Electrical Switches – Their Types and Functions
Switches are one of the important electrical devices in homes, offices, and industrial areas, which are used to turn on/off electrical devices, and are available in different designs. Although they may appear the same, there is a slight difference in their designs and applications. Are you eager to know about the different types of switches? This two-part post will introduce you to a few types of switches, and their importance in industrial and commercial applications.
A Few Important Types of Switches for Your Home, Office, and Industrial Applications
The following are some important switches that have gained popularity owing to their designs and ease-of-use.
- Pushbutton Switches: Most commonly referred to as push switches, these manual switches are used for switching devices. These switches are mainly used in industrial controls and are classified as normally open, normally closed, as well as double-acting push buttons. These switches are available in various specifications such as double-throw or single-throw switching functions, mounting types, contact types, and panel-cut diameters.
- Motor Disconnect Switches: These switches are commonly used at general indoor facilities, processing areas, cooling towers, and maintenance shops. Disconnect switches are used for two reasons— safety and flexibility. These switches help de-energize electrical motors or circuits completely. Also, they help isolate the problem areas within the facility without hampering the productivity of well-functioning areas.
- Snap Action Switches: As the name suggests, these are basically rapid action flow switches that assure a quick transfer of contacts between two positions. These switches are mainly used in situations where a quick closing and fast opening of the circuit is required. These switches are mainly used in safety equipment, home appliances, industrial machinery, and more. Snap action switches are classified as miniature, sub-miniature, and general purpose snap action switches on the basis of their designs.
- Actuators Switches: These are the mechanical components on switches, which are used to manually turn the circuit on/off. Switch actuators also serve as visual indicators symbolizing the on/off status of the switch. The actuator switches are distinguished as rocker actuators and visi-rocker actuators on the basis of their designs.
- Rocker Switches: Rocker switches are one of the important types of actuation switches, which are used in various industrial equipment, office machines, and consumer goods for manually switching the circuits. These switches provide the visual indication status of the circuit such as depressed or raised position. Rocker switches should be selected on the basis of parameters such as double-throw or single-throw switching functions, mounting type, and panel cut-out dimensions.
In addition to the above-discussed, there are a few other switches that have gained immense popularity in recent years. They will be discussed in the oncoming post. Stay tuned.
Electrical Switches— Their Types and Functions 2
