0
Some do and some do not. It depends on the application that you are using the switch in.
In a home three way lighting circuit there is no off position on the switch.
In control work there is an off position. It comes in the form of a (Hand - Off - Auto) switch.
In power distribution services it comes in the form of a manually operated or automatically operated (Hydro - Off - Emergency) power switch. These types of switches are used to connect a generator to the service distribution.
The latter two can come in two or three pole switches depending on what phase the service is.
Wiki User
∙ 7y ago
Add your answer:
Earn +20 pts
Why do they call a three-way switch when it isn't?
The switch operates from two locations, such as upstairs and downstairs, but there are three ways it can be set: both switches "on", both switches "off", or one switch "on" and one switch "off".
Can you connect one single light switch to another single light switch to control the same light on or off.?
Yes you can. There are three ways of doing this. Two are incorrect and one is the correct way of doing it.The two switches can be paralleled together to make the light fixture respond. Both of the two switches will always have to be in the on position. Either switch will turn the light off but the second switch will not turn the light on. Very inconvenient when you enter a room through one door and leave by another.The two switches can be wired in series. Both switches have to be on to operate the light but again if one of either switch is left in the off position the other switch will not operate the light fixture. Very inconvenient when you enter a room through one door and leave by another.The correct way of wiring two switches to control a central light fixture is with a three way switching system (two way in the UK). The two positions have to have special three way switches in each position. These types of switches sort out the problems of leaving a switch in a certain position to operate properly. The only criteria is that there be a three conductor cable joining the two three way switch boxes together.See related links below.
What can a three-way switch be compared to?
to a railroad track switch the current flows on one side or the other but is never off
Why won't a three way lamp switch work with a wall controlled outlet?
Not wanting to state the obvious but the wall switch has to be turned on to supply voltage to the outlet. The lamp will need a three way light bulb in the lamp. A three way bulb uses two filaments of different lengths. One element is used for low brightness, the other filament for medium brightness and the high brightness setting uses both filaments in the bulb. If a single filament ordinary light bulb is used in place of a three way light bulb there will be a position on the three way lamp switch where the bulb will not light. Find the position on the lamp where the bulb will light and leave it there. Use the wall switch to turn the lamp off and on through the controlled receptacle.
Is it difficult to differentiate a SPST switch from a SPDT switch?
No it is not hard to tell them apart. A Single Pole Single Throw switch will go directly from the on position to the off position breaking the circuit. This is the type of switch that is used in homes for lighting control. A Single Pole Double Throw switch will usually have a stop indent which is the off position mid way through the throw. This is the switch that is used for a transfer switch when using a stand by generator in the system. The full up (on) position is usually connected to utility power. The full down (on) position is usually connected to the stand by generator.
What are the common three pickups positions on a guitar with a three-way switch?
Three way with two humbuckers is: up position = neck middle position = both down position = bridge Three way with three single coils is: up position = neck middle position = middle down position = bridge
What is a 3 gang 3 way switch?
3 gang switch and you can call it 2-way switch..is a type of swithces we are using mostly in the stairs lighting ,that mean you have switch up to the stair and one down to the stair and you can switch the light on from one and switch it off from the other switch and via verse. <<>> There is no such thing as a three gang three way switch,. The nearest thing is a three gang double throw switch. It is used to supply a three phase load from two individual three phase supply sources. This is the type of manual switch that can be used for emergency power switch over from utility to generator. Three way switching uses a single pole double throw switch at each end of the circuit and a cross over switch in the center position. The center switch in a three way lighting configuration is a cross over switch and a double pole double throw switch in that position will not work.
Is there a residential switch 15A rating that will allow one source to be switched to either of two loads?
Yes, a three way lighting switch will do that job. There is no off position if you use this type of switch, it will be either one load or the other on all of the time. To over come this condition you can install a single pole switch ahead of the single pole double throw (three way switch, two way switch in the UK). There is a small toggle switch that has an on - off - on positions but it is not a residential switch.
What effect would occur if the intermediate switch s3 were replace by a double pole switch?
You seem to be referring about a 3 way lighting circuit. If the cross over switch is replaced with a double pole switch, depending on how the switch was wired into the circuit, the load lamp would either stay on or not light at all. A circuit in a three way configuration has two traveler legs between the two switches The intermediate switch in the circuit just switches the two traveler legs from open to close depending on the position of the other two switched. Google, three way switching, they have many diagrams to work from.
How do you make a 2 way switch which breaks the circuit only when both the switches are turned off?
Send power to the 1st switch and then send the power from that switch when it is in the on position to the second switch. Then send power to the light from the second switch. That way both switches will have to be in the on position for the light to be on.
Why do they call a three-way switch when it isn't?
The switch operates from two locations, such as upstairs and downstairs, but there are three ways it can be set: both switches "on", both switches "off", or one switch "on" and one switch "off".
Can you connect one single light switch to another single light switch to control the same light on or off.?
Yes you can. There are three ways of doing this. Two are incorrect and one is the correct way of doing it.The two switches can be paralleled together to make the light fixture respond. Both of the two switches will always have to be in the on position. Either switch will turn the light off but the second switch will not turn the light on. Very inconvenient when you enter a room through one door and leave by another.The two switches can be wired in series. Both switches have to be on to operate the light but again if one of either switch is left in the off position the other switch will not operate the light fixture. Very inconvenient when you enter a room through one door and leave by another.The correct way of wiring two switches to control a central light fixture is with a three way switching system (two way in the UK). The two positions have to have special three way switches in each position. These types of switches sort out the problems of leaving a switch in a certain position to operate properly. The only criteria is that there be a three conductor cable joining the two three way switch boxes together.See related links below.
Why does my Subaru impreza dome light stays on?
The dome light in my Impreza has a three way switch that in the full rear position remains off even with the doors open. In the middle position it is on auto so that when a door is opened it comes on. And in the full forward position it stays on constantly. If yours has a switch you might try moving it to the middle position or the full rear position per your preference.
What can a three-way switch be compared to?
to a railroad track switch the current flows on one side or the other but is never off
Why won't a three way lamp switch work with a wall controlled outlet?
Not wanting to state the obvious but the wall switch has to be turned on to supply voltage to the outlet. The lamp will need a three way light bulb in the lamp. A three way bulb uses two filaments of different lengths. One element is used for low brightness, the other filament for medium brightness and the high brightness setting uses both filaments in the bulb. If a single filament ordinary light bulb is used in place of a three way light bulb there will be a position on the three way lamp switch where the bulb will not light. Find the position on the lamp where the bulb will light and leave it there. Use the wall switch to turn the lamp off and on through the controlled receptacle.
Is it difficult to differentiate a SPST switch from a SPDT switch?
No it is not hard to tell them apart. A Single Pole Single Throw switch will go directly from the on position to the off position breaking the circuit. This is the type of switch that is used in homes for lighting control. A Single Pole Double Throw switch will usually have a stop indent which is the off position mid way through the throw. This is the switch that is used for a transfer switch when using a stand by generator in the system. The full up (on) position is usually connected to utility power. The full down (on) position is usually connected to the stand by generator.
Why car wont shut off with ignition cylinder out?
With the cylinder removed there is no easy way to turn the switch it would normally operate to the "off" position.
