I bought a Double pole switch. Why, I don't know. I looked in my trusty
electrical handbook and my copy of the 2007 NESC handbook (to most wasted
$65.00 I've ever spent) and nowhere is there a reference to a "Double Pole
Switch". So, what is a "Double Pole Switch" and what is it used for.

I've used many a single pole switch and a number of 3 way switches in my
time but this one's got me a bit baffled.

TIA

JC

J.C. wrote:
I bought a Double pole switch. Why, I don't know. I looked in my
trusty electrical handbook and my copy of the 2007 NESC handbook (to
most wasted $65.00 I've ever spent) and nowhere is there a reference
to a "Double Pole Switch". So, what is a "Double Pole Switch" and
what is it used for.
I've used many a single pole switch and a number of 3 way switches in
my time but this one's got me a bit baffled.

TIA

JC

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Switch

--
Joseph Meehan

Dia 's Muire duit

Normally it is used for switching 240v, though there might be 120v
applications where you need to break the neutral also.

You can use it as a single pole switch if you have no use for a double.

"J.C." wrote in message
...
I bought a Double pole switch. Why, I don't know. I looked in my trusty
electrical handbook and my copy of the 2007 NESC handbook (to most wasted
$65.00 I've ever spent) and nowhere is there a reference to a "Double Pole
Switch". So, what is a "Double Pole Switch" and what is it used for.

I've used many a single pole switch and a number of 3 way switches in my
time but this one's got me a bit baffled.

TIA

JC

Other than 240 volt applications, I can
think of one that we used in my church.
There was 1 exhaust fan for both the men
and womens washrooms. A double pole
switch in each washroom .... one pole
for the lights in that room and the second
pole for the fan. In essence, if either
room is occupied (the light is turned
on) the
fan will run. When lights in both rooms
are off, the fan will shut down. This
avoided using relays to accomplish the
same.

Jeff Wisnia wrote:
J.C. wrote:
I bought a Double pole switch. Why, I don't know. I looked in my
trusty electrical handbook and my copy of the 2007 NESC handbook (to
most wasted $65.00 I've ever spent) and nowhere is there a reference
to a "Double Pole Switch". So, what is a "Double Pole Switch" and what
is it used for.

I've used many a single pole switch and a number of 3 way switches in
my time but this one's got me a bit baffled.

TIA

JC


Since you don't seem to know what double pole switches can do, you may
also not know what "double throw" means either.

If that switch has six terminal screws on it, not counting a frame
ground screw, then it is a "double pole - double throw" switch, most
often used for multilocation switch control of a light or other load,
i.e when more than just the two switches provided by a "three way"
switch system are desired.

If it only has four terminal screws on it, than it's a "double pole -
single throw" switch, and others have already told you what it can be
used for.

HTH,

Jeff

On Sun, 25 Mar 2007 18:28:53 GMT, "J.C." wrote:

I bought a Double pole switch. Why, I don't know. I looked in my trusty
electrical handbook and my copy of the 2007 NESC handbook (to most wasted
$65.00 I've ever spent) and nowhere is there a reference to a "Double Pole
Switch". So, what is a "Double Pole Switch" and what is it used for.

I've used many a single pole switch and a number of 3 way switches in my
time but this one's got me a bit baffled.


Sounds like you don't need the switch or the code book.

J.C. wrote:
I bought a Double pole switch. Why, I don't know. I looked in my trusty
electrical handbook and my copy of the 2007 NESC handbook (to most wasted
$65.00 I've ever spent) and nowhere is there a reference to a "Double Pole
Switch". So, what is a "Double Pole Switch" and what is it used for.

I've used many a single pole switch and a number of 3 way switches in my
time but this one's got me a bit baffled.

TIA

JC



Since you don't seem to know what double pole switches can do, you may
also not know what "double throw" means either.

If that switch has six terminal screws on it, not counting a frame
ground screw, then it is a "double pole - double throw" switch, most
often used for multilocation switch control of a light or other load,
i.e when more than just the two switches provided by a "three way"
switch system are desired.

If it only has four terminal screws on it, than it's a "double pole -
single throw" switch, and others have already told you what it can be
used for.

HTH,

Jeff

--
Jeffry Wisnia
(W1BSV + Brass Rat '57 EE)
The speed of light is 1.98*10^14 fathoms per fortnight.

another application would be if you had such a number of lights as to exceed
the capacity of one circuit, but you wanted them all on one switch. Two
separate circuits, one switch, many lights. perhaps a gym, or an
auditorium.

--
Steve Barker

YOU should be the one
controlling YOUR car.
Check out:
www.lightsout.org




"J.C." wrote in message
...
I bought a Double pole switch. Why, I don't know. I looked in my trusty
electrical handbook and my copy of the 2007 NESC handbook (to most wasted
$65.00 I've ever spent) and nowhere is there a reference to a "Double Pole
Switch". So, what is a "Double Pole Switch" and what is it used for.

