ELECTRICAL SWITCHES

ILMA NAFEES
WAHAB HUSSAIN
DANIA IRSHAD
MOHD. AQDAS USMANI
 INTRODUCTION

• In electrical wiring, a switch most commonly used to

operate electrical appliances, permanently connected
equipment, or electrical outlets. 

• A switch is a device which is designed to interrupt the current

flow in a circuit, in other words, it can make or break an
electrical circuit. Every electrical and electronics application
uses at least one switch to perform ON and OFF operation of
the device.

• A switch can perform two functions, namely fully ON (by closing

its contacts) or fully OFF (by opening its contacts).

• When the contacts of a switch are closed, the switch creates

the closed path for current flow and hence  load consumes the
power from source. When the contacts of a switch are open, no
power will be consumed by the load as shown in figure.
 MECHANISM

PARTS OF A SWITCH

BOX
COPPER
CONTAINING FRONT PLATE
CONTACTS
THE SWITCH

In any type of switch, the fundamental logic is 0 and 1. Where 0 means there is no
electrical connection present in between two contacts. And 1 means the switch is in
ON state, and there is a direct electrical connection in between two contacts. A
switch is connected in series with load and power supply. It means, if the switch is in
OFF state, it will break the connection between power supply and load. In the other
hand, if it is in ON state, it will reconnect the power supply with load.
A switch has a capacity of holding the maximimum current which the contacts of any
particular switch can make or break and a maximum voltage that the contact gap can
withstand.
A switch cannot be connected to a circuit carrying current greater than that which it
can break.
• The actuator is mounted on the base axis
that acts as an electrical separation
between the human body and the power
supply to the switch.
• The electrical contacts are made up of
copper which is connected to the wiring
linked to the box installed inside the wall
cavity which is further connected to the
mechanism of the switch.
• The mechanical arrangement is spring
based.
• The actuator changes its position due to
spring extension either when the switch
completes the circuit or not.
• When the circuit is complete, a portion of
the actuator is raised to one direction and
another is depressed, simultaneously.
• The spring stretches the spring and
connector bridge is formed between the
copper contacts and directs the electrical
flow to the switch.
 TYPES OF SWITCHES

Switches can be of mechanical or electronic type-

• Mechanical switches is activated physically, by moving, pressing,

releasing, or touching its contacts.

• Electronic switches do not require any physical contact in order to

control a circuit. These are activated by semiconductor action.

Mechanical Switches –

Mechanical switches can be classified into different types based on

several factors such as, number of poles and throws (SPST, DPDT,
SPDT, etc.)
Single Pole Single Throw Switch (SPST) -

• This is the basic ON and OFF switch consisting of

one input contact and one output contact.
• It switches a single circuit and it can either make
(ON) or break (OFF) the load.
• The contacts of SPST can be either normally open
or normally closed configurations .

Single Pole Double Throw Switch (SPDT) -

• This switch has three terminals,one is input contact and
remaining two are output contacts.
• This means it consist two ON positions and one OFF
position.
• In most of the circuits, these switches are used as
changeover to connect the input between two choices
of outputs.
• The contact which is connected to the input by default
is referred as normally closed contact and contact
which will be connected during ON operation is a
normally open contact.
 Double Pole Single Throw Switch (DPST) -
• This switch consists of four terminals,two input
contacts and two output contacts.
• It behaves like a two separate SPST configurations,
operating at the same time.
• It has only one ON position, but it can actuate the two
contacts simultaneously, such that each input contact
will be connected to its corresponding output contact.
• In OFF position both switches are at open state.
• This type of switches is used for controlling two
different circuits at a time.
Double Pole Double Throw Switch (DPDT) -
• This is a dual ON/OFF switch consisting of two ON
positions.
• It has six terminals,two are input contacts and remaining
four are the output contacts.
• It behaves like a two separate SPDT configuration,
operating at the same time.
• Two input contacts are connected to the one set of output
contacts in one position and in another position, input
contacts are connected to the other set of output contacts.
 Push Button Switch -

• It is a momentary contact switch that makes or breaks

connection as long as pressure is applied (or when the button
is pushed).
• Generally, this pressure is supplied by a button pressed by
someone’s finger.
• This button returns its normal position, once the pressure is
removed.
• The internal spring mechanism operates these two states
(pressed and released) of a push button.
 MARKET SURVEY
TOP FIVE BRANDS
1.Anchor
2.Havells
3.Simon
4. Legrand
5. GM Modular

SWITCHES TYPE OF SWITCH MINIMUM COST(Rs.) MAXIMUM COST(Rs.)

6-AMPERE SWITCH ONE WAY 15 40
TWO WAY 50 62
10-AMPERE SWITCH ONE WAY 45 75
TWO WAY 95 120
16-AMPERE ONE WAY 60 90
TWO WAY 130 145
20-AMPERE ONE WAY 85 100
TWO WAY 135 150
DOOR BELL (10 AMP) PUSH BOTTON 115 150