When you’re in the market for a new breaker switch, it can be tough to know where to start and what features to prioritize. In this article, we’ll go over the basics of what you need to know about switches before you buy one, with an eye toward making sure that your home is as safe as possible. If you’re interested in learning more about how to choose the right breaker switch, keep reading:
1. Understanding Switches
In the United States, switches are primarily used in electrical panel wiring. These switches are used to control the flow of electricity from the power source to outlets throughout your home. When they part ways, they often send electricity on a “glitchy circuit” as you would expect of any electrical component. If you don’t want your home to be susceptible to electrical problems, having a good switch is paramount.
2. Types of Breaker Switches
Switches come in two types: single pole and three-way. A single pole switch only has two wires that make contact with the switch; they either stay connected or disconnect respectively. Three-way switches will have three wires, which are the neutral and the “hot” lines, with the third line being optional. For instance, you would hook an optional line to a light switch so that you could use it to turn on a light in addition to switching it off.
3. To Timers or Not?
If you’re looking for a switch that has options beyond turning on and off your lights, then timers are an excellent choice for you. With timers, you can set up certain times of day when your lights will automatically turn on or off, regardless of any manual switches that may be turned on. This is a great choice for power savers and anyone that wants to have their lights go off at night.
4. Quality
When it comes to switches, quality is key. The strain that electric wires are under when they make contact with a switch can wear down the contacts on the switch over time. With lower-quality switches, this leads to more frequent breakdowns, which will obviously lead to more expenses and headaches in the long run. Learning more about switches is sure to help you find the right one for your home!
5. Styles
There are three popular styles of breaker switches in the US: fusible, triac, and time delay. Fusible is a style in which one wire (usually referred to as the “hot” line) is fused with another wire (usually known as the neutral). Triac is a type of breaker switch that uses transistors to regulate the flow of electricity. Time delay is a style that uses a battery to provide it with power and allows it to remember when it was last on. The exact style you choose will depend on your particular needs.
Choosing the right breaker switch will afford you many advantages. Learning more about breaker switches is sure to help you find the right one for your home. Choose the following from the above tips
