Double pole double throw switch

[Glen Willard]

I had a test question and I was unsure of the answer, I am hoping someone can answer it.

The question read, what is a double pole double throw switch?

 

[chris kennedy]

Was this multiple choice or did you have to write an essay?

 

[nakulak]

its a device

 

[LarryFine]

This is a DPDT knife switch. Double Pole, Double Throw:

See how it relates to the DPDT switch here?:

 

[Pierre C Belarge]

Larry
I thought you watched the 'old' movies???

The picture you posted is a Fankenstein Monster Switch. I will cut you a little slack, as there are no arcs shooting out of the switch, which may have thrown you off.

 

[LarryFine]

The picture you posted is a Fankenstein Monster Switch.

That's "Fronkensteen!"

 

[spacebar]

4 way switch

4 way switch

This is a DPDT knife switch. Double Pole, Double Throw:

See how it relates to the DPDT switch here?:

Sorry to say this picture is a double pole single throw switch. The answer to the question is a 4 way switch is a double ploe double throw switch. The number of throws is based on the individual poles. Always look at one pole at a time and determine how many positions there are. If you can only complete one path per pole it is single throw, if you can complete two paths per pole it is double throw and if you can complete more than two throws per pole it is a multiple throw switch. A 4 way switch can complete two paths per pole and is therefore a 2 pole 2 throws per pole switch (DPDT).

This is a fundamental electrical theory question on electrician exams.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:DPDT-symbol.svg

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:4wayswitch.svg

 

[spacebar]

Sorry correction; the picture was correctly identified as a DPDT but the rest of my post was correct. It's a 4 way switch there looking for on the test.

 

[LarryFine]

It's a 4 way switch there looking for on the test.

If you wire the diagonally-opposite terminals together, forming a reversing switch, then you would have a 4-way switch, thus:

​

Note that a DPDT has six terminals, but a 4-way only has four.

 

[ohmhead]

Well this is kinda a double pole switch

Just a little bigger

 

[480sparky]

Well this is kinda a double pole switch

Just a little bigger

No it isn't.































That would be a quadruple-pole.

 

[ohmhead]

Well its a double throw 4 pole center fed top to bottom manual transfer switch kinda does the same thing as 2 pole double throw switch with 2 extra poles dont be so picky

































That would be a quadruple-pole. [/QUOTE]

 

[iwire]

4PDT or is it QPDT?

I think the catalogs would call it a 4-Pole Double throw with or without center off.

 

[ohmhead]

Well this is a schematic of a DPDT SW or 2 pole double throw hope this helps the op understand better .