearing.</li> <li>In digital systems, multiple samples of the contact state can be taken at a low rate and examined for a steady sequence, so that contacts can settle before the contact level is considered reliable and acted upon. See <a href="/wiki/Keyboard_technology#Debouncing" title="Keyboard technology">Keyboard technology § Debouncing</a>.</li> <li>Bounce in <a href="#Contact_terminology">SPDT</a> ("single-pole, double-throw") switch contacts signals can be filtered out using an <a href="/wiki/Multivibrator#Bistable" title="Multivibrator">SR flip-flop</a> (latch) or <a href="/wiki/Schmitt_trigger" title="Schmitt trigger">Schmitt trigger</a>.</li></ul> <p>All of these methods are referred to as 'debouncing'. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Arcs_and_quenching">Arcs and quenching</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Switch&action=edit&section=7" title="Edit section: Arcs and quenching"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>When the power being switched is sufficiently large, the electron flow across opening switch contacts is sufficient to <a href="/wiki/Ionize" class="mw-redirect" title="Ionize">ionize</a> the air molecules across the tiny gap between the contacts as the switch is opened, forming a <a href="/wiki/Gas_plasma" class="mw-redirect" title="Gas plasma">gas plasma</a>, also known as an <a href="/wiki/Electric_arc" title="Electric arc">electric arc</a>. The plasma is of low resistance and is able to sustain power flow, even with the separation distance between the switch contacts steadily increasing. The plasma is also very hot and is capable of eroding the metal surfaces of the switch contacts (the same true for vacuum switches). Electric current arcing causes significant <a href="/wiki/Contact_protection#Contact_wear" title="Contact protection">degradation of the contacts</a> and also significant <a href="/wiki/Electromagnetic_interference" title="Electromagnetic interference">electromagnetic interference</a> (EMI), requiring the use of <a href="/wiki/Arc_suppression" title="Arc suppression">arc suppression</a> methods.<sup id="cite_ref-8" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-8"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>7<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>Where the voltage is sufficiently high, an arc can also form as the switch is closed and the contacts approach. If the voltage potential is sufficient to exceed the <a href="/wiki/Breakdown_voltage" title="Breakdown voltage">breakdown voltage</a> of the air separating the contacts, an arc forms which is sustained until the switch closes completely and the switch surfaces make contact. </p><p>In either case, the standard method for minimizing arc formation and preventing contact damage is to use a fast-moving switch mechanism, typically using a spring-operated <a href="/wiki/Tipping_point_(physics)" class="mw-redirect" title="Tipping point (physics)">tipping-point mechanism</a> to assure quick motion of switch contacts, regardless of the speed at which the switch control is operated by the user. Movement of the switch control lever applies tension to a spring until a tipping point is reached, and the contacts suddenly snap open or closed as the spring tension is released. </p><p>As the power being switched increases, other methods are used to minimize or prevent arc formation. A plasma is hot and will rise due to <a href="/wiki/Convection" title="Convection">convection</a> air currents. The arc can be quenched with a series of non-conductive blades spanning the distance between switch contacts, and as the arc rises, its length increases as it forms ridges rising into the spaces between the blades, until the arc is too long to stay sustained and is extinguished. A <i>puffer</i> may be used to blow a sudden high velocity burst of gas across the switch contacts, which rapidly extends the length of the arc to extinguish it quickly. </p><p>Extremely large switches often have switch contacts surrounded by something other than air to more rapidly extinguish the arc. For example, the switch contacts may operate in a vacuum, immersed in <a href="/wiki/Mineral_oil" title="Mineral oil">mineral oil</a>, or in <a href="/wiki/Sulfur_hexafluoride#Dielectric_medium" title="Sulfur hexafluoride">sulfur hexafluoride</a>. </p><p>In AC power service, the current periodically passes through zero; this effect makes it harder to sustain an arc on opening. Manufacturers may rate switches with lower voltage or current rating when used in DC circuits. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Power_switching">Power switching</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Switch&action=edit&section=8" title="Edit section: Power switching"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1236090951" /><div role="note" class="hatnote navigation-not-searchable">See also: <a href="/wiki/Power_management_integrated_circuit" title="Power management integrated circuit">Power management integrated circuit</a>, <a href="/wiki/Solid-state_electronics" title="Solid-state electronics">Solid-state electronics</a>, and <a href="/wiki/Solid-state_relay" title="Solid-state relay">Solid-state relay</a></div> <p>When a switch is designed to switch significant power, the transitional state of the switch as well as the ability to withstand continuous operating currents must be considered. When a switch is in the on state, its resistance is near zero and very little power is dropped in the contacts; when a switch is in the off state, its resistance is extremely high and even less power is dropped in the contacts. However, when the switch is flicked, the resistance must pass through a state where a quarter of the load's rated power<sup class="noprint Inline-Template Template-Fact" style="white-space:nowrap;">[<i><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed" title="Wikipedia:Citation needed"><span title="This claim needs references to reliable sources. (October 2013)">citation needed</span></a></i>]</sup> (or worse if the load is not purely resistive) is briefly dropped in the switch. </p><p>For this reason, power switches intended to interrupt a load current have spring mechanisms to make sure the transition between on and off is as short as possible regardless of the speed at which the user moves the rocker. </p><p>Power switches usually come in two types. A momentary on‑off switch (such as on a <a href="/wiki/Laser_pointer" title="Laser pointer">laser pointer</a>) usually takes the form of a button and only closes the circuit when the button is depressed. A regular on‑off switch (such as on a <a href="/wiki/Flashlight" title="Flashlight">flashlight</a>) has a constant on-off feature. Dual-action switches incorporate both of these features. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Inductive_loads">Inductive loads</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Switch&action=edit&section=9" title="Edit section: Inductive loads"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>When a strongly <a href="/wiki/Inductance" title="Inductance">inductive</a> load such as an <a href="/wiki/Electric_motor" title="Electric motor">electric motor</a> is switched off, the current cannot drop instantaneously to zero; a <a href="/wiki/Electric_arc" title="Electric arc">spark</a> will jump across the opening contacts. Switches for <a href="/wiki/Inductance" title="Inductance">inductive</a> loads must be rated to handle these cases. The spark will cause <a href="/wiki/Electromagnetic_interference" title="Electromagnetic interference">electromagnetic interference</a> if not suppressed; a <a href="/wiki/Snubber" title="Snubber">snubber</a> network of a <a href="/wiki/Resistor" title="Resistor">resistor</a> and <a href="/wiki/Capacitor" title="Capacitor">capacitor</a> in series will quell the spark.<sup id="cite_ref-9" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-9"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>8<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Incandescent_loads">Incandescent loads</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Switch&action=edit&section=10" title="Edit section: Incandescent loads"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <figure class="mw-default-size" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:General-Electric-silent-T-rated-light-switch.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/cd/General-Electric-silent-T-rated-light-switch.jpg/110px-General-Electric-silent-T-rated-light-switch.jpg" decoding="async" width="110" height="230" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/cd/General-Electric-silent-T-rated-light-switch.jpg/165px-General-Electric-silent-T-rated-light-switch.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/cd/General-Electric-silent-T-rated-light-switch.jpg/220px-General-Electric-silent-T-rated-light-switch.jpg 2x" data-file-width="1727" data-file-height="3618" /></a><figcaption>A "T-rated" wall switch (the T is for <i>Tungsten</i> filament)<sup id="cite_ref-Electrical_Power_Systems_Technology_pg337_10-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Electrical_Power_Systems_Technology_pg337-10"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>9<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> that is suited for incandescent loads</figcaption></figure> <p>When turned on, an <a href="/wiki/Incandescent_light_bulb" title="Incandescent light bulb">incandescent lamp</a> draws a large <a href="/wiki/Inrush_current" title="Inrush current">inrush current</a> of about ten times the steady-state current; as the filament heats up, its resistance rises and the current decreases to a steady-state value. A switch designed for an incandescent lamp load can withstand this inrush current.<sup id="cite_ref-Electrical_Power_Systems_Technology_pg337_10-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Electrical_Power_Systems_Technology_pg337-10"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>9<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Wetting_current">Wetting current</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Switch&action=edit&section=11" title="Edit section: Wetting current"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1236090951" /><div role="note" class="hatnote navigation-not-searchable">Main article: <a href="/wiki/Wetting_current" title="Wetting current">Wetting current</a></div> <p><i>Wetting current</i> is the minimum current needing to flow through a mechanical switch while it is operated to break through any film of <a href="/wiki/Oxidation" class="mw-redirect" title="Oxidation">oxidation</a> that may have been deposited on the switch contacts.<sup id="cite_ref-11" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-11"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>10<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> The film of oxidation occurs often in areas with high <a href="/wiki/Humidity" title="Humidity">humidity</a>. Providing a sufficient amount of wetting current is a crucial step in designing <a href="/wiki/Control_engineering" title="Control engineering">systems</a> that use delicate switches with small contact pressure as sensor inputs. Failing to do this might result in switches remaining electrically "open" due to contact oxidation. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Actuator">Actuator</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Switch&action=edit&section=12" title="Edit section: Actuator"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>The moving part that applies the operating force to the contacts is called the <i><a href="/wiki/Actuator" title="Actuator">actuator</a></i>, and may be a <b>toggle</b> or <i>dolly</i>, a <b>rocker</b>, a <b>push-button</b> or any type of mechanical linkage <i>(see photo).