Wall Switches

Wall switches are a hand-operated electro-mechanism which are mounted on the wall at convenient locations, either at shoulder-height or near the skirting board, to control the opening and closing of electrical circuits to supply power. They operate on line voltage or from the same panel as electrical outlets. The mechanism which is pressed is most commonly toggle or rocker switches. There are a variety of wall switches. They can be single-pole, double-pole, three-way or four-way. The most common is single-pole, which allows operation from one location only. Three- and four-way switches allow the power supply to be connected from more than one switch. This is particularly useful in places like stairwells or long corridors when the light will need to be turned on from more than one location. Although mostly incorporating a simple on/off design, wall switches may also have dimmer control, timer-based switching or speed control. The vast majority of wall switches are used to activate the lighting in all buildings. Three- or four-way switches are more likely to be found in public buildings. In domestic residences, these wall fittings might also be installed to control the electricity to wall sockets and to operate ceiling fans.