Two Way Switch

A Switch is an electrical device which is used to open or close an electric circuit. There are different types of switches: Toggle Switch, Momentary Switch, Rocker Switch, Digital Switch, etc. All the switches perform simple task of ‘make’ or ‘break’ the circuit. Normal switch has two states - ON/OFF. All the switches we use regularly to turn on or off lights, fans, etc. are two terminal devices. 

But there is a special switch called ‘Two Way Switch’. The advantage of a two-way switch is the ability to control a single device from two separate locations. A convenient and apt use for them is for locations like stairways, a long corridor or a very large room. 

This is a 2 switch for a single appliance. Two way switch has - State1/State2 (Single Pole Double Throw i.e SPDT Switch) which is the main element of the 2 Way Switching. It is a standard single pole double throw switch with three terminals.

The one-way switch has defined ON and OFF states, whereas the two-way switch does not. So, it is most likely that one-way switches will be marked with an ON and OFF position, either by a dot marking or some indicator for ON, position. There is no such marking on a two-way switch because there is no consistent ON or OFF. The ON-OFF can change depending on the position of the second two-way switch.

The first way of wiring uses a couple of Two-Way Light Switches with a three wire control (3 Wire Control). The following is the simple schematic of a three-wire 2-Way Switch wiring.

As you can see in the pic below Common wiring that goes in the middle is the common pin of two switches and the Line L1 and L2 pin on both switches that carrythe live current of the power source. When the first switch plunger moves from 2 to 1 it makes the connection with line wire and then on the other side of the second switch is in close position making contact with bulb live wire and making a close circuit to light the bulb. Now suppose if we move the switch plunger to 2 then it discontinues the connection even if the first switch plunger in 1 position so the light connection is open and hence the light get turned off. 

Now let us talk about the second situation if the plunger of the second switch moves to 2 then it connects the light bulb live wire and while the first switch plunger in 2 position & in touch with live wire so the bulb can light up, If the second switch plunger get to 1 then disconnects the connection with bulb live wire and hence cause the open circuit and hence the bulb light turns off so in this way the 2 way switch can be used to power the bulb on/off while both switch are located in entirely different locations.

The main difference of a two way switch is unlike the one way switch it can mark as on or off while the 2 way switch depends on and off of switches that are present on other locations.







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