</i> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Biased_switches">Biased switches</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Switch&action=edit&section=13" title="Edit section: Biased switches"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>A switch normally maintains its set position once operated. A biased switch contains a mechanism that springs it into another position when released by an operator. The momentary <a href="/wiki/Push-button" title="Push-button">push-button</a> 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. Each key of a computer keyboard, for example, is a normally-open "push-to-make" switch. A "push-to-break" (or normally-closed or NC) switch, on the other hand, breaks contact when the button is pressed and makes contact when it is released. An example of a push-to-break switch is a button used to release a door held closed by an <a href="/wiki/Electromagnet" title="Electromagnet">electromagnet</a>. The interior lamp of a household <a href="/wiki/Refrigerator" title="Refrigerator">refrigerator</a> is controlled by a switch that is held open when the door is closed. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Rotary_switch">Rotary switch</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Switch&action=edit&section=14" title="Edit section: Rotary switch"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1236090951" /><div role="note" class="hatnote navigation-not-searchable">Main article: <a href="/wiki/Rotary_switch" title="Rotary switch">Rotary switch</a></div> <figure class="mw-default-size" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:Rotaryswitch.gif" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b3/Rotaryswitch.gif/250px-Rotaryswitch.gif" decoding="async" width="220" height="127" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b3/Rotaryswitch.gif/330px-Rotaryswitch.gif 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b3/Rotaryswitch.gif/500px-Rotaryswitch.gif 2x" data-file-width="504" data-file-height="292" /></a><figcaption>A three-deck stacked rotary switch. Any number of switching elements may be stacked in this manner, by using a longer shaft and additional spacing standoffs between each switching element.</figcaption></figure> <p>A rotary switch operates with a twisting motion of the operating handle with at least two positions. One or more positions of the switch may be momentary (biased with a spring), requiring the operator to hold the switch in the position. Other positions may have a detent to hold the position when released. A rotary switch may have multiple levels or "decks" in order to allow it to control multiple circuits. </p><p>One form of rotary switch consists of a spindle or "rotor" that has a contact arm or "spoke" which projects from its surface like a cam. It has an array of terminals, arranged in a circle around the rotor, each of which serves as a contact for the "spoke" through which any one of a number of different electrical circuits can be connected to the rotor. The switch is layered to allow the use of multiple poles, each layer is equivalent to one pole. Usually such a switch has a detent mechanism so it "clicks" from one active position to another rather than stalls in an intermediate position. Thus a rotary switch provides greater pole and throw capabilities than simpler switches do. </p><p>Other types use a cam mechanism to operate multiple independent sets of contacts. </p><p>Rotary switches were used as channel selectors on television receivers until the early 1970s, as range selectors on electrical metering equipment, as band selectors on multi-band radios and other similar purposes. In industry, rotary switches are used for control of measuring instruments, <a href="/wiki/Switchgear" title="Switchgear">switchgear</a>, or in control circuits. For example, a <a href="/wiki/Radio_control" title="Radio control">radio controlled</a> overhead crane may have a large multi-circuit rotary switch to transfer hard-wired control signals from the local manual controls in the cab to the outputs of the remote control receiver. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Toggle_switch">Toggle switch</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Switch&action=edit&section=15" title="Edit section: Toggle switch"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <figure class="mw-default-size" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:Electronic-Component-Four-Switch.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/90/Electronic-Component-Four-Switch.jpg/220px-Electronic-Component-Four-Switch.jpg" decoding="async" width="220" height="205" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/90/Electronic-Component-Four-Switch.jpg/330px-Electronic-Component-Four-Switch.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/90/Electronic-Component-Four-Switch.jpg/440px-Electronic-Component-Four-Switch.jpg 2x" data-file-width="1740" data-file-height="1620" /></a><figcaption>A toggle <a href="/wiki/DIP_switch" title="DIP switch">DIP switch</a> with four inputs and outputs</figcaption></figure> <figure class="mw-default-size" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:Nova1200.agr.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/58/Nova1200.agr.jpg/220px-Nova1200.agr.jpg" decoding="async" width="220" height="102" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/58/Nova1200.agr.jpg/330px-Nova1200.agr.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/58/Nova1200.agr.jpg/440px-Nova1200.agr.jpg 2x" data-file-width="1858" data-file-height="864" /></a><figcaption>Bank of toggle switches on a <a href="/wiki/Data_General_Nova" title="Data General Nova">Data General Nova</a> <a href="/wiki/Minicomputer" title="Minicomputer">minicomputer</a> front panel</figcaption></figure> <figure class="mw-default-size" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:Toggle_switch_logic.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8f/Toggle_switch_logic.jpg/250px-Toggle_switch_logic.jpg" decoding="async" width="220" height="137" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8f/Toggle_switch_logic.jpg/330px-Toggle_switch_logic.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8f/Toggle_switch_logic.jpg/500px-Toggle_switch_logic.jpg 2x" data-file-width="2364" data-file-height="1470" /></a><figcaption>Toggle switches with the shared cover preventing certain forbidden combinations</figcaption></figure> <p>A <b>toggle switch</b> or <b>tumbler switch</b> is a class of electrical switches that are manually actuated by a mechanical <a href="/wiki/Lever" title="Lever">lever</a>, handle, or rocking mechanism. </p><p>Toggle switches are available in many different styles and sizes, and are used in numerous applications. Many are designed to provide the simultaneous actuation of multiple sets of <a href="/wiki/Electrical_contact" title="Electrical contact">electrical contacts</a>, or the control of large amounts of <a href="/wiki/Electric_current" title="Electric current">electric current</a> or <a href="/wiki/Mains_electricity" title="Mains electricity">mains</a> voltages. </p><p>The word "toggle" is a reference to a kind of mechanism or joint consisting of two arms, which are almost in line with each other, connected with an elbow-like pivot. However, the phrase "toggle switch" is applied to a switch with a short handle and a positive snap-action, whether it actually contains a toggle mechanism or not. Similarly, a switch where a definitive click is heard, is called a "positive on-off switch".<sup id="cite_ref-12" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-12"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>11<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> A very common use of this type of switch is to switch lights or other electrical equipment on or off. Multiple toggle switches may be mechanically interlocked to prevent forbidden combinations. </p><p>In some contexts, particularly <a href="/wiki/Computing" title="Computing">computing</a>, a toggle switch, or the action of toggling, is understood in the different sense of a mechanical or software switch that alternates between two states each time it is activated, regardless of mechanical construction. For example, the <a href="/wiki/Caps_lock" class="mw-redirect" title="Caps lock">caps lock</a> key on a computer causes all letters to be generated in capitals after it is pressed once; pressing it again reverts to lower-case letters. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Special_types">Special types</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Switch&action=edit&section=16" title="Edit section: Special types"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <figure class="mw-default-size" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:Float_switch_on.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/3f/Float_switch_on.jpg/220px-Float_switch_on.jpg" decoding="async" width="220" height="165" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/3f/Float_switch_on.jpg/330px-Float_switch_on.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/3f/Float_switch_on.jpg/440px-Float_switch_on.jpg 2x" data-file-width="4000" data-file-height="3000" /></a><figcaption>Opened <a href="/wiki/Float_switch" title="Float switch">float switch</a> of a dirty-water pump</figcaption></figure> <p>Switches can be designed to respond to any type of mechanical stimulus: for example, vibration (the trembler switch), tilt, air pressure, fluid level (a <a href="/wiki/Float_switch" title="Float switch">float switch</a>), the turning of a key (<a href="/wiki/Key_switch" title="Key switch">key switch</a>), linear or rotary movement (a <a href="/wiki/Limit_switch" title="Limit switch">limit switch</a> or <a href="/wiki/Microswitch" class="mw-redirect" title="Microswitch">microswitch</a>), or presence of a magnetic field (the <a href="/wiki/Reed_switch" title="Reed switch">reed switch</a>). Many switches are operated automatically by changes in some environmental condition or by motion of machinery. A <a href="/wiki/Limit_switch" title="Limit switch">limit switch</a> is used, for example, in machine tools to interlock operation with the proper position of tools. In heating or cooling systems a <a href="/wiki/Sail_switch" title="Sail switch">sail switch</a> ensures that air flow is adequate in a duct. <a href="/wiki/Pressure_switch" title="Pressure switch">Pressure switches</a> respond to fluid pressure. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Mercury_tilt_switch">Mercury tilt switch</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Switch&action=edit&section=17" title="Edit section: Mercury tilt switch"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1236090951" /><div role="note" class="hatnote navigation-not-searchable">Main article: <a href="/wiki/Mercury_switch" title="Mercury switch">Mercury switch</a></div> <p>The mercury switch consists of a drop of <a href="/wiki/Mercury_(element)" title="Mercury (element)">mercury</a> inside a <a href="/wiki/Glass" title="Glass">glass</a> bulb with two or more contacts. The two contacts pass through the glass, and are connected by the mercury when the bulb is tilted to make the mercury roll on to them. </p><p>This type of switch performs much better than the ball tilt switch, as the <a href="/wiki/Liquid_metal" title="Liquid metal">liquid metal</a> connection is unaffected by dirt, debris and oxidation, it wets the contacts ensuring a very low resistance bounce-free connection, and movement and vibration do not produce a poor contact. These types can be used for precision works. </p><p>It can also be used where arcing is dangerous (such as in the presence of explosive vapour) as the entire unit is sealed. