Control

One-Way Switch

The simplest control there is: it makes or breaks a single conductor — and that conductor has to be the live one.

Photorealistic one-gang one-way light switch

Real part — tap a marker

One-Way Switch

The simplest control there is: it makes or breaks a single conductor — and that conductor has to be the live one.

Terminals

COM — common, the conductor arriving from the supply
L1 — switched live out to the lamp
Earth — plate earth terminal on metal faceplates

Faceplate — the visible cover screwed to the back box
Rocker (or dolly) — the moving contact you press
Two fixing screws — top and bottom, into the back box lugs
Snap-action mechanism — springs the contacts open or closed in milliseconds
Rear terminals — cage clamps or screw terminals for the conductors

Cutaway of a one-way switch showing the rocker, snap-action spring, moving contact bridge, fixed contact and rear cage terminals

Cutaway — tap a marker

⚡ Meet it in a circuit

Terms used here

Defined in the glossary — each one opens at its own entry.

⚠ Safety note

A switch must interrupt live, never neutral. Wire it on neutral and the lampholder stays live with the light off — the classic reason a “dead” fitting still bites. Isolate and prove dead before you touch anything.

More components

← Miniature Circuit Breaker PIR Motion Sensor →

Now wire it for real.

Set One-Way Switch into a live circuit, inject a fault, and watch the protection respond — all in your browser.

Open ElectraSim Free Browse all components →