The difference between traditional switches and multi-way switches


Electrical switches that we have at our places are rather simple devices that are used to turn devices on and off. However, the mechanism of switches has also evolved with time. Nowadays, there are multi-way switches, like 2 way switches and 3 way switches. These switches hold the power to control a single light from multiple locations. In this article, we will sight the differences between a traditional electrical switch and the various advanced models.

  • While a one-way switch operates as a make or break switch, a 2-way or 3-way switch are two or three different switches combined into one. One of the terminals can be connected to either of the remaining switches but not at the same time. When a connection is made with one terminal, the connection with the other is broken. 
  • A great benefit of a 2 way or a 3 way switch is that it allows the control of a single device like a light from two locations; for instance, long hallways as you do not have to walk all the way to the other end in total darkness. This is made possible by wiring the terminals of the two switches together so that a path is established when the switches are in the same orientation and none when they are not.


For example,

  • While making our way to the bedroom upstairs at night, we usually will switch off the lights at the stairway to cut down on electricity. If there is a normal switch at the bottom of the stairway, it becomes tiring to go all the way downstairs to turn off the light and vice versa. Therefore, a 2-way switch will be located in two locations, one at the bottom and the other at the top of the stairway. Hence, while going upstairs, we switch the lights on with the switch at the bottom of the staircase and when we reach the top, we use the other switch located at the top to switch it off.
  • Similarly, a 3 way switch comes handy in large corridors, like that in a school or a hotel. In this case, a switch installed at the center point of the corridor will help save the energy of walking both ends to switch on/off a device. Thus, making it all the more convenient and easy.

Although the wiring of multi-way switches is more complicated than its traditional counterparts as it involves a couple of extra wires to enable the switches to work in tandem, but they are definitely one of the most convenient options to go for. 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Enhance the Beauty of Your Homes with Decorative Wall Plates

Image
Decorative wall plates also known as cover frames; enclose the switch or sockets within. The changing lifestyle coupled with the invention and innovation in electrical industries has resulted in the designing , manufacturing, and marketing of such beautiful and long lasting cover frames in the market. These wall plates are available in all most all colors and sizes and can even be customized according to the requirement of the user. As a result of such inv entions, the market has also flourished with a premium range of glass cover plates in different shades that match your style. Exceptional properties of decorative wall plates Recently launched range of cover frames are the perfect mixture of art along with technology. This blend resulted in the innovation of wall plate bearing fire resistance property. These decorative wall plates are designed from a polycarbonate material that is UV stabilized in nature; so along with beautifying the surroundings, its build qual
Read more

Video Door Bells - Always watching over you!

Image
Your dream abode is one of the most valuable assets in your life, and you will surely want to ensure complete safety for it. Numerous people visit you every day, and it’s not that you want to meet all of them. Moreover, each time the doorbell rings, you have to get up from work, come running from the kitchen, or rush from the bathroom to check who’s at the door! Imagine having an automated solution that will save you the efforts of answering your doorbell all the time. With the emergence of high-performance video door phones , homeowners can enjoy complete peace of mind. There’s somebody to take care of the people arriving at the door, no matter who they are! You simply can’t deny the importance of protecting your home. At times, strangers, intruders, and salespersons are waiting at the door, and you just don’t want to open it for them. It’s at these junctures that video door phones and doorbells play the vital role. You can engage in live conversations with the person without ev
Read more

Switch to safety now with electrical switchgear

Imagine having all the appliances you need but not having the switches to plug them in! Switches and switchgear are an integral part of our homes not because of their function but their convenience. And with great power comes great responsibility. Needless to say, switchgear should be extremely safe to use because this type of equipment is directly linked to the reliability of the electricity supply. Switchgear and protection go hand in hand. The earliest known power stations used simple switches, mounted on insulating panels of marble or asbestos. When power levels and voltages rapidly escalated, making opening manually operated switches were too dangerous for anything other than isolation of a de-energized circuit. Today, those days are long gone. We now see switchgear that not only protects but complements the place you live in. These are the days of aesthetically designed switchgear that raises your room’s style quotient as well. In technical terms, these days we see every
Read more