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Knife_switch">Knife switch</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Switch&action=edit&section=18" title="Edit section: Knife switch"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1236090951" /><div role="note" class="hatnote navigation-not-searchable">Main article: <a href="/wiki/Knife_switch" title="Knife switch">Knife switch</a></div> <figure class="mw-default-size" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:Sectionneur.JPG" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1f/Sectionneur.JPG/250px-Sectionneur.JPG" decoding="async" width="170" height="172" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1f/Sectionneur.JPG/330px-Sectionneur.JPG 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1f/Sectionneur.JPG/500px-Sectionneur.JPG 2x" data-file-width="1323" data-file-height="1339" /></a><figcaption>A high-voltage disconnect switch used in an electrical substation. Such switches are used mostly to isolate circuits, and usually cannot break load current. High-voltage switches are available for the highest transmission voltages, up to 1 million volts. This switch is gang-operated so that all three phases are interrupted at the same time.</figcaption></figure> <p>Knife switches consist of a flat metal blade, hinged at one end, with an insulating handle for operation, and a fixed contact. When the switch is closed, current flows through the hinged pivot and blade and through the fixed contact. Such switches are usually not enclosed. The knife and contacts are typically formed of <a href="/wiki/Copper" title="Copper">copper</a>, <a href="/wiki/Steel" title="Steel">steel</a>, or <a href="/wiki/Brass" title="Brass">brass</a>, depending on the application. Fixed contacts may be backed up with a spring. Several parallel blades can be operated at the same time by one handle. The parts may be mounted on an insulating base with terminals for wiring, or may be directly bolted to an insulated switch board in a large assembly. Since the electrical contacts are exposed, the switch is used only where people cannot accidentally come in contact with the switch or where the voltage is so low as to not present a hazard. </p><p>Knife switches are made in many sizes from miniature switches to large devices used to carry thousands of amperes. In electrical transmission and distribution, gang-operated switches are used in circuits up to the highest voltages. </p><p>The disadvantages of the knife switch are the slow opening speed and the proximity of the operator to exposed live parts. Metal-enclosed safety <a href="/wiki/Disconnect_switch" class="mw-redirect" title="Disconnect switch">disconnect switches</a> are used for isolation of circuits in industrial power distribution. Sometimes spring-loaded auxiliary blades are fitted which momentarily carry the full current during opening, then quickly part to rapidly extinguish the arc. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Reversing_switch">Reversing switch</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Switch&action=edit&section=19" title="Edit section: Reversing switch"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div><p> A DPDT switch has six connections, but since polarity reversal is a very common usage of DPDT switches, some variations of the DPDT switch are internally wired specifically for polarity reversal. These crossover switches only have four terminals rather than six. Two of the terminals are inputs and two are outputs. When connected to a battery or other DC source, the 4-way switch selects from either normal or reversed polarity. Such switches can also be used as intermediate switches in a <a href="/wiki/Multiway_switching" title="Multiway switching">multiway switching</a> system for control of lamps by more than two switches. <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1236090951" /></p><div role="note" class="hatnote navigation-not-searchable">See also: <a href="/wiki/Commutator_(electric)" title="Commutator (electric)">Commutator (electric)</a>, <a href="/wiki/Auto_polarity_(digital_multimeter)" class="mw-redirect" title="Auto polarity (digital multimeter)">Auto polarity (digital multimeter)</a>, and <a href="/wiki/H-bridge" title="H-bridge">H-bridge</a></div> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Light_switches">Light switches</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Switch&action=edit&section=20" title="Edit section: Light switches"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1236090951" /><div role="note" class="hatnote navigation-not-searchable">Main article: <a href="/wiki/Light_switch" title="Light switch">Light switch</a></div> <p>In building wiring, light switches are installed at convenient locations to control lighting and occasionally other circuits. By use of multiple-pole switches, <a href="/wiki/Multiway_switching" title="Multiway switching">multiway switching</a> control of a lamp can be obtained from two or more places, such as the ends of a corridor or stairwell. A <a href="/wiki/Wireless_light_switch" title="Wireless light switch">wireless light switch</a> allows remote control of lamps for convenience; some lamps include a <a href="/wiki/Touch_switch" title="Touch switch">touch switch</a> which electronically controls the lamp if touched anywhere. In public buildings several types of <a href="/wiki/Vandal_resistant_switch" class="mw-redirect" title="Vandal resistant switch">vandal resistant switches</a> are used to prevent unauthorized use. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Slide_switches">Slide switches</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Switch&action=edit&section=21" title="Edit section: Slide switches"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>Slide switches are mechanical switches using a slider that moves (slides) from the open (off) position to the closed (on) position. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Electronic_switches">Electronic switches</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Switch&action=edit&section=22" title="Edit section: Electronic switches"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1236090951" /><div role="note" class="hatnote navigation-not-searchable">Main article: <a href="/wiki/Electronic_switch" title="Electronic switch">Electronic switch</a></div> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1236090951" /><div role="note" class="hatnote navigation-not-searchable">See also: <a href="/wiki/Digital_electronics" title="Digital electronics">Digital electronics</a>, <a href="/wiki/MOSFET" title="MOSFET">MOSFET</a>, and <a href="/wiki/Transistor#Transistor_as_a_switch" title="Transistor">Transistor § Transistor as a switch</a></div> <p>The term <i>switch</i> has since spread to a variety of <a href="/wiki/Solid_state_electronics" class="mw-redirect" title="Solid state electronics">solid state electronics</a> that perform a switching function, but which are controlled electronically by <a href="/wiki/Active_device" class="mw-redirect" title="Active device">active devices</a> rather than purely mechanically. These are categorized in the article <a href="/wiki/Electronic_switch" title="Electronic switch">electronic switch</a>. <a href="/wiki/Electromechanical" class="mw-redirect" title="Electromechanical">Electromechanical</a> switches (such as the traditional <a href="/wiki/Relay" title="Relay">relay</a>, <a href="/wiki/Crossbar_Switch#Electromechanical_switching_in_telephony" class="mw-redirect" title="Crossbar Switch">electromechanical crossbar</a>, and <a href="/wiki/Strowger_switch" title="Strowger switch">Strowger switch</a>) bridge the categorization. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Other_switches">Other switches</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Switch&action=edit&section=23" title="Edit section: Other switches"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1184024115">.mw-parser-output .div-col{margin-top:0.3em;column-width:30em}.mw-parser-output .div-col-small{font-size:90%}.mw-parser-output .div-col-rules{column-rule:1px solid #aaa}.mw-parser-output .div-col dl,.mw-parser-output .div-col ol,.mw-parser-output .div-col ul{margin-top:0}.mw-parser-output .div-col li,.mw-parser-output .div-col dd{page-break-inside:avoid;break-inside:avoid-column}</style><div class="div-col" style="column-width: 20em;"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Centrifugal_switch" title="Centrifugal switch">Centrifugal switch</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Company_switch" title="Company switch">Company switch</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Crossbar_switch" title="Crossbar switch">Crossbar switch</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Dead_man%27s_switch" title="Dead man's switch">Dead man's switch</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Fireman%27s_switch" title="Fireman's switch">Fireman's switch</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Hall-effect_switch" class="mw-redirect" title="Hall-effect switch">Hall-effect switch</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Inertial_switch" title="Inertial switch">Inertial switch</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Isolator_switch" class="mw-redirect" title="Isolator switch">Isolator switch</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Key_switch" title="Key switch">Key switch</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Kill_switch" title="Kill switch">Kill switch</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Latching_switch" title="Latching switch">Latching switch</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Light_switch" title="Light switch">Light switch</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Load_control_switch" class="mw-redirect" title="Load control switch">Load control switch</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Membrane_switch" title="Membrane switch">Membrane switch</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/MEMS_switch" class="mw-redirect" title="MEMS switch">MEMS switch</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Optical_switch" class="mw-redirect" title="Optical switch">Optical switch</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Piezo_switch" title="Piezo switch">Piezo switch</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Pull_switch" title="Pull switch">Pull switch</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Push_switch" title="Push switch">Push switch</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Sense_switch" title="Sense switch">Sense switch</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Slotted_optical_switch" title="Slotted optical switch">Slotted optical switch</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Stepping_switch" title="Stepping switch">Stepping switch</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Strowger_switch" title="Strowger switch">Strowger switch</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Thermal_switch" class="mw-redirect" title="Thermal switch">Thermal switch</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Time_switch" title="Time switch">Time switch</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Touch_switch" title="Touch switch">Touch switch</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Transfer_switch" title="Transfer switch">Transfer switch</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Zero_speed_switch" title="Zero speed switch">Zero speed switch</a></li></ul> </div> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="See_also">See