What sort of light will work for you?
3
Understanding switches
Switches turn a circuit on or off by 'making' or 'breaking' connections. There are several types of switch.
For setting on or off
An on/off switch, such as a light switch, stays in the off position until you switch it on. Then it stays on until you switch it off. Simple on/off switches are called single pole, single throw switches. The basic drawing pin-paper clip switch is this sort of switch. The poles are the number of circuits that the switch makes or breaks. The throws are the number of positions to which each pole can be switched. There are four types of on/off switches:
- push switches are pushed on and off;
- toggle switches are flicked on and off;
- slide switches are pushed or pulled;
- rocker switches are usually pressed.
For holding on or off
Two types are available:
- the push-to-make switch, which makes a connection when pushed;
- the push to break switch, which breaks a connection when pushed.
Both return to their original position when you stop pushing. You find push-to-break switches on car doors and refrigerators.