Toggle switches are actuated by a lever angled in one of two or more positions. In any case, the final output of any switch will be (at least) a pair of wire-connection terminals that will either be connected together by the switch’s internal contact mechanism (“closed”), or not connected together (“open”).Īny switch designed to be operated by a person is generally called a hand switch, and they are manufactured in several varieties: Other switches are more complex, containing electronic circuits able to turn on or off depending on some physical stimulus (such as light or magnetic field) sensed. The simplest type of switch is one where two electrical conductors are brought in contact with each other by the motion of an actuating mechanism. There are many different types of switches, and we will explore some of these types in this chapter. Switches are essentially binary devices: they are either completely on (“closed”) or completely off (“open”). Learning the function of switch-based circuits at the same time that you learn about solid-state logic gates makes both topics easier to grasp, and sets the stage for an enhanced learning experience in Boolean algebra, the mathematics behind digital logic circuits.Īn electrical switch is any device used to interrupt the flow of electrons in a circuit. Though it may seem strange to cover the elementary topic of electrical switches at such a late stage in this book series, I do so because the chapters that follow explore an older realm of digital technology based on mechanical switch contacts rather than solid-state gate circuits, and a thorough understanding of switch types is necessary for the undertaking.
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