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Old January 21, 2017   #33
Worth1
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Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Den of Drunken Fools
Posts: 38,539
Default Switches.

Switches and what they do.
Here is an example of a crazy switch and what it is.
You look at it and you see where it has 6 connectors on it two of which are hidden from view.
Plus it says on on, what the----!!!
Don't worry it isn't that complicated.




What you have is a double throw double pole switch.
The center is where you hook up the hot coming in.
The other two on one side are where it would come out depending one which way the switch is flipped.
So if it is flipped one way one leg is hot and the other is off.
If it is flipped the other way the same but the other leg is now on or hot.
The other side with its three legs are independent of the side you are looking at.
Each side is called a pole.
Some of the switches have a center location so both ends are off for both poles.
If you wanted to you can use this switch to reverse polarity on a DC currant motor to make it run the other way.
A switch something like this is what they use so you can turn the light on at one end of a room and back off at the other.
It is called a three way switch.
Here is the best pictuer I have found that shows what is going on.
If you look the contactor will drop if you turn it off.
But if you go to the other end of the hall and drop the other contactor you now have turned it back on.
Simple.
This is why you wont see on or off on these switches.


Last edited by Worth1; January 21, 2017 at 03:48 PM.
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