A double pole double throw dpdt switch is a switch that has 2 inputs and 4 outputs. By flipping the lever these two contacts are simultaneously moved to the open or closed position.
![Switches](https://people.duke.edu/~ng46/topics/switches-household.jpg)
Switches
What is a double pole switch. This terminology applies to toggle switches rocker switches and push button switches. Each of the terminals of a double pole double switch can either be in 1 of 2 positions. For example you might want to turn on a bathroom light separately from the ceiling fan. This makes the the double pole double switch a very versatile switch. A double pole switch is what you need to control a 240 volt device because 240 volt circuits have two hot wires. It has four terminals.
Double switches sometimes called double pole allow you to separately control the power being sent to multiple places from the same switch. A double pole single throw switch dpst turns two circuits on or off. A double pole switch can be used to control light and a fan or 2 lights on separate circuits. A double pole switch has two connectors poles that can control two circuits. A double switch allows you to operate two lights or appliances from the same location. A single pole switch has only one set of contacts within the plastic insulated enclosure.
A double pole double throw switch dpdt manages two circuits and turns both on and off together. This makes the the double pole double throw switch a very versatile switch. Each of the terminals of a double pole double switch can either be in 1 of 2 positions. Two for incoming hots and two for outgoing hots. The difference between a single and double pole switch is that the latter controls two circuits at the same time. With 2 inputs it can connect to 4 different outputs or reroute a circuit into 4 different modes of operation.
Each input has 2 corresponding outputs that it can connect to. A double pole switch such as the one in fig1 is just slightly bigger than a regular switch but constructed as two single switches harnessed side by side and activated by one common toggle. Like the single pole switch a double pole switch has onoff markings and controls a device or equipment from one location. Double pole light switches also known as a four way switch are two single pole switches put together. Two separate circuits are controlled by one switch. What is a double pole switch.
The double pole switch is commonly used in industrial applications but can be found in some home wiring systems. Most manufacturers use the abbreviations dpst and dpdt to indicate switch types. What is a single pole switch. Each input has 2 corresponding outputs that it can connect to. This is typically used to control a circuit from multiple locations in a series of three switches on one circuit. A double pole double throw dpdt switch is a switch that has 2 inputs and 4 outputs.
Let us show you the difference. A double pole switch has two sets of separate contacts for controlling the electrical power.