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A/C & Cooling |
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Appliances |
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Basement, Attic & Loft |
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Bathrooms |
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Types of Light Switches |
The most familiar light switch, the common basic switch, is referred to by hardware dealers and electricians as a "single-pole switch."
With a single-pole light switch, flipping the lever up completes the circuit, turning lights or appliances on, and flipping it down breaks the circuit, turning lights or receptacles off. A single-pole switch has two brass terminal screws on the side.
There are places where you want to be able to control a light--or a series of lights--from more than one location. Three-way switches (shown below left), classically used at each end of a stairway or hallway, are the answer. A three-way switch has three terminal screws, may have a green grounding screw, and has and no "on" or "off" markings on the toggle.
Three-way dimmers will work in those same places. A standard three-way dimming control can be mounted at one end of the hall or stair, or you can buy special two-location dimming controls for dimming from either end.
  Four-way on/off switches (shown at right) may be combined with three-way dimmers or switches when you want control of lights from three or more different locations. A four-way switch has four terminals, may have a green grounding screw, and has no markings on the toggle.
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