0 members (),
205
guests, and
28
robots. |
Key:
Admin,
Global Mod,
Mod
|
|
|
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 7,520
OP
Member
|
We've covered this point in various other threads before, but I thought it might be interesting to collect together into one place:
What is the normal orientation for a wall-mounted light switch in your country?
U.S.A.: on=up U.K.: on=down
|
|
|
|
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 382
Member
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 1,498 Likes: 1
Member
|
Sweden:
Not really standardized, but usually:
On = Down on old switches On = Up on new switches
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 8,443 Likes: 3
Member
|
New Zealand/Australia: Up=OFF However, some equipment made for NZ, in Japan, Fuji RCD's use the opposite, thank God they are only used in Commercial or Industrial Installations, I can hear the people ringing up now, to tell us thier RCD is not faulty, but they have got no power. [This message has been edited by Trumpy (edited 11-16-2002).]
|
|
|
|
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 7,520
OP
Member
|
Circuit breakers are another matter here. MCBs are up=on as are all the modern RCDs. Some older voltage-operated ELCBs were down=on, probably because they were used widely in residential work and the manufacturers must have thought people would be more comfortable with it that way.
Main switches have changed over the years: The old side-handle metal-clad units were up=on, then the post-WWII "consumer units" went to down=on. In recent years they've reverted back to up=on, I assume because MCBs are now so common and it makes sense for the main to work the same way.
But everybody here still always expects light switches to be down for on (2/3-ways excepted of course).
|
|
|
|
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 382
Member
|
Paul, Please could you elaborate on "... old side-handle metal-clad units ...". Museum stuff facinates me.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 8,443 Likes: 3
Member
|
Yeah, Paul,with the side handle are you referring to the old cast-steel switch-fuse units, that we used to use for Ranges and various other things?.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 2,498
Member
|
Old light switches in Austria all up=on, newer ones are mostly 3way used as single pole and people can't quite seem to agree about where to hook up the 2nd wire. The design of many switches (especially referring to the Legrand range) invites to connect the wires so that you get down=on.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 7,520
OP
Member
|
I probably shouldn't have restricted it by saying metal-clad, as there were also plenty of units in domestic installations that were porcelain with bakelite covers.
Many of these had provision for only two circuits, although the earlier ones contained four fuses as double-pole fusing was common at one time.
I have a couple of these in my junk box -- I'll see if I can post some pictures.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 7,520
OP
Member
|
|
|
|
Posts: 44
Joined: July 2013
|
|
|
|