Electrical switch question

[RAD88]

I should know this but here goes -

I need to install a switch on a 12 v cabin fixture. Should it be DPST or SPST? Or does it matter? My thought is to break the on both the pos. and neg. side. and go with DPST.

 

[kloudie1]

Most of the time, the switches for fans, lights, etc are Single Pole, Single Throw. (SPST) It doesn't hurt anything to use a switch that would break both pos and neg, but with DC it is not necessary and does no good.

 

[Maine Sail]

The only things broken on both sides on a typical glass sailboat are on the AC circuit like your main breaker that interrupts both hot & neutral.

If this is just a 12V appliance an SPST is all you need unless this is to drive a relay or some secondary electronic wizardry..

 

[Ron20324]

If a DPST is about the same $$ as a SPST, get get double. Wire only the pos to both poles for twice the contacts. This, for when only ONE will go bad, you've got backup.

 

[RichH]

After my 'last' lightning strike, probably an 'up strike' RF event, up through the boats 'ground', I noticed that where I had 2 applications of DPST switching of hot and ground, those electronic components were the only 'survivors'.

 

[LloydB]

Rich what were those electronic components that were the only 'survivors' of the 'probable' 'up strike' RF event? Were you in the slip or out?

 

[Maine Sail]

After my 'last' lightning strike, probably an 'up strike' RF event, up through the boats 'ground', I noticed that where I had 2 applications of DPST switching of hot and ground, those electronic components were the only 'survivors'.

In our strike we had numerous items not plugged into anything at all, that were toasted...