Wiring devices includes

Switch
a switch is an electrical component that can "make" or "break" an electrical
circuit, interrupting the current or diverting it from one conductor to another.[1
It may be operated manually, for example, a light switch or a keyboard button,
may be operated by a moving object such as a door, or may be operated by
some sensing element for pressure, temperature or flow
A switch will have one or more sets of contacts, which may operate
simultaneously, sequentially, or alternately. Switches in high-powered
circuits must operate rapidly to prevent destructive arcing, and may include
special features to assist in rapidly interrupting a heavy current. Multiple
forms of actuators are used for operation by hand or to sense position,
level, temperature or flow.
• The most familiar form of switch is a manually operated electromechanical
device with one or more sets of electrical contacts, which are connected to
external circuits.
• It is an electrical circuit component found in
electrical switches, relays, connectors and circuit breakers
• Each set of contacts can be in one of two states: either "closed" meaning
the contacts are touching and electricity can flow between them, or
"open", meaning the contacts are separated and the switch is
nonconducting. The mechanism actuating the transition between these two
states (open or closed) are usually (there are other types of actions) either an
"alternate action" (flip the switch for continuous "on" or "off") or "momentary"
(push for "on" and release for "off") type.
 Contact form

• The National Association of Relay Manufacturers and its

successor, the Relay and Switch Industry Association define 23
distinct forms of electrical contact found in relays and
switches.[6] Of these contact forms, the following are particularly
common:
 Form A contacts

Form A contacts ("make contacts") are normally open contacts. The contacts are
open when the energizing force (magnet or relay solenoid) is not present. When
the energizing force is present, the contact will close. An alternate notation
for Form A is SPST-NO.[6]
 Form B contacts

Form B contacts ("break contacts") are normally closed

contacts. Its operation is logically inverted from Form A.
An alternate notation for Form B is SPST-NC.[6]
 Form C contacts

Form C contacts ("change over" or "transfer" contacts) are composed of a

normally closed contact pair and a normally open contact pair that are operated
by the same device; there is a common electrical connection between a contact
of each pair that results in only three connection terminals. These terminals
are usually labelled as normally open, common, and normally
closed (NO-C-NC). An alternate notation for Form C is SPDT
 Form A contacts

Form A contacts ("make contacts") are normally open contacts. The contacts are
open when the energizing force (magnet or relay solenoid) is not present. When
the energizing force is present, the contact will close. An alternate notation
for Form A is SPST-NO.[6]
 Form D contacts

Form D contacts ("continuity transfer" contacts) differ from Form C in only one
regard, the make-break order during transition. Where Form C guarantees that,
briefly, both connections are open, Form D guarantees that, briefly, all
three terminals will be connected. This is a relatively uncommon
configuration.[6]
 Form K contacts

Form K contacts (center-off) differ from Form C in that there is a

center-off or normally-open position where neither connection is
made. SPDT toggle switches with a center off position are
common, but relays with this configuration are relatively rare