The toggle light switch was invented in 1916 by William J. This "quick break" technology is still in use in almost every ordinary light switch in the world today, numbering in the billions, as well as in many other forms of electric switch. The action of this "quick break" mechanism meant that there was insufficient time for an arc to form, and the switch would thus have a long working life. Holmes' invention ensured that the contacts would separate or come together very quickly, however much or little pressure was exerted by the user on the switch actuator. Arcing would cause pitting on one contact and the build-up of residue on the other, and the switch's useful life would be diminished. The "quick-break" switch overcame the problem of a switch's contacts developing electric arcing whenever the circuit was opened or closed. The first light switch employing "quick-break technology" was invented by John Henry Holmes in 1884 in the Shieldfield district of Newcastle upon Tyne. The switch box is covered by a decorative plate. The switch on the right is a dimmer switch. History, culture, examples, and style Two light switches in one box. Light switches are also found in flashlights, vehicles, and other devices. Manually operated on/off switches may be substituted by dimmer switches that allow controlling the brightness of lamps as well as turning them on or off, time-controlled switches, occupancy-sensing switches, and remotely controlled switches and dimmers. Portable lamps such as table lamps may have a light switch mounted on the socket, base, or in-line with the cord. In electrical wiring, a light switch is a switch most commonly used to operate electric lights, permanently connected equipment, or electrical outlets. This "double gang" (two unit) installation uses non-metallic-sheathed cable and twist-on wire connectors. Shown here will be fastened to this recessed, non-metallic box, then a cover plate is installed. The second drawing depicts when box 1 has three bundles of wire while box 2 has just one.Type of switch in electrical wiring Two decorator-style rocker switches and wiring, as installed in the United States. It's the simple three-way circuit I anticipated and encountered in my home. The first is an outline of what you should see. All those switches, terminals and wires can confuse experienced electricians, let alone novice DIYers. It isn't uncommon either to have one three-way switch in the same box as two or even three others. One of your electrical boxes might have just one bundle of wires while the other is packed with three bundles. This scenario tends to happen with switches in older homes. For instance, there may not be any white wires. The wiring you see may not match what I've described. The wires here connect this local switch to the other in box 1 across the room. A second bundle (four-wire) should contain three colored wires (black, white, red) and a copper (bare). These link the switch to your light fixture. One three-wire bundle will have two colored wires (black, white) plus one of bare copper. Besides their direction of entry the wires are constructed the same way. Here, both wire bundles should enter the electrical box from its top side. They connect the switch in this box to the other switch in box 2.īox 2. The other 4-wire bundle will enter the box from the top and have three colored wires (black, white, red) and a copper (bare) one. These wires come from your home's main electrical panel (usually in the basement below) and provide power to your lighting circuit. This three-wire bundle should consist of two colored wires (black, white) plus one of bare copper. In box 1, one of the wire bundles enters the box from the bottom. It will help you deduce their origin and ultimately identify them.īox 1. If so then the direction wires enter each box is important. Let's call each box "Box 1" and "Box 2." We'll also assume that, like mine, the boxes you're working inside are on a floor above the basement. Inside each of the two electrical boxes you should see two bundles of wires. This step-by-step is reflective of a common wiring scenario and the one in my own home. I must stress that there are many possible ways a set of three-way light switches can be connected. You should now have a good view inside each box.
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