What Are the Different Types of Electrical Switches?
Electrical switches are devices that can make, break or divert an electrical current. These may be mechanical, electrical or electronic, and are composed of two or more contacts, mounted on an insulated structure, which can be moved in and out of contact with each other. As the use of electric and electronic items has expanded, a wide range of switches have been developed in numerous styles, including many varieties of toggle, keyboard, dial, push button and rocker configurations. Electrical switches fall into two basic categories: power switches and signal switches. Power switches are used to energize or de-energize an electric load and are commonly found on light switches, power tools and appliances. Load-break switches are used in high voltage power systems which require arc interrupters, or safety devices which detect electrical arc and interrupt the current, similar to the function of a circuit breaker.
