ECN Electrical Forum - Discussion Forums for Electricians, Inspectors and Related Professionals
ECN Shout Chat
ShoutChat
Recent Posts
UL 508A SPACING
by ale348 - 03/29/24 01:09 AM
Increasing demand factors in residential
by tortuga - 03/28/24 05:57 PM
Portable generator question
by Steve Miller - 03/19/24 08:50 PM
Do we need grounding?
by NORCAL - 03/19/24 05:11 PM
240V only in a home and NEC?
by dsk - 03/19/24 06:33 AM
New in the Gallery:
This is a new one
This is a new one
by timmp, September 24
Few pics I found
Few pics I found
by timmp, August 15
Who's Online Now
1 members (Scott35), 382 guests, and 17 robots.
Key: Admin, Global Mod, Mod
Previous Thread
Next Thread
Print Thread
Rate Thread
#220790 05/10/20 03:22 PM
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 4
R
Rob2019 Offline OP
New Member
1) What does it mean by *T rating of a switch*?

2) Where can I find more info on different types of general purpose switches?

Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 38
Likes: 1
G
Member
T means the switch is rated for switching tungsten lamp loads...the switch contacts can handle the momentary inrush current that the cold filaments will draw.

Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 8,443
Likes: 3
Member
Rob,
Welcome to ECN,
What sort of a switch is this and what sort of application is this being used in?
I suspect that the T rating, as you refer to is the Thermal Current rating.
Switches, if they are going to be used to interrupt/make inductive loads depend heavily on "AC Ratings", like AC-3 or the like, otherwise the switch contacts will be seriously damaged by the arc created when the contacts open or close.

Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 4
R
Rob2019 Offline OP
New Member
Got the reply from another member; Grich

T-switches means the switch is rated for switching tungsten lamp loads....the switch contacts can handle the momentary inrush current that the cold filaments will draw.

Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 206
G
Member
Interesting but confusing. I'll admit I hadn't heard of T rating and was waiting for an informed answer.
However, I've always thought inductive loads much more demanding of switches, so is T rating a "plus", or more a limitation?


Link Copied to Clipboard
Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.5