Help! What do you call a light switch that turns a motor on and off?

[Nick Gromicko]

What do you call it technically? A switch? A disconnect? A toggle? What?

[Jeffrey R. Pope]

A "motor circuit switch."

[David P. Valley]

Originally Posted by jpope

A "motor circuit switch."

Or "Disconnect Switch"

[Jeffrey R. Pope]

Originally Posted by dvalley

Or "Disconnect Switch"

Then what is it called when you turn it on?

[Wayne B. Wilson]

Motor disconnect . Also should be marked as such. My thought
I would also make sure it was rated for the motor it was operating.

[Wayne B. Wilson]

Closed circuit is what i would call it

[David P. Valley]

Originally Posted by jpope

Then what is it called when you turn it on?

What do you call a "Service Disconnect" when it is "ON" or "OFF"?

A "Service Disconnect"...Right?

[Jeffrey R. Pope]

Disconnects ("disconnecting means") are generally associated with "occasional use" devices - disconnecting a service/motor/switch/appliance temporarily for service or repair.

A switch is generally associated with regular or frequent usage.

[GARY R. EVANS]

A Motor rated toggle switch or a disconnect switch. If its a light switch I call it a violation.

[Marc D. Shunk]

A device that looks like an ordinary snap switch that is used to control a motor may be one of two devices. It may be either a "general use snap switch" or a "manual motor starter". These are two different devices entirely, but often have the same physical appearance to the lay observer. The manual motor starter contains integral motor overload protection. The general use snap switch is not permitted to control a motor that draws more than 1/2 the switches amp rating, unless it is marked with a horsepower rating. Most general use snap switches nowadays have a horsepower rating, but it does not come near the full rating of the switch if it were used to control something more mundane, like lighting. A slang term for a general use snap switch is a "light swtich", but contrary to the belief of some, it is permitted to control motors with the conditions I outlined above.

[Wayne B. Wilson]

Most motor switches i had to deal with have a heater rated for horse power, Like Marc says and usually red toggle, How ever furnace's ussally just use a ordinary light switch

[Marcel Gratton]

Originally Posted by gromicko

What do you call it technically? A switch? A disconnect? A toggle? What?

A toggle switch...

[Jeffrey R. Pope]

When I hear "toggle," I think of a three-position switch. One that has (basically) a forward, off and reverse position.

[Michael Larson]

"toggles" can be momentary, 2 or 3 position.

[Brian E. Kelly]

Switch