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This topic comprises 3 pages: 1 2 3
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Author
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Topic: light switch orientation
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Scott Norwood
Film God
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Posts: 8146
From: Boston, MA. USA (1774.21 miles northeast of Dallas)
Registered: Jun 99
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posted 08-28-2015 06:54 AM
This is probably a dumb question, but I have never seen a good explanation of it.
In the US, light switches are normally installed like this
![-](http://www.film-tech.com/uploads/uploads0503/lightswitch.jpg)
such that the "up" position of the switch turns the light on. In the picture above, both switches are in the "on" position.
In the UK and possibly elsewhere, switches are normally installed so that the "down" position turns the light on:
![-](http://www.film-tech.com/uploads/uploads0503/uklightswitch.jpg)
In the picture above, the switch is also in the "on" position.
Why is this? It doesn't matter so much that "up" or "down" should indicate "on" or "off," but why are there differing standards for this?
Are there any electricians here who can explain this? And is "up"="on" a code issue in the US, or is it just common practice? Most (non-3-way) US switches have "OFF" and "ON" printed above and below the lever, respectively, so these labels would be upside-down if the switch were installed the other way, so maybe that explains the US orientation. None of this is really a big deal for light switches, but I could imagine that a switch in a non-standard orientation could be dangerous if it controlled a power tool or some other motorized device.
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Leo Enticknap
Film God
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Posts: 7474
From: Loma Linda, CA
Registered: Jul 2000
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posted 08-28-2015 12:09 PM
quote: Steve Guttag It wouldn't surprise me if the rational for the difference in the light switch is along the lines of why the UK drives on the wrong side of the road too.
The latter was an Empire/Commonwealth thing, which is why India and Australia also drive on the left (steering wheel on the right side of the car). I believe that Canada once did, but switched, to make cross-border traