Different light switches serve different purposes, and some may not even apply to your situation.
In this article
1.Australian Rocker Switches
These are the smaller variants of the rocker switch.
The Australian rocker switch is one of the most popular types of switches in Australia and New Zealand.
These switches are very similar to the toggle switch in terms of functionality and use.
However, they are smaller than toggle switches.
Thus, may be less ideal for locations with a lot of space restrictions requiring an oversized switch.
These types of switches are compact, slim, and easy to use.
They are very easy to install and dont require any wires or cables.
you could also install them in spaces only as wide as adoor frameorwindow.
These fixtures are placed on the ceiling of a room, hallway, and more.
They usually consist of several bulbs that light up an entire area for general lighting purposes.
Ceiling light fixtures come in two types.
Those with a lampshade attached to their fitting and those without.
Its easier to install a ceiling light fixture without alampshade, which is attached to their fitting using screws.
They are readily available, so finding one that fits your particular style shouldnt be difficult.
3.Decorative or Rocker Switch
Decorative switches are commonly used in homes and residential areas.
They offer the same function as a toggle, although they are more appealing than the toggle light switches.
They are flat switches that tend to occupy a larger surface.
They are known as decorative switches in the United States.
They are also more common than toggle in India, Singapore, Europe, Hong Kong, and Malaysia.
Kids also have the ease of using them because they dont require any skill.
Its a jot down of switch specially designed for the lights and allows more variation in lighting level.
The dimmer control can be rotating or even sliding.
Plug-In Dimmer
These types of dimmers are easily accessible in the dark.
They are ideal for table and floor lamps.
Youll find a couple of varieties of this dimmer corded and cordless.
The plug-in form can be easily wall-mounted, or perhaps desktop installed.
This is installed for single location use and cannot control two lights simultaneously.
Youll find a slider or knob that controls just one light fixture.
Smart Dimmer Switch
Smart dimmer switches are battery-operated and can be controlled by your smartphone.
To use this technology, there should still be some current lighting fixtures compatible with the smart switch.
One power source outlet only allows this as its connected to two wires (jumper wire).
Furthermore, these types of dimmer are also compatible with various types of loads.
The switches connect separately to two electric circuits.
They have two switches that are connected and can complete the circuit either simultaneously or staggered.
This switch is usually available in two and three independent circuits.
6.Illuminated Switch
This punch in of switch has become very popular in many households since its introduction.
Its main purpose is to help people find switchboards in the dark.
It has a small neon lamp on the surface which glows whenever the switch is turned on.
It can also be used with other switches and has a light control to turn it off.
However, these illuminated switches are not very durable and need replacement after a few years.
When you connect them, they dont snap loudly like spring-loaded toggle switches.
The connecting link between two circuits is a glass capsule containing a small amount of mercury.
Mercury switches provide the best conversion of the lighting switches.
The lifespan of a mercury switch is also about 20 years.
If theres an issue with the mercury switch, the circuit will not be broken or interrupted.
In addition to this, its electrical contacts do not touch each other when they are idle.
This prevents oxidation and shorts circuits in these switches.
In this way, excess energy can be saved.
9.Multiway Switches
The three-way switches are ideal for single pole and multi-pole circuits.
These enable you to control a set of lights from more than one location in your home.
Multiway switches use additional contacts and wiring to control a single light from multiple locations.
you could perfectly install them in your hallways and stairways to help control lights there.
They are very convenient when it comes to controlling lighting in the hallways and stairways.
10.Photoelectric Light Switch
A photoelectric light switch works on the basis of time.
you’ve got the option to set it to come into action at different times of the day.
It is also helpful during power outages when you do not want to usecandlesor flashlights for lighting purposes.
This punch in of light switch can commonly be used in street lights.
The light comes on whenever you want it to be on.
11.Pole Receptacle Combo Switch
A pole receptacle combo switch is basically for outdoor use.
The Pole receptacle combo switch is very convenient as it saves time and space.
Dont let your kitchen and bathroom become dark when you could purchase this jot down of light switch.
Just tell this switch who you are, and it will remember its owners keystrokes.
When you want to cut down on wasting energy at home, try these light switches.
With this pop in of light, you could easily save energy.
You also dont have to bother to switch the light when entering the room.
With environmental concerns all over the world, it’s crucial that you cut down on your energy consumption.
And another way to achieve that is using this bang out of light switch.
This can also save you some money on your monthly energy bills.
The jot down of light switch is very helpful when you have small children in the house.
13.Pull Cord Switch
Most people love old houses, but sometimes they are a bit too old.
One of the important things about old homes is that their switches look, well, old and rusty.
The solution is to replace them with this key in of light switch.
Pull cord switch is the most used switch among households.
It is also used in holiday cabins and attics.
The pull cord switch is the most practical and simple solution that it’s possible for you to use.
Its small, easy to operate, low profile as well as affordable.
This includes those made from premium products such as stainless steel.
Apart from being light fixtures, they can also be wired to exhaust fumes.
This light switch has a two-button; the one closes the contacts while the other one opens up.
This allows the process to reverse.
A few examples of such areas include kitchen sinks and bathroom vanities.
They are generally installed as pairs with a short wire connecting them in parallel.
When installing these types of light switches, ensure they have adequate clearance from floors.
Dont hesitate to call an electrician to finish the job if you feel comfortable doing it yourself.
Its also important to stay safe when working with electricity.
Ensure you know what youre getting yourself into before you begin the installation.
Create the right vibe athome by using recessed lightingto its full potential.
It allows the user to change between two different parameters.
This may be a huge benefit for hallways that need both daylight and lighting at night.
Selector light switches also come in different types, and the most typical one is the rotary switch.
It functions as a dial, allowing you to switch between different models.
The other one is the selector, which has different buttons to press.
But whatever jot down you choose, ensure you get the one that suits your needs.
17.Single-Pole Switch
A single-pole switch, as the name implies, is just one pole.
This means that it can be used to control different lights separately.
Single-pole switches are very common in many homes.
They are the most common switches you see around.
They have on and off markings on their toggle switch.
18.Smart Switch
Some switches are smarter than others, as the name implies.
Smart switches require professional installation.
This makes them more expensive than other types of light switches.
So if you have know-how plus some good money, try out this expensive pop in of light switch.
This is not the case with sound-activated light switches.
They are good for indoor use and not outdoors.
They can automatically turn on the light fixtures by just detecting sound.
For example, you might turn on the light fixture by clapping your hands.
Because it is pitch dark and there are no lights on.
You have to go into the room, then wrap up the door.
Only then can you find a light switch in the dark to turn off the lights.
And when you leave, you have to take this extra step again.
Thanks to technology, there are many automatically activated light switches options.
A good example is this sound-activated light switch allowing you to switch on the light easily.
In many cases, it comes with an indicator light that indicates if it is on or off.
Most times, people use it when they want to control a light from different places.
22.Toggle Light Switch
These switches are designed for use in the place of a standard wall switch.
This allows the user to control things such as TVs and computers from any point in an open space.
If youre planning to install light switches in a new home, then toggle switches are the best option.
A toggle-flip switch is very simple to use.
It has a toggle on one end and a sliding bar on the other.
They are usually touch-sensitive so that they can recognize the difference between your finger and other objects.
They are very easy to operate as they only require a mere touch on the switch plate.
24.Track Lighting
A track lighting is a light fixture built across the ceiling supported by steel tracks.
It uses individual spotlights instead of one main light.
Thats why this is usually used in art galleries and lounges.
It usually incorporates an LCD screen and touchpad for control purposes.
This bang out of light switch is designed to be used in apparatuses utilized by the general public.
you’ve got the option to find it in pedestrian light crossing signals and vending machines.
It is also used in electrical devices such as security alarms and power tools.
Theyre good at enduring heavy duties, thanks to their stainless steel protection.
Theyre highly resistant to moisture, dirt, and elements.
26.Wireless Light Switch
It is designed to function without the use of a wire.
They have their power supply and can work as wireless light switches in areas with no existing wiring.
These are among the most popular types of light switches today.
They also offer other capabilities such as dimming and color selection.
you might control them with Bluetooth and Wi-Fi from your smartphone, thanks to the improved technology.
FAQs on types of light switch
What are the four types of switches?
What are the five types of switches?
What are the six types of light switches?
What is the difference between one-way and two-way light switches?
you could also call in an electrician to help you install if youre not comfortable installing yourself.
