Ask Me Help Desk

Ask Me Help Desk (https://www.askmehelpdesk.com/forum.php)
-   Electrical & Lighting (https://www.askmehelpdesk.com/forumdisplay.php?f=105)
-   -   Spst vs dpst wiring (https://www.askmehelpdesk.com/showthread.php?t=787728)

  • Mar 25, 2014, 07:22 AM
    otnoraa808
    Spst vs dpst wiring
    So I accidentally purchased a 4 pin dpst switch instead of a 3 pin spst. I know the pins on the spst are L, N, and GRD. I was just wondering if someone would tell me what each pin on the dpst is. The 2 top pins are slightly closer to each other and has a small plastic wall in between and the 2 bottom pins have 2 small wires attached going into the rocker. Could someone tell exactly which pins I would use as L, N, and GRD?
  • Mar 25, 2014, 07:30 AM
    donf
    DPST - Means Double Pole /Single Throw


    "L" stands for LINE - The hot conductor usually black or red
    "N" stands for Neutral usually white or gray or black with three white stripes on it
    "GRD" stands for Ground usually a bare conductor or with green or green with yellow stripes.
  • Mar 25, 2014, 07:45 AM
    ma0641
    Is this for AC voltage in house wiring? Not sure of your terminology. Is this an illuminated switch? If not, there is no neutral on a switch, only the hot is interrupted and there is no load or line designation.. There should be 2 brass screws on a SPST and a green screw for ground, an illuminated would have 2 brass, a silver and a green.
  • Mar 25, 2014, 12:32 PM
    stanfortyman
    What is this switch for? What are these pins you are referring to?
  • Mar 26, 2014, 04:08 AM
    hfcarson
    In any case it sounds like you are trying to use a switch that is not appropriate for the application you had intended...
    Why not just buy the correct switch?
  • Mar 26, 2014, 06:44 PM
    HowHardCanItBe
    A DPST switch is like having two switches in one. You can choose either wire as one side of the switch, and the pin (on the same side as chosen wire) as the other side of the switch. Does not matter which is used as input or output.

    The other wire/pin won't be used in your case. There would be additional terminals for neutral and or ground, but doesn't sound like it in your case.

  • All times are GMT -7. The time now is 06:51 PM.