also</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Switch&action=edit&section=24" title="Edit section: See also"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1184024115" /><div class="div-col" style="column-width: 23em;"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Circuit_breaker" title="Circuit breaker">Circuit breaker</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Commutator_(electric)" title="Commutator (electric)">Commutator (electric)</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Contact_resistance" title="Contact resistance">Contact resistance</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/DIN_rail" title="DIN rail">DIN rail</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Electric_switchboard" title="Electric switchboard">Electric switchboard</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Fuse_cutout" title="Fuse cutout">Fuse cutout</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/RF_switch_matrix" title="RF switch matrix">RF switch matrix</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Switch_access" title="Switch access">Switch access</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Switchgear" title="Switchgear">Switchgear</a></li></ul> </div> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Notes">Notes</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Switch&action=edit&section=25" title="Edit section: Notes"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1239543626">.mw-parser-output .reflist{margin-bottom:0.5em;list-style-type:decimal}@media screen{.mw-parser-output .reflist{font-size:90%}}.mw-parser-output .reflist .references{font-size:100%;margin-bottom:0;list-style-type:inherit}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns-2{column-width:30em}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns-3{column-width:25em}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns{margin-top:0.3em}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns ol{margin-top:0}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns li{page-break-inside:avoid;break-inside:avoid-column}.mw-parser-output .reflist-upper-alpha{list-style-type:upper-alpha}.mw-parser-output .reflist-upper-roman{list-style-type:upper-roman}.mw-parser-output .reflist-lower-alpha{list-style-type:lower-alpha}.mw-parser-output .reflist-lower-greek{list-style-type:lower-greek}.mw-parser-output .reflist-lower-roman{list-style-type:lower-roman}</style><div class="reflist"> <div class="mw-references-wrap"><ol class="references"> <li id="cite_note-NB_NC-4"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-NB_NC_4-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">The abbreviation N.C. (for "Normally closed") is also used to mean "<a href="/wiki/Not_connected" class="mw-redirect" title="Not connected">Not connected</a>" in the context of connector or part pins.</span> </li> </ol></div></div> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="References">References</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Switch&action=edit&section=26" title="Edit section: References"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1239543626" /><div class="reflist"> <div class="mw-references-wrap mw-references-columns"><ol class="references"> <li id="cite_note-1"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-1">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1238218222">.mw-parser-output cite.citation{font-style:inherit;word-wrap:break-word}.mw-parser-output .citation q{quotes:"\"""\"""'""'"}.mw-parser-output .citation:target{background-color:rgba(0,127,255,0.133)}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-free.id-lock-free a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/65/Lock-green.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-limited.id-lock-limited a,.mw-parser-output .id-lock-registration.id-lock-registration a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d6/Lock-gray-alt-2.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-subscription.id-lock-subscription a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/aa/Lock-red-alt-2.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .cs1-ws-icon a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4c/Wikisource-logo.svg")right 0.1em center/12px no-repeat}body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-free a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-limited a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-registration a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-subscription a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .cs1-ws-icon a{background-size:contain;padding:0 1em 0 0}.mw-parser-output .cs1-code{color:inherit;background:inherit;border:none;padding:inherit}.mw-parser-output .cs1-hidden-error{display:none;color:var(--color-error,#d33)}.mw-parser-output .cs1-visible-error{color:var(--color-error,#d33)}.mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{display:none;color:#085;margin-left:0.3em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-left{padding-left:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-right{padding-right:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .citation .mw-selflink{font-weight:inherit}@media screen{.mw-parser-output .cs1-format{font-size:95%}html.skin-theme-clientpref-night .mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{color:#18911f}}@media screen and (prefers-color-scheme:dark){html.skin-theme-clientpref-os .mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{color:#18911f}}</style><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.thefreedictionary.com/switch">"Switch"</a>. <i>The Free Dictionary</i>. Farlex. 2008<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">2008-12-27</span></span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=The+Free+Dictionary&rft.atitle=Switch&rft.date=2008&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thefreedictionary.com%2Fswitch&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ASwitch" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-2"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-2">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222" /><cite class="citation encyclopaedia cs1">"Switch". <i>The American Heritage Dictionary, College Edition</i>. Houghton Mifflin. 1979. p. 1301.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=bookitem&rft.atitle=Switch&rft.btitle=The+American+Heritage+Dictionary%2C+College+Edition&rft.pages=1301&rft.pub=Houghton+Mifflin&rft.date=1979&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ASwitch" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-3"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-3">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.herley.com/index.cfm?act=app_notes&notes=switches">RF Switch</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20110423212637/http://www.herley.com/index.cfm?act=app_notes&notes=switches">Archived</a> 2011-04-23 at the <a href="/wiki/Wayback_Machine" title="Wayback Machine">Wayback Machine</a> Explanation by <a href="/wiki/Herley_Industries" title="Herley Industries">Herley – General Microwave</a></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-:0-5"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-:0_5-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-:0_5-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-:0_5-2"><sup><i><b>c</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222" /><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170705143411/http://www.esterline.com/powersystems/DesignReference/RelayHandbook.aspx">"Engineer's Relay Handbook, 5th edition, Chapter 1.6 by RSIA (formerly NARM)"</a>. Archived from <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.esterline.com/powersystems/DesignReference/RelayHandbook.aspx">the original</a> on 2017-07-05.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=unknown&rft.btitle=Engineer%27s+Relay+Handbook%2C+5th+edition%2C+Chapter+1.6+by+RSIA+%28formerly+NARM%29&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.esterline.com%2Fpowersystems%2FDesignReference%2FRelayHandbook.aspx&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ASwitch" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-Walker1998-6"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-Walker1998_6-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">Walker, PMB, <i>Chambers Science and Technology Dictionary</i>, Edinburgh, 1988, <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222" /><a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/1-85296-150-3" title="Special:BookSources/1-85296-150-3">1-85296-150-3</a></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-7"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-7">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">Features of Technics E-33</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-8"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-8">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222" /><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.arcsuppressiontechnologies.com/arc-suppression-facts/lab-app-notes/">"Lab Note #105 <i>Contact Life – Unsuppressed vs. Suppressed Arcing</i>"</a> <span class="cs1-format">(<a href="/wiki/PDF" title="PDF">PDF</a>)</span>. Arc Suppression Technologies. April 2011. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20131203004750/http://www.arcsuppressiontechnologies.com/arc-suppression-facts/lab-app-notes/">Archived</a> from the original on December 3, 2013<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">February 5,</span> 2012</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=unknown&rft.btitle=Lab+Note+%23105+Contact+Life+%E2%80%93+Unsuppressed+vs.+Suppressed+Arcing&rft.pub=Arc+Suppression+Technologies&rft.date=2011-04&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.arcsuppressiontechnologies.com%2Farc-suppression-facts%2Flab-app-notes%2F&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ASwitch" class="Z3988"></span> (3.6 Mb)</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-9"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-9">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222" /><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.illinoiscapacitor.com/pdf/Papers/RC_snubber.pdf">"Cornell Dubilier Capacitors – CDE (En-US)"</a> <span class="cs1-format">(PDF)</span>. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170215074956/http://www.illinoiscapacitor.com/pdf/papers/rc_snubber.pdf">Archived</a> <span class="cs1-format">(PDF)</span> from the original on 2017-02-15<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">2017-10-05</span></span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=unknown&rft.btitle=Cornell+Dubilier+Capacitors+%E2%80%93+CDE+%28En-US%29&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.illinoiscapacitor.com%2Fpdf%2FPapers%2FRC_snubber.pdf&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ASwitch" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-Electrical_Power_Systems_Technology_pg337-10"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-Electrical_Power_Systems_Technology_pg337_10-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-Electrical_Power_Systems_Technology_pg337_10-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222" /><cite id="CITEREFFardoPatrick2009" class="citation book cs1">Fardo, Stephen; Patrick, Dale (2009-01-01). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://books.google.com/books?id=bohwbWi3bUMC&q=switch%20T-rated&pg=PA337"><i>Electrical Power Systems Technology</i></a>. The Fairmont Press, Inc. p. 337. <a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/9780881735864" title="Special:BookSources/9780881735864"><bdi>9780881735864</bdi></a>. