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What is the difference in single throw and double throw safety switches?

Issue:
Do single throw and double throw safety switch perform the same function?

Product Line:
Safety Switches

Resolution:
Single throw and double throw safety switches are used for different applications.

Single throw safety switches are used when the load is fed by only 1 source (such as normal utility power).
Double throw safety switches are used when the load is fed by either of 2 sources (such as utility power or generator power), but not both at the same time. The transfer from one source to the other is manual (not automatic).

See the picture below as an example.

Single throw v double throw