We’ll walk you through the process of picking a switch so you can find what you need.
How Do You Want to Trigger Your Switch?
-
Manually
Push, pull, or flip to physically trigger these switches.
-
Automatically
Movement, proximity, or other environmental conditions trigger these switches.
How Many Electrical Inputs Do You Want to Control?
Most switches control equipment using one or two electrical inputs, but we offer switches to control up to five separate electrical inputs. Your number of electrical inputs will be the same as the number of circuits you want to control.
-
One Electrical Input
If you want to control equipment using the same electrical input, choose a single pole (SP) switch.
-
Two Electrical Inputs
If you want to control equipment using power from two seperate electrical inputs, choose a double pole (DP) switch.
Tip: If you’re replacing a switch and don’t know how many electrical inputs it controls, count the total number of wire terminals. Switches with two or three wire terminals control one electrical input, and switches with four or six wire terminals control two electrical inputs.
What Do You Want Your Switch to Do?
-
Turn Power On or Off
These are called single throw (ST) switches.
-
Transfer Power Between Equipment
These are called double throw (DT) switches.
Tip: In a pinch, you can use a power-transfer switch as an on/off switch by not wiring one of the output terminals.
-
Power Turns On
To turn equipment on, choose a normally open (NO) switch.
-
Power Turns Off
To turn equipment off, choose a normally closed (NC) switch.
-
Power Turns On & Off
To transfer power from one device to another at the same time, choose a normally open/ normally closed (NO/ NC) switch.
What Do You Want to Happen When You Trigger Your Switch?
-
Power Transfers
To transfer power between equipment using the same electrical input, choose an on-on switch.
-
Power Transfers or Turns Off
If you also want the ability to cut power to all equipment, choose an on-off-on switch.
What Do You Want to Happen When You Trigger Your Switch?
Tip: Switches are classified by industry designation. This is just shorthand for the number of circuits your switch controls (poles), what your switch does (throws), and what happens when you trigger your switch. Here are two examples of industry designation you might come across:
How Long Do You Want Your Switch to Stay Triggered?
-
Momentarily
Only stays triggered while you engage the switch. Choose a switch with momentary switch action.
-
Continuously
Stays triggered even after you release the switch. Choose a switch with a maintained switch action.
Choose from our selection of electrical switches. In stock and ready to ship.