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20171224053707/https://books.google.com/books?id=bohwbWi3bUMC&lpg=PA337&dq=switch%20T-rated&pg=PA337#v=onepage&q=switch%20T-rated&f=false">Archived</a> from the original on 2017-12-24<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">2015-01-26</span></span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=Electrical+Power+Systems+Technology&rft.pages=337&rft.pub=The+Fairmont+Press%2C+Inc.&rft.date=2009-01-01&rft.isbn=9780881735864&rft.aulast=Fardo&rft.aufirst=Stephen&rft.au=Patrick%2C+Dale&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fbooks.google.com%2Fbooks%3Fid%3DbohwbWi3bUMC%26q%3Dswitch%2520T-rated%26pg%3DPA337&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ASwitch" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-11"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-11">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">Gregory K. McMillan (ed) <i>Process/Industrial Instruments and Controls Handbook (5th Edition)</i> (McGraw Hill, 1999) <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222" /><a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-07-012582-1" title="Special:BookSources/0-07-012582-1">0-07-012582-1</a> page 7.26</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-12"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-12">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222" /><cite id="CITEREFGladstone1978" class="citation book cs1">Gladstone, Bernard (1978). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://books.google.com/books?id=Q9VGAAAAYAAJ&q=heard"><i>The New York Times complete manual of home repair</i></a>. Times Books. p. 399. <a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/9780812908923" title="Special:BookSources/9780812908923"><bdi>9780812908923</bdi></a>. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20140329030338/http://books.google.com/books?id=Q9VGAAAAYAAJ&q=heard">Archived</a> from the original on 2014-03-29.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=The+New+York+Times+complete+manual+of+home+repair&rft.pages=399&rft.pub=Times+Books&rft.date=1978&rft.isbn=9780812908923&rft.aulast=Gladstone&rft.aufirst=Bernard&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fbooks.google.com%2Fbooks%3Fid%3DQ9VGAAAAYAAJ%26q%3Dheard&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ASwitch" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> </ol></div></div> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="External_links">External links</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Switch&action=edit&section=27" title="Edit section: External links"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <ul><li><span class="noviewer" typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:Commons-logo.svg" class="mw-file-description"><img alt="" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/20px-Commons-logo.svg.png" decoding="async" width="12" height="16" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/40px-Commons-logo.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="1024" data-file-height="1376" /></a></span> Media related to <a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Electric_switches" class="extiw" title="commons:Category:Electric switches">Electric switches</a> at Wikimedia Commons</li></ul> <div class="navbox-styles"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1129693374" /><style 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.navbox-image img{max-width:none!important}@media print{body.ns-0 .mw-parser-output .navbox{display:none!important}}</style></div><div role="navigation" class="navbox" aria-labelledby="Switch_types16" style="padding:3px"><table class="nowraplinks mw-collapsible autocollapse navbox-inner" style="border-spacing:0;background:transparent;color:inherit"><tbody><tr><th scope="col" class="navbox-title" colspan="3"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1129693374" /><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1239400231" /><div class="navbar plainlinks hlist navbar-mini"><ul><li class="nv-view"><a href="/wiki/Template:Switches" title="Template:Switches"><abbr title="View this template">v</abbr></a></li><li class="nv-talk"><a href="/wiki/Template_talk:Switches" title="Template talk:Switches"><abbr title="Discuss this template">t</abbr></a></li><li class="nv-edit"><a href="/wiki/Special:EditPage/Template:Switches" title="Special:EditPage/Template:Switches"><abbr title="Edit this template">e</abbr></a></li></ul></div><div id="Switch_types16" style="font-size:114%;margin:0 4em"><a class="mw-selflink selflink">Switch</a> types</div></th></tr><tr><td colspan="2" class="navbox-list navbox-odd hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Analogue_switch" title="Analogue switch">Analogue switch</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Banyan_switch" title="Banyan switch">Banyan switch</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Battery_isolator" title="Battery isolator">Battery isolator</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Cam_switch" title="Cam switch">Cam switch</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Centrifugal_switch" title="Centrifugal switch">Centrifugal switch</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Company_switch" title="Company switch">Company switch</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Contact_protection" title="Contact protection">Contact protection</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Crossbar_switch" title="Crossbar switch">Crossbar switch</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Crossover_switch" title="Crossover switch">Crossover switch</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Cryotron" title="Cryotron">Cryotron</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/DIP_switch" title="DIP switch">DIP switch</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Dry_contact" title="Dry contact">Dry contact</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Electric_switchboard" title="Electric switchboard">Electric switchboard</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Float_switch" title="Float switch">Float switch</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Half-moon_switch" title="Half-moon switch">Half-moon switch</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Humidistat" title="Humidistat">Humidistat</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Infinite_switch" title="Infinite switch">Infinite switch</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Inertial_switch" title="Inertial switch">Inertial switch</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Kill_switch" title="Kill switch">Kill switch</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Key_switch" title="Key switch">Key switch</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Knife_switch" title="Knife switch">Knife switch</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Limit_switch" title="Limit switch">Limit switch</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Latching_switch" title="Latching switch">Latching switch</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Light_switch" title="Light switch">Light switch</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Lightning_switch" title="Lightning switch">Lightning switch</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Magnetic_proximity_fuze" title="Magnetic proximity fuze">Magnetic proximity fuze</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Magnetic_starter" title="Magnetic starter">Magnetic starter</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Magnetic_switch" title="Magnetic switch">Magnetic switch</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Mercury_switch" title="Mercury switch">Mercury switch</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Miniature_snap-action_switch" title="Miniature snap-action switch">Miniature snap-action switch</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Motion-triggered_contact_insufficiency" class="mw-redirect" title="Motion-triggered contact insufficiency">Motion-triggered contact insufficiency</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Optical_switch" class="mw-redirect" title="Optical switch">Optical switch</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Photoswitch" title="Photoswitch">Photoswitch</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Piezo_switch" title="Piezo switch">Piezo switch</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Placebo_button" title="Placebo button">Placebo button</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Pull_switch" title="Pull switch">Pull switch</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Push_switch" title="Push switch">Push switch</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Push-button" title="Push-button">Push-button</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Railroad_switch" title="Railroad switch">Railroad switch</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Reed_switch" title="Reed switch">Reed switch</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Rotary_switch" title="Rotary switch">Rotary switch</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Sail_switch" title="Sail switch">Sail switch</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Sea_switch" title="Sea switch">Sea switch</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Sense_switch" title="Sense switch">Sense switch</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Silicone_rubber_keypad" title="Silicone rubber keypad">Silicone rubber keypad</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Softswitch" title="Softswitch">Softswitch</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Spark_gap" title="Spark gap">Spark gap</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Staircase_timer" title="Staircase timer">Staircase timer</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Stepping_switch" title="Stepping switch">Stepping switch</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Strowger_switch" title="Strowger switch">Strowger switch</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Thermostat" title="Thermostat">Thermostat</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Time_switch" title="Time switch">Time switch</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Touch_switch" title="Touch switch">Touch switch</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Transfer_switch" title="Transfer switch">Transfer switch</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Vacuum_switch" title="Vacuum switch">Vacuum switch</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Vandal-resistant_switch" title="Vandal-resistant switch">Vandal-resistant switch</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Wireless_light_switch" title="Wireless light switch">Wireless light switch</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Zero_speed_switch" title="Zero speed switch">Zero speed switch</a></li></ul> </div></td><td class="noviewer navbox-image" rowspan="1" style="width:1px;padding:0 0 0 2px"><div><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:SPST-Switch.svg" class="mw-file-description" title="Switches"><img alt="Switches" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/46/SPST-Switch.svg/80px-SPST-Switch.svg.png" decoding="async" width="80" height="23" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/46/SPST-Switch.svg/120px-SPST-Switch.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/46/SPST-Switch.svg/160px-SPST-Switch.