Help with a wiring diagram

[BrianAllen]

Good evening all,

Would somebody let me know what the broken/dashed line is on the attached diagram please.

Thank you.

[pmmunro]

It shows that the two switch poles are mechanically linked and so must operate together.

PMM

[BrianAllen]

As usual a prompt response on the forum.

Thank you.

Brian

[wireman]

Normally denoted a Douple Pole Single Throw (DPST) switch.

[wireman]

I noticed the typo too late to edit...

[Radio Wrangler]

You'll see the same sort of thing showing ganged potentiometers or ganged capacitors linked together. Sometimes a switch linked to a pot (eg vol control with on/off switch)

David

[stevehertz]

By the way, to be correct, that is a 'circuit diagram' or 'schematic diagram'. A wiring diagram is used to show the wireman building it, or a repairman the physical layout of the wiring. Also sometimes called a layout diagram. Just for info.

[BrianAllen]

Thank you for your posts; very helpful.

No problem stevehertz; I always like to know correct terminology/descriptions.

Brian

[Graham G3ZVT]

Originally Posted by Radio Wrangler

You'll see the same sort of thing showing ganged potentiometers or ganged capacitors linked together. Sometimes a switch linked to a pot (eg vol control with on/off switch)

David

Is there not a slight semantic inconsistency here?

Mechanically linked switch contacts are called "poles".

"Gangs", in the context of switches, is reserved as the collective noun for individual switches mounted together.

[broadgage]

Terminolgy is not allways consistent in such matters.
A "3 gang" light switch is generally understood to mean 3 electrically independant switches mounted on the same faceplate. Widely used for three lights in the same room. 3 switch contacts operated by the same rocker or knob would be called a 3 pole switch (used to isolate bathroom extract fans with a neutral, fixed live, and switched live)

"Ganged potentiometers" however is generally understood to mean two potentiometers operated by the same shaft. For example to alter the volume of both channels of a stereo amplifier with a single control.
2 gang potentometers are common, more than 2 gang do exist but are rare.

Older editions of the wiring regulations DID call for a "ganged switch" to isolate the incoming electricity supply to a building. This was what we now call a 2 pole switch. Very early types were two physically seperate switches with a wooden rod that linked the operating handles.

[Radio Wrangler]

I very carefully used the word 'Ganged' for pots and capacitors, but I said 'linked' for a combined switch/pot unit. I never even mentioned multi-pole switches by any name.

David