Difference between single pole switch and double pole switch summary table. Single pole thermostats can be set to a low setting but cannot be turned completely off.
Replacing Single Pole Light Switches With Double Pole
Difference between single pole and double pole. The term pole refers to the number of circuits that are controlled by a switch meaning that a single pole switch controls one circuit and a double pole switch controls two circuits through the flipping of one toggle switch. Provide 120 volts 15 20 amps and have one hot wire and one neutral wire. Provide 240 volts 20 60 amps and have two hot wires that share one neutral wire. Well take a closer look at the differences between each of these breakers and discuss when you should use one over the other. A double pole breaker will have the appearance of double the width of the single pole breaker with the appearance of two switches bridged to function as a single switch. The voltage from either leg to the neutral line is 120 volts but across the two hot legs is 240 volts which is double the 120 volt supply.
Hence a single pole thermostat never turns the electric heater off by cutting power supply line from the heater. Physically single pole and double pole circuit breakers have obvious differences. Single pole breakers are thinner and have a single switch for onoff positions. The main difference between a single pole switch and a double. It is a switch that. A single pole switches live only a double pole switches live and neutral.
A single pole switch usually refers to a single pole single throw switch spst. The difference between a single and double pole switch is that the latter controls two circuits at the same time. The double pole switch is safer but inevitably more expensive. The basic difference the very basic difference between a single pole and double pole thermostat is a single pole thermostat cannot be turned off completely. Some circuits require a double pole switch by regulation but for a normal ring main or radial single pole is sufficient. Single pole switch vs double pole switch.
There is another difference between single pole and double pole thermostats. A double pole switch is what you need to control a 240 volt device because 240 volt circuits have two hot wires. If the temperature falls below that setting the thermostat will turn on the heater.