I've used many a single pole switch and a number of 3 way switches in my
time but this one's got me a bit baffled.

TIA

JC

On Sun, 25 Mar 2007 14:38:57 -0400, "Joseph Meehan"
wrote:

J.C. wrote:
I bought a Double pole switch. Why, I don't know. I looked in my
trusty electrical handbook and my copy of the 2007 NESC handbook (to
most wasted $65.00 I've ever spent) and nowhere is there a reference
to a "Double Pole Switch". So, what is a "Double Pole Switch" and
what is it used for.
I've used many a single pole switch and a number of 3 way switches in
my time but this one's got me a bit baffled.


Well, a double-pull double-pole switch can be used as a crossover
switch in the middle of a multi-switch run. A single-pull
double-pole switch is used to turn off two things simultaneously,
or both legs of a 240V branch.

--Goedjn

On Sun, 25 Mar 2007 18:28:53 GMT, "J.C." wrote:

I bought a Double pole switch. Why, I don't know. I looked in my trusty
electrical handbook and my copy of the 2007 NESC handbook (to most wasted
$65.00 I've ever spent) and nowhere is there a reference to a "Double Pole
Switch". So, what is a "Double Pole Switch" and what is it used for.

I've used many a single pole switch and a number of 3 way switches in my
time but this one's got me a bit baffled.

TIA

JC


Here is an example: A typical electric water heater, it has two hots,
and no neutrals. So you can use the double pole as a local disconnect
for this case, as a guess.

tom @ www.Numerology-Readings.com

On Mon, 26 Mar 2007 11:40:54 -0400, Goedjn wrote:

On Sun, 25 Mar 2007 14:38:57 -0400, "Joseph Meehan"
wrote:

J.C. wrote:
I bought a Double pole switch. Why, I don't know. I looked in my
trusty electrical handbook and my copy of the 2007 NESC handbook (to
most wasted $65.00 I've ever spent) and nowhere is there a reference
to a "Double Pole Switch". So, what is a "Double Pole Switch" and
what is it used for.
I've used many a single pole switch and a number of 3 way switches in
my time but this one's got me a bit baffled.


Well, a double-pull double-pole switch can be used as a crossover
switch in the middle of a multi-switch run. A single-pull
double-pole switch is used to turn off two things simultaneously,
or both legs of a 240V branch.

--Goedjn


I've seen double-pole double throw (DPDT) switches used with DC
motors, that could run in either direction depending on polarity.

A "4-way" switch is logically (physically?) a DPDT switch with
opposite contacts internally connected, so it has this reversing
function.
/----------\
| |
-------------O| |O--+--\
| - - | | |
/----O| |O--+--+-----------
| | |
--------+----O O--/ |
| | |
| \-------------/
|
\-------------------------------
--
Mark Lloyd
http://notstupid.laughingsquid.com

"So far as I can remember, there is not one word
in the Gospels in praise of intelligence."
--Bertrand Russell

On Mon, 26 Mar 2007 11:40:54 -0400, Goedjn wrote:

On Sun, 25 Mar 2007 14:38:57 -0400, "Joseph Meehan"
wrote:

J.C. wrote:
I bought a Double pole switch. Why, I don't know. I looked in my
trusty electrical handbook and my copy of the 2007 NESC handbook (to
most wasted $65.00 I've ever spent) and nowhere is there a reference
to a "Double Pole Switch". So, what is a "Double Pole Switch" and
what is it used for.
I've used many a single pole switch and a number of 3 way switches in
my time but this one's got me a bit baffled.


Well, a double-pull double-pole switch can be used as a crossover
switch in the middle of a multi-switch run.

I used a little DPDT slide switch with my analog VOM, voltmeter, to
reverse the test leads. Made it very quick on the ohmmeter setting to
test diodes in both directions, to test capacitors by watching them
charge then discharge and charge again. Didn't do this until after
ran out of regular probe wire and was using speaker wire for my test
probes.

I put a blob of silicone sealant over the solder connections so I
wouldn't zap myself. 25 years, still fine.

A single-pull
double-pole switch is used to turn off two things simultaneously,
or both legs of a 240V branch.

--Goedjn

"Just Joshin" wrote in message
...
On Sun, 25 Mar 2007 18:28:53 GMT, "J.C." wrote:

I bought a Double pole switch. Why, I don't know. I looked in my trusty
electrical handbook and my copy of the 2007 NESC handbook (to most wasted
$65.00 I've ever spent) and nowhere is there a reference to a "Double Pole
Switch". So, what is a "Double Pole Switch" and what is it used for.

I've used many a single pole switch and a number of 3 way switches in my
time but this one's got me a bit baffled.

TIA

JC


Here is an example: A typical electric water heater, it has two hots,
and no neutrals. So you can use the double pole as a local disconnect
for this case, as a guess.

tom @ www.Numerology-Readings.com


Thanks folks. I believe I've got it straightened out now.

JC