what-is

Switch, in its basic form, does nothing more than open and close electrical circuits. When the switch closes the circuit, it allows electrical circuit to flow from point A to point B. When that happens and we have a closed circuit in a switch, we call it a pole.  Switches are used to make or break connections and electrical current. They can be used to connect a load to a power supply, or send signals within a circuit.

A pole is the number of the closed independent circuits, that the switch controls. Thus, a single-pole switch can control only one separate circuit. When we have two closed separate circuits at the same time, we call it double pole. [Read more…] about Introduction. Switches: poles and throws

What is a DPDT switch? If a switch contains two input terminals and each of them moves between their own two output terminals, it is a Double Pole Double Throw (DPDT) switch.

Hence, the total number of inputs and outputs is, correspondingly, two and four. [Read more…] about What is a Double Pole Double Throw (DPDT) Switch?

What is a Single Pole Double Throw Switch? A switch may contain one input terminal that can move between two outputs. Thus, we are speaking about a Single Pole Double Throw (SPDT) switch. Here, you can wire 2 units simultaneously. [Read more…] about What is a Single Pole Double Throw Switch (SPDT)?

What is a SPST Switch? A switch may contain one movable input to contact one output connection point (a terminal). If this is the case, we are speaking about a Single Pole Single Throw (SPST) switch.

The working principle of such a switch type is very straightforward. Its only application within a circuit is to keep a single device on or off. That is why it is commonly named as an on-off switch. [Read more…] about What is a Single Pole Single Throw Switch?