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="512" data-file-height="148" /></a></span></div></td></tr></tbody></table></div> <div class="navbox-styles"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1129693374" /><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1236075235" /></div><div role="navigation" class="navbox" aria-labelledby="Electronic_components254" style="padding:3px"><table class="nowraplinks mw-collapsible mw-collapsed navbox-inner" style="border-spacing:0;background:transparent;color:inherit"><tbody><tr><th scope="col" class="navbox-title" colspan="2"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1129693374" /><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1239400231" /><div class="navbar plainlinks hlist navbar-mini"><ul><li class="nv-view"><a href="/wiki/Template:Electronic_components" title="Template:Electronic components"><abbr title="View this template">v</abbr></a></li><li class="nv-talk"><a href="/wiki/Template_talk:Electronic_components" title="Template talk:Electronic components"><abbr title="Discuss this template">t</abbr></a></li><li class="nv-edit"><a href="/wiki/Special:EditPage/Template:Electronic_components" title="Special:EditPage/Template:Electronic components"><abbr title="Edit this template">e</abbr></a></li></ul></div><div id="Electronic_components254" style="font-size:114%;margin:0 4em"><a href="/wiki/Electronic_component" title="Electronic component">Electronic components</a></div></th></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%;text-align:center;"><a href="/wiki/Semiconductor_device" title="Semiconductor device">Semiconductor<br />devices</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"></div><table class="nowraplinks navbox-subgroup" style="border-spacing:0"><tbody><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%"><a href="/wiki/MOSFET" title="MOSFET">MOS <br />transistors</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Transistor" title="Transistor">Transistor</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/NMOS_logic" title="NMOS logic">NMOS</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/PMOS_logic" title="PMOS logic">PMOS</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/BiCMOS" title="BiCMOS">BiCMOS</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Bio-FET" title="Bio-FET">BioFET</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Chemical_field-effect_transistor" title="Chemical field-effect transistor">Chemical field-effect transistor</a> (ChemFET)</li> <li><a href="/wiki/CMOS" title="CMOS">Complementary MOS</a> (CMOS)</li> <li><a href="/wiki/Depletion-load_NMOS_logic" title="Depletion-load NMOS logic">Depletion-load NMOS</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/FinFET" class="mw-redirect" title="FinFET">Fin field-effect transistor</a> (FinFET)</li> <li><a href="/wiki/Floating-gate_MOSFET" title="Floating-gate MOSFET">Floating-gate MOSFET</a> (FGMOS)</li> <li><a href="/wiki/Insulated-gate_bipolar_transistor" title="Insulated-gate bipolar transistor">Insulated-gate bipolar transistor</a> (IGBT)</li> <li><a href="/wiki/ISFET" title="ISFET">ISFET</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/LDMOS" title="LDMOS">LDMOS</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/MOSFET" title="MOSFET">MOS field-effect transistor</a> (MOSFET)</li> <li><a href="/wiki/Multigate_device" title="Multigate device">Multi-gate field-effect transistor</a> (MuGFET)</li> <li><a href="/wiki/Power_MOSFET" title="Power MOSFET">Power MOSFET</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Thin-film_transistor" title="Thin-film transistor">Thin-film transistor</a> (TFT)</li> <li><a href="/wiki/VMOS" title="VMOS">VMOS</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Power_MOSFET#UMOS" title="Power MOSFET">UMOS</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%"><a href="/wiki/Transistor" title="Transistor">Other <br />transistors</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Bipolar_junction_transistor" title="Bipolar junction transistor">Bipolar junction transistor</a> (BJT)</li> <li><a href="/wiki/Darlington_transistor" title="Darlington transistor">Darlington transistor</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Diffused_junction_transistor" title="Diffused junction transistor">Diffused junction transistor</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Field-effect_transistor" title="Field-effect transistor">Field-effect transistor</a> (FET) <ul><li><a href="/wiki/JFET" title="JFET">Junction Gate FET (JFET)</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Organic_field-effect_transistor" title="Organic field-effect transistor">Organic FET (OFET)</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Light-emitting_transistor" title="Light-emitting transistor">Light-emitting transistor</a> (LET) <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Organic_light-emitting_transistor" title="Organic light-emitting transistor">Organic LET (OLET)</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Pentode_transistor" title="Pentode transistor">Pentode transistor</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Point-contact_transistor" title="Point-contact transistor">Point-contact transistor</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Programmable_unijunction_transistor" title="Programmable unijunction transistor">Programmable unijunction transistor</a> (PUT)</li> <li><a href="/wiki/Static_induction_transistor" title="Static induction transistor">Static induction transistor</a> (SIT)</li> <li><a href="/wiki/Tetrode_transistor" title="Tetrode transistor">Tetrode transistor</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Unijunction_transistor" title="Unijunction transistor">Unijunction transistor</a> (UJT)</li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%"><a href="/wiki/Diode" title="Diode">Diodes</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Avalanche_diode" title="Avalanche diode">Avalanche diode</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Constant-current_diode" title="Constant-current diode">Constant-current diode</a> (CLD, CRD)</li> <li><a href="/wiki/Gunn_diode" title="Gunn diode">Gunn diode</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Laser_diode" title="Laser diode">Laser diode</a> (LD)</li> <li><a href="/wiki/Light-emitting_diode" title="Light-emitting diode">Light-emitting diode</a> (LED)</li> <li><a href="/wiki/OLED" title="OLED">Organic light-emitting diode</a> (OLED)</li> <li><a href="/wiki/Photodiode" title="Photodiode">Photodiode</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/PIN_diode" title="PIN diode">PIN diode</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Schottky_diode" title="Schottky diode">Schottky diode</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Step_recovery_diode" title="Step recovery diode">Step recovery diode</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Zener_diode" title="Zener diode">Zener diode</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Other <br />devices</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Printed_electronics" title="Printed electronics">Printed electronics</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Printed_circuit_board" title="Printed circuit board">Printed circuit board</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/DIAC" title="DIAC">DIAC</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Heterostructure_barrier_varactor" title="Heterostructure barrier varactor">Heterostructure barrier varactor</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Integrated_circuit" title="Integrated circuit">Integrated circuit</a> (IC)</li> <li><a href="/wiki/Hybrid_integrated_circuit" title="Hybrid integrated circuit">Hybrid integrated circuit</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Light_emitting_capacitor" class="mw-redirect" title="Light emitting capacitor">Light emitting capacitor</a> (LEC)</li> <li><a href="/wiki/Memistor" title="Memistor">Memistor</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Memristor" title="Memristor">Memristor</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Memtransistor" title="Memtransistor">Memtransistor</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Memory_cell_(computing)" title="Memory cell (computing)">Memory cell</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Metal-oxide_varistor" class="mw-redirect" title="Metal-oxide varistor">Metal-oxide varistor</a> (MOV)</li> <li><a href="/wiki/Mixed-signal_integrated_circuit" title="Mixed-signal integrated circuit">Mixed-signal integrated circuit</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/MOS_integrated_circuit" class="mw-redirect" title="MOS integrated circuit">MOS integrated circuit</a> (MOS IC)</li> <li><a href="/wiki/Organic_semiconductor" title="Organic semiconductor">Organic semiconductor</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Photodetector" title="Photodetector">Photodetector</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Quantum_circuit" title="Quantum circuit">Quantum circuit</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/RF_CMOS" title="RF CMOS">RF CMOS</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Silicon_controlled_rectifier" title="Silicon controlled rectifier">Silicon controlled rectifier</a> (SCR)</li> <li><a href="/wiki/Solaristor" title="Solaristor">Solaristor</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Static_induction_thyristor" title="Static induction thyristor">Static induction thyristor</a> (SITh)</li> <li><a href="/wiki/Three-dimensional_integrated_circuit" title="Three-dimensional integrated circuit">Three-dimensional integrated circuit</a> (3D IC)</li> <li><a href="/wiki/Thyristor" title="Thyristor">Thyristor</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Trancitor" title="Trancitor">Trancitor</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/TRIAC" title="TRIAC">TRIAC</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Varicap" title="Varicap">Varicap</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr></tbody></table><div></div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%;text-align:center;"><a href="/wiki/Voltage_regulator" title="Voltage regulator">Voltage regulators</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Linear_regulator" title="Linear regulator">Linear regulator</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Low-dropout_regulator" title="Low-dropout regulator">Low-dropout regulator</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Switching_regulator" class="mw-redirect" title="Switching regulator">Switching regulator</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Buck_converter" title="Buck converter">Buck</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Boost_converter" title="Boost converter">Boost</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Buck%E2%80%93boost_converter" title="Buck–boost converter">Buck–boost</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Split-pi_topology" title="Split-pi topology">Split-pi</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/%C4%86uk_converter" title="Ćuk converter">Ćuk</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Single-ended_primary-inductor_converter" title="Single-ended primary-inductor converter">SEPIC</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Charge_pump" title="Charge pump">Charge pump</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Switched_capacitor" title="Switched capacitor">Switched capacitor</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%;text-align:center;"><a href="/wiki/Vacuum_tube" title="Vacuum tube">Vacuum tubes</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Acorn_tube" title="Acorn tube">Acorn