Knowing the different elements that make up an electrical installation is essential when undertaking any repair. For this reason, we are going to explain to you what bipolar and unipolar switches are and how they work.

What are  the switches

A switch is a device that is designed to stop the flow of current through an electrical circuit. When you install any of them, you will find many types like bipolar and unipolar. For operation, they both use a switch that is used to turn the circuit on and off, but they have differences regarding the number of cables they need to connect.

What do the keys do in the house?

Although there are many types, it is generally used in the home to turn on and off the light. The two-pole switch is used, in some cases, to energize household appliances connected to the electrical network, such as electric water heaters.

What are 1way switches?

1way switches are electrical mechanisms that, in home lighting, adopt two modes: on and off. In one of the two positions it allows current to pass and in the other it cuts off.

The peculiarity of this mechanism lies in the fact that it cuts only one of the two cables that are needed to install, for example, a light bulb. It is the cable that is popularly called neutral.

What are 2way switches?

It is an electrical mechanism, although it can do the same function as a conventional 1way switch, this device has the peculiarity that it uses two cables to cut the current, the phase and the neutral.

Voltage enters our home through 3 cables, one being the phase (brown or black), one being the neutral (blue), and finally the ground connection (yellow-green). The most dangerous phase is: it is the one that puts the voltage in our house (220 volts), and therefore it is the one that can electrocute us. The neutral is the cable through which the voltage returns, without it there is no current, but in and of itself it is not dangerous. The earth connection does not carry any kind of voltage and is for safety.

In other words, diodes are those that are able to control, by means of a switch, two electrical circuits, with these switches you can interrupt and resume, that is, turn on and off the light with a single lever.

In homes they are the most used on and off electrical item. It is used for electrical appliances in which it is necessary or important to cut off the flow of the two wires of the installation.

2way switches are the safest and most practical. Bipolar switches are safety elements for electrical installations that can prevent more than one switch. The column is used to indicate the number of circuits controlled by the same switch.

In the home, although it can be used as a conventional switch, it is usually used in situations where it is important to completely cut off the supply. Some examples would be:

• To turn on and off the electric water heater
• To turn on and off the gas hood
• Any area that may present an electrical hazard

What is the difference between a 1way switch and a 2way switch?

1way switches are used to turn on and off the light from a specific point. The power goes off at one point.

It also differs from poles because of the ease of their installation. We will only need the box with the key and a couple of terminal screws to be able to locate one in our home or business. At one of the terminal screws, you will see an incoming positive wire connect to a terminal, and at the exit there is another wire for the cable entry. You can also find another screw to insert the ground wire.

Any device we want to operate must have the phase and neutral as well as the ground connection for safety. When we put a switch, it must be installed in such a way as to cut the phase. This type of switch is called a single pole (single pole) switch, because it cuts only one wire. But if we want more safety in our electrical devices, we will install two poles (two poles) that will cut both the phase and the neutral at the same time.

But if the neutral is not carrying the voltage why would we want to cut it? It’s very simple: for safety’s sake, you’ll also avoid static electricity charging clothes and objects around you after you’ve finished installing. You may have a fault in the electrical installation and have a bypass in the neutral or back-in from an appliance, which is making the neutral load voltage. If you trust and handle this part of the installation, you may receive a neutral discharge with the corresponding risk. Therefore, the most recommended thing is to install bipolar switches and avoid any kind of danger.