How to Choose an Electrical Switch

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

    Manually triggered electrical switch

    Push, pull, or flip to physically trigger these switches.

  • Automatically

    Automatically triggered electrical switch

    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

    Single pole switch

    If you want to control equipment using the same electrical input, choose a single pole (SP) switch.

  • Two Electrical Inputs

    Double pole switch

    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

    Single pole switch

    These are called single throw (ST) switches.

  • Transfer Power Between Equipment

    Double pole switch

    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.

    What Do You Want to Happen When You Trigger Your Switch?

  • Power Turns On

    Start

    To turn equipment on, choose a normally open (NO) switch.

  • Power Turns Off

    Stop

    To turn equipment off, choose a normally closed (NC) switch.

  • Power Turns On & Off

    Alarm on

    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

    Start

    To transfer power between equipment using the same electrical input, choose an on-on switch.

  • Power Transfers or Turns Off

    Alarm on

    If you also want the ability to cut power to all equipment, choose an on-off-on 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:


Electrical switches industry designations

How Long Do You Want Your Switch to Stay Triggered?

  • Momentarily

    Momentarily triggered electrical switch

    Only stays triggered while you engage the switch. Choose a switch with momentary switch action.

  • Continuously

    Continuously triggered electrical switch

    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.