tube</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Audion" title="Audion">Audion</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Beam_tetrode" title="Beam tetrode">Beam tetrode</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Hot-wire_barretter" title="Hot-wire barretter">Barretter</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Compactron" title="Compactron">Compactron</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Vacuum_diode" class="mw-redirect" title="Vacuum diode">Diode</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Fleming_valve" title="Fleming valve">Fleming valve</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Neutron_generator" title="Neutron generator">Neutron tube</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Nonode" title="Nonode">Nonode</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Nuvistor" title="Nuvistor">Nuvistor</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Pentagrid_converter" title="Pentagrid converter">Pentagrid</a> (Hexode, Heptode, Octode)</li> <li><a href="/wiki/Pentode" title="Pentode">Pentode</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Photomultiplier_tube" title="Photomultiplier tube">Photomultiplier</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Phototube" title="Phototube">Phototube</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Tetrode" title="Tetrode">Tetrode</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Triode" title="Triode">Triode</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%;text-align:center;"><a href="/wiki/Vacuum_tube" title="Vacuum tube">Vacuum tubes</a> (<a href="/wiki/Electromagnetic_radiation" title="Electromagnetic radiation">RF</a>)</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Backward-wave_oscillator" title="Backward-wave oscillator">Backward-wave oscillator</a> (BWO)</li> <li><a href="/wiki/Cavity_magnetron" title="Cavity magnetron">Cavity magnetron</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Crossed-field_amplifier" title="Crossed-field amplifier">Crossed-field amplifier</a> (CFA)</li> <li><a href="/wiki/Gyrotron" title="Gyrotron">Gyrotron</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Inductive_output_tube" title="Inductive output tube">Inductive output tube</a> (IOT)</li> <li><a href="/wiki/Klystron" title="Klystron">Klystron</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Maser" title="Maser">Maser</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Sutton_tube" title="Sutton tube">Sutton tube</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Traveling-wave_tube" title="Traveling-wave tube">Traveling-wave tube</a> (TWT)</li> <li><a href="/wiki/X-ray_tube" title="X-ray tube">X-ray tube</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%;text-align:center;"><a href="/wiki/Cathode-ray_tube" title="Cathode-ray tube">Cathode-ray tubes</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Beam_deflection_tube" title="Beam deflection tube">Beam deflection tube</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Charactron" title="Charactron">Charactron</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Iconoscope" title="Iconoscope">Iconoscope</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Magic_eye_tube" title="Magic eye tube">Magic eye tube</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Monoscope" title="Monoscope">Monoscope</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Selectron_tube" title="Selectron tube">Selectron tube</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Storage_tube" title="Storage tube">Storage tube</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Trochotron" class="mw-redirect" title="Trochotron">Trochotron</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Video_camera_tube" title="Video camera tube">Video camera tube</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Williams_tube" title="Williams tube">Williams tube</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%;text-align:center;"><a href="/wiki/Gas-filled_tube" title="Gas-filled tube">Gas-filled tubes</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Cold_cathode" title="Cold cathode">Cold cathode</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Crossatron" title="Crossatron">Crossatron</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Dekatron" title="Dekatron">Dekatron</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Ignitron" title="Ignitron">Ignitron</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Krytron" title="Krytron">Krytron</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Mercury-arc_valve" title="Mercury-arc valve">Mercury-arc valve</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Neon_lamp" title="Neon lamp">Neon lamp</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Nixie_tube" title="Nixie tube">Nixie tube</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Thyratron" title="Thyratron">Thyratron</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Trigatron" title="Trigatron">Trigatron</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Voltage-regulator_tube" title="Voltage-regulator tube">Voltage-regulator tube</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%;text-align:center;">Adjustable</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Potentiometer" title="Potentiometer">Potentiometer</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Digital_potentiometer" title="Digital potentiometer">digital</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Variable_capacitor" title="Variable capacitor">Variable capacitor</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Varicap" title="Varicap">Varicap</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%;text-align:center;">Passive</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li>Connector <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Audio_and_video_interfaces_and_connectors" title="Audio and video interfaces and connectors">audio and video</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/AC_power_plugs_and_sockets" title="AC power plugs and sockets">electrical power</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/RF_connector" title="RF connector">RF</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Electrolytic_detector" title="Electrolytic detector">Electrolytic detector</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Ferrite_core" title="Ferrite core">Ferrite</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Antifuse" title="Antifuse">Antifuse</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Fuse_(electrical)" title="Fuse (electrical)">Fuse</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Resettable_fuse" title="Resettable fuse">resettable</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/EFUSE" class="mw-redirect" title="EFUSE">eFUSE</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Resistor" title="Resistor">Resistor</a></li> <li><a class="mw-selflink selflink">Switch</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Thermistor" title="Thermistor">Thermistor</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Transformer" title="Transformer">Transformer</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Varistor" title="Varistor">Varistor</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Wire" title="Wire">Wire</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Wollaston_wire" title="Wollaston wire">Wollaston wire</a></li></ul></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%;text-align:center;"><a href="/wiki/Electrical_reactance" title="Electrical reactance">Reactive</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Capacitor" title="Capacitor">Capacitor</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Capacitor_types" title="Capacitor types">types</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Ceramic_resonator" title="Ceramic resonator">Ceramic resonator</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Crystal_oscillator" title="Crystal oscillator">Crystal oscillator</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Inductor" title="Inductor">Inductor</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Parametron" title="Parametron">Parametron</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Relay" title="Relay">Relay</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Reed_relay" title="Reed relay">reed relay</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Mercury_relay" title="Mercury relay">mercury relay</a></li></ul></li></ul> </div></td></tr></tbody></table></div> <div class="navbox-styles"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1129693374" /><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1236075235" /></div><div role="navigation" class="navbox" aria-labelledby="Electricity_delivery729" style="padding:3px"><table class="nowraplinks hlist mw-collapsible mw-collapsed navbox-inner" style="border-spacing:0;background:transparent;color:inherit"><tbody><tr><th scope="col" class="navbox-title" colspan="3"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1129693374" /><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1239400231" /><div class="navbar plainlinks hlist navbar-mini"><ul><li class="nv-view"><a href="/wiki/Template:Electricity_delivery" title="Template:Electricity delivery"><abbr title="View this template">v</abbr></a></li><li class="nv-talk"><a href="/wiki/Template_talk:Electricity_delivery" title="Template talk:Electricity delivery"><abbr title="Discuss this template">t</abbr></a></li><li class="nv-edit"><a href="/wiki/Special:EditPage/Template:Electricity_delivery" title="Special:EditPage/Template:Electricity delivery"><abbr title="Edit this template">e</abbr></a></li></ul></div><div id="Electricity_delivery729" style="font-size:114%;margin:0 4em"><a href="/wiki/Electricity_delivery" title="Electricity delivery">Electricity delivery</a></div></th></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Concepts</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Automatic_generation_control" title="Automatic generation control">Automatic generation control</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Backfeeding" title="Backfeeding">Backfeeding</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Base_load" title="Base load">Base load</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Demand_factor" title="Demand factor">Demand factor</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Droop_speed_control" title="Droop speed control">Droop speed control</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Electric_power" title="Electric power">Electric power</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Electric_power_quality" title="Electric power quality">Electric power quality</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Electrical_fault" title="Electrical fault">Electrical fault</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Energy_demand_management" title="Energy demand management">Energy demand management</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Energy_return_on_investment" title="Energy return on investment">Energy return on investment</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Grid_code" title="Grid code">Grid code</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Grid_energy_storage" title="Grid energy storage">Grid energy storage</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Grid_strength" class="mw-redirect" title="Grid strength">Grid strength</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Home_energy_storage" title="Home energy storage">Home energy storage</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Load-following_power_plant" title="Load-following power plant">Load-following</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Merit_order" title="Merit