AGK Electrics

Lesson 13: Switches

 Introduction
• Switches are used to control a circuit
• Closed: the switch connects the two parts of the circuit and
current flows.
• Zero resistance and zero voltage across the switch
• Open: the switch isolates the two parts of the circuit and
current ceases.
• İnfinite resistance
• All suply voltage across the switch!
• İf above switch rated voltage, arcing may occur across the
air gap
• Location of switch in a series circuit makes no difference to
its effect
 Switch Actuation
• Thermal Switch:
• Changes its position with temperature
• Bimetallic strip inside which reacts to the
temperature and will open or close a circuit
when a given temperature
• threshold is reached
• i.e ice protection, air conditioning,
• battery charging
Switch Actuation

• Time Switch:
• Some form of a timer controls time switch
• Mostly digital
• Can be programmed to change its position
after a certain elapsed time given by the
clock
•
Switch Actuation
• Proximity Switch:
• change its position when a given material
comes in the immediate vicinity of the
device (i.e no physical contact is necessary)
• Usually achieved by magnetic force and
may be used to indicate landing gear or
door position
Switch Actuation

• Tilt Switch:
• open or close depending on their
orientation compared to the vertical)i.e
electrical gyro)
Switch Actuation

• Pressure Switch:
• Actuated above or below certain pressures
for detecting under or over pressure in any
fluid system
• Air, fluid or oil systems
Switch Actuation

• Fluid Level Switch(low or high level)

• used in oil and fuel systems
Switch Actuation
• Manual Switch:
• Switches that are under pilots direct control
a) Toggle
b)Pushbutton
c) Rotary
 Toggle Switches(Rocker)

• Have a protruding operating lever and may have two or three

selectable positions
• Boeing 737 ON/OFF Function ;
• Switch «Forwards/Down» means ON
• Some switches LEFT/RIGHT if they relate to side of Aircraft
 Pushbutton Switches
• May incorporate an illuminated message (switch lights).
• Two possible selections : IN or OUT
• PULL SWITCH – Grasp and pull out
Rotary Switches
• If a system has multiple possible settings,
rotary switch is used
• Provide more switches built into the same
selector
• For dimmer functions
 Switch Throws
• Number of positions is known as switch throw
• Single throw – connected or not
• Double throw – upper or lower
• Triple throw – Automatic, manual OFF or ON modes
Switch Poles
Switch Action
• Latching action – maintains selected
position
• Momentary action – returns to the previous
position
• Push and hold
• i.e horn sounds or lamp test
Switch Action
• Toggle switches may include both latching
and momentary action
• Radio PTT – Momentary action
• OFF
• INT – Latching Action, connects crew
members microphone to the intercom
 Switch Action
• Momentary Action switches are further
subdivided as ;
• Normally Open(no) – contacts are spring
loaded to open position
• Push to make switch (i.e door bell)
• Normally closed(nc) – circuit is broken
when the button is pressed
Indicating Switch Condition

•Indicating ON
• When a system fairly used, but not
continuously, an annunciator is provided
• Green or blue, light up in use
• Acts as a reminder to monitor
• Not an indication of malfunction
 Indicating Switch Condition
•Indication on Disagreement
• annunciator advises of a malfunction
• Lights up when system is not operating as per the
switch position:
• If the switch is ON but the system is OFF
• Also the switch is OFF but the system is ON
 Indicating Switch Condition
• Annunciator does not light up if:
• System OFF, Switch OFF
• System ON, Switch ON
• Many systems have latching pushbuttons with amber FAULT white
OFF annunciator
• When the system switched off, white annunciator is lit
• During preflight preperation,turning all the OFF systems into ON by
pressing their buttons

• At first FAULT annunciators will be lit since no pneumatic,

electrical or hydraulic power is available
• Once the engines start, overhead panel should be dark.
 Switch Guards
• Any switch actions causing serious results are
protected as follows:
• A raised surround to make it more difficult to hit the
switch
• Not move unless they are first pulled out
• A guard that must first be flipped out of the way
• Guard itself may have a wire lock on it
• May be in the form of transparent cover that gives
you line of sight to the switch