The switch is an object that goes almost unnoticed at home, but it is one of the most proliferating objects in any home. Although it seems strange, these switches are more than one hundred years old and presented the perfect solution to alleviate the problems that arc switches presented at the time.
The switch, as we know it today, was invented in 1884 by engineer John Henry Holmes, in Newcastle, UK . Previously, arc switches had a contact corrosion problem, both when the system was open and closed. This problem caused the switch to have a very short life.
When Holmes designed his invention, he ensured that the conductors separated or came together quickly, with almost zero force from the user, so this fast action meant that the arc would not form, and therefore corrosion would not occur in Little time.
Switch parts and components
In the technical part, with technological advances, switches have evolved, but this advance has always been given by the basis that John Henry Holmes already raised.
Mechanically they have two separate metal contacts, and a moving part that acts as a kind of rocker. By pressing this rocker we open or close the light circuit.
In our wiring, we find a phase line input and an output that connects to the light point. A switch is capable of acting on the same light line, so if we want it to act for several, we will have to use what are known as switches.
Currently, the useful life that a switch has depends a lot on the type of materials that we use for manufacturing. Corrosion has always been a major breaker maintenance problem , which is why many use brass or aluminum alloys to make this life longer.
Components
We find four basic components in a switch.
– Actuators: they are those that, when we activate the switch, open or close the circuit that gives them light.
– Pushbuttons: they are the ones that keep the contacts together, so they need an operator who maintains the pressure to keep these contacts together.
– Number of ways: each position of the switch has a specific action. Each performs a function.
– Number of poles: this is the number of individual circuits that a single switch is capable of controlling. Also, these circuits can carry different voltages.