order">Merit order</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Nameplate_capacity" title="Nameplate capacity">Nameplate capacity</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Peak_demand" title="Peak demand">Peak demand</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Power_factor" title="Power factor">Power factor</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Power-flow_study" title="Power-flow study">Power-flow study</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Repowering" title="Repowering">Repowering</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Utility_frequency" title="Utility frequency">Utility frequency</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Variable_renewable_energy" title="Variable renewable energy">Variability</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Vehicle-to-grid" title="Vehicle-to-grid">Vehicle-to-grid</a></li></ul> </div></td><td class="noviewer navbox-image" rowspan="8" style="width:1px;padding:0 0 0 2px"><div><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:Abspannportal.jpg" class="mw-file-description" title="Portal pylons of Kriftel substation near Frankfurt"><img alt="Portal pylons of Kriftel substation near Frankfurt" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e2/Abspannportal.jpg/120px-Abspannportal.jpg" decoding="async" width="120" height="90" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e2/Abspannportal.jpg/250px-Abspannportal.jpg 1.5x" data-file-width="2048" data-file-height="1536" /></a></span></div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Sources</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"></div><table class="nowraplinks navbox-subgroup" style="border-spacing:0"><tbody><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:7em"><a href="/wiki/Non-renewable_resource" title="Non-renewable resource">Non-renewable</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Fossil_fuel_power_station" title="Fossil fuel power station">Fossil fuel power station</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Coal" title="Coal">Coal</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Natural_gas" title="Natural gas">Natural gas</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Oil_shale" title="Oil shale">Oil shale</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Petroleum" title="Petroleum">Petroleum</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Nuclear_power" title="Nuclear power">Nuclear</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:7em"><a href="/wiki/Renewable_energy" title="Renewable energy">Renewable</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Biofuel" title="Biofuel">Biofuel</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Biogas" title="Biogas">Biogas</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Biomass" title="Biomass">Biomass</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Geothermal_power" title="Geothermal power">Geothermal</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Hydroelectricity" title="Hydroelectricity">Hydro</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Marine_energy" title="Marine energy">Marine</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Marine_current_power" title="Marine current power">Current</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Osmotic_power" title="Osmotic power">Osmotic</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Ocean_thermal_energy_conversion" title="Ocean thermal energy conversion">Thermal</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Tidal_power" title="Tidal power">Tidal</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Wave_power" title="Wave power">Wave</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Solar_power" title="Solar power">Solar</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Sustainable_biofuel" title="Sustainable biofuel">Sustainable biofuel</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Wind_power" title="Wind power">Wind</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr></tbody></table><div></div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%"><a href="/wiki/Category:Power_station_technology" title="Category:Power station technology">Generation</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/AC_power" title="AC power">AC power</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Cogeneration" title="Cogeneration">Cogeneration</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Combined_cycle_power_plant" title="Combined cycle power plant">Combined cycle</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Cooling_tower" title="Cooling tower">Cooling tower</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Induction_generator" title="Induction generator">Induction generator</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Micro_combined_heat_and_power" title="Micro combined heat and power">Micro CHP</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Microgeneration" title="Microgeneration">Microgeneration</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Rankine_cycle" title="Rankine cycle">Rankine cycle</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Three-phase_electric_power" title="Three-phase electric power">Three-phase electric power</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Virtual_power_plant" title="Virtual power plant">Virtual power plant</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%"><div style="display: inline-block; line-height: 1.2em; padding: .1em 0;"><a href="/wiki/Electric_power_transmission" title="Electric power transmission">Transmission</a><br />and <a href="/wiki/Electric_power_distribution" title="Electric power distribution">distribution</a></div></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Demand_response" title="Demand response">Demand response</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Distributed_generation" title="Distributed generation">Distributed generation</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Dynamic_demand_(electric_power)" title="Dynamic demand (electric power)">Dynamic demand</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Electric_power_distribution" title="Electric power distribution">Electric power distribution</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Electric_power_system" title="Electric power system">Electric power system</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Electric_power_transmission" title="Electric power transmission">Electric power transmission</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Electrical_busbar_system" title="Electrical busbar system">Electrical busbar system</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Electrical_grid" title="Electrical grid">Electrical grid</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Electricity_retailing" title="Electricity retailing">Electricity retailing</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/High-voltage_direct_current" title="High-voltage direct current">High-voltage direct current</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/High-voltage_shore_connection" title="High-voltage shore connection">High-voltage shore connection</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Interconnector" title="Interconnector">Interconnector</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Load_management" title="Load management">Load management</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Mains_electricity_by_country" title="Mains electricity by country">Mains electricity by country</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Overhead_power_line" title="Overhead power line">Overhead power line</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Power_station" title="Power station">Power station</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Pumped-storage_hydroelectricity" title="Pumped-storage hydroelectricity">Pumped hydro</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Single-wire_earth_return" title="Single-wire earth return">Single-wire earth return</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Smart_grid" title="Smart grid">Smart grid</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Substation" title="Substation">Substation</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Super_grid" title="Super grid">Super grid</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Transformer" title="Transformer">Transformer</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Transmission_system_operator" title="Transmission system operator">Transmission system operator</a> (TSO)</li> <li><a href="/wiki/Transmission_tower" title="Transmission tower">Transmission tower</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Utility_pole" title="Utility pole">Utility pole</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Failure modes</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Black_start" title="Black start">Black start</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Brownout_(electricity)" title="Brownout (electricity)">Brownout</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Cascading_failure" title="Cascading failure">Cascading failure</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Power_outage" title="Power outage">Power outage</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Rolling_blackout" title="Rolling blackout">Rolling blackout</a></li></ul></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%"><div style="display: inline-block; line-height: 1.2em; padding: .1em 0;">Protective<br />devices</div></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Arc-fault_circuit_interrupter" title="Arc-fault circuit interrupter">Arc-fault circuit interrupter</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Circuit_breaker" title="Circuit breaker">Circuit breaker</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Earth-leakage_circuit_breaker" title="Earth-leakage circuit breaker">Earth-leakage</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Sulfur_hexafluoride_circuit_breaker" title="Sulfur hexafluoride circuit breaker">Sulfur hexafluoride</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Generator_interlock_kit" title="Generator interlock kit">Generator interlock kit</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Numerical_relay" title="Numerical relay">Numerical relay</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Power_system_protection" title="Power system protection">Power system protection</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Protective_relay" title="Protective relay">Protective relay</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Residual-current_device" title="Residual-current device">Residual-current device</a> (GFI)</li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%"><div style="display: inline-block; line-height: 1.2em; padding: .1em 0;">Economics<br />and policies</div></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Availability_factor" title="Availability factor">Availability factor</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Capacity_factor" title="Capacity factor">Capacity factor</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Carbon_offsets_and_credits" title="Carbon offsets and credits">Carbon offsets and credits</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Cost_of_electricity_by_source" title="Cost of electricity by source">Cost of electricity by source</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Energy_subsidy" title="Energy subsidy">Energy subsidies</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Environmental_tax" 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