These designations spell out the number of contacts and how they behave during operation. For instance, a basic on/off light switch is an example of a single-pole (i.e., one-circuit) single-throw (i.e ...

Asperities: Mass-produced switch contacts have an rms roughness ranging from 0.5 to 1 10 6 in. These "smooth" surfaces, in reality, comprise microscopic peaks and valleys. As a result, two mating ...