Who does not use electrical switches? A Switch is an electronic device that is commonly used to interrupt the flow of electricity in a circuit, to control power manually. It helps in turning the devices on and off according to the need of the user. Among the many gifts that technology has provided, electrical switches are one of them and have made our life easy. Electrical switches come in different varieties and serve different purposes. One variety is on and off type which is called "SPST", and the other one is called "Multipurpose switch" which serves a completely different purpose, for example, controlling the speed of the fan, from high to low.

Since the time has changed and it changes quickly, electrical switches come in a variety of colors and advent designs according to the demand of the customers. But what to be done, at that time when there is a need for the replacement or maintenance of your electric switches? Well, don't be panic this modern era has come up with the solutions for all problems. Nowadays pro electricians are just a call away from you. Yes, today, many of the websites and apps are offering this service also. You can book an expert electrician for you from many websites like electricians in Inner West etc.

There are different types of electrical switches, and they serve different purposes. The main element that differentiates one switch from the other is the number of poles and throws the switch has. Pole refers to the number of circuits a single switch control. Coming on to the other important factor which is throws, throws connect and disconnect terminals and controls the flow of current. Different types of electrical switches are listed below with an explanation.

1. Footswitches: foot switches use foot pressure to control power in an electrical circuit as they are electromechanical devices. They have many specifications like pedals, volt rating, a switching function, etc. they are mostly used in hospitals and offices.

2. Limit switches: limit switches are designed in a way that they sense motion and provide signals to the controller. Specification includes voltage rating, actuator type, and current rating. Limit switches are used in consumer machines like washing machines, other than that they are also used in steel mill plants and paper plants.

3. Pull chain switches: pull chain switches are hand-operated and used to control a circuit to turn it on and off. A most common example of the application of a pull switch is in lighting where it is used to light bulb and increase and decrease the power of a fan. They are sometimes referred to as rope pulls or cable pulls. Key specifications of pull chain switches include voltage and current rating and switching function.

4. Pushbutton switches: pushbutton switches are hand-operated switches. They are also called push switches. They are most commonly used in industry panels. They come in a variety of designs and shapes. Another important reason behind using push switches are they prevent and stop the interruption of sand, dirt and other particles.

5. Slide switches: slide switch is another type of switch that is hand operated. The slider moves from its position to control the flow of current in the circuit. They are electro-mechanical devices and used to control switching range.

Tips to stay safe
Precaution is better than cure. It is very rightly said because electrical shocks are something that can be very dangerous and can leave permanent injuries or maybe death. They can also cause pain, numbness and internal injuries as well that is the reason why it is crucially important to be careful when it comes to electricity and electric switches. The following are some tips that can be followed to stay safe around electrical switches.

1. Wiring: it is very important to make sure that the current is not passing and power is not being supplied when doing the wiring. Another important thing that should be kept in mind is to not the terminal when power is being supplied, or electrical switch is on otherwise shock may be received. Instructions should be followed properly and attentively without any mistakes. Using a switching carelessly may result in electric shock or burning of the socket.

2. Be sure to turn OFF the power supply: another important tip and the one that is very simple is to turn off the power supply before inspecting or mounting a switch, not doing so may result in electric shock and injuries. Another risk is the explosion of the power controller if the short circuit current keeps flowing.

3. Pay attention to your appliances: it is very important to observe what your appliances are telling you closely. Continuous short circuits, shocks, fuse blows are not just coincidence, and preventive measures should be taken to avoid any electrical injuries. It is important to be careful about these signs.

4. Restore broken wall plates: wall plates are important, not only for looks but also for protecting your fingers from making contact with electrical wires behind them. Missing wall plates can be very dangerous as you may end up getting shocked when inspecting switches, especially in the dark. This is the reason why it is important to resort and replace missing and broken wall plates immediately.

5. Insulated tools: easy and potentially life-saving precaution is the use of insulated tools for electric work. They have a very low amount of metal which results in prevention from electric shock. Insulated tools like fiberglass ladder are commonly used and are very important when it comes to preventing electric shocks and injuries because of low metal they have in them.

6. Damaged extension cords: another tip that should be followed is never overload extension cords beyond their capacity to conduct electric current safely. Doing so may result in electric shocks and injuries. It is very important to change frayed extension wires with new ones to avoid incidents like these.

7. Electrical appliances are not to use in the bathroom: a very common and silly mistake that most of the people do is using electrical appliances like radio, air dryers and cell phone chargers in the bathroom. It is very dangerous and should not be done. Contact with water or even accidentally contact with water may lead to electric shock and injuries.

CONCLUSION:

Electrical switches serve many benefits and have made our life super easy as they are used in every walk of life, be it hospitals, power plants, schools. Homes. They come in different sizes and shapes and offer a variety of services from controlling power from high going on to manufacturing washing machines and also in steel mills and plants but at the same time, it is equally important always to respect electricity and be careful when inspecting and working with switches and wires. Tips and preventive measures should be taken to avoid injuries and causalities because prevention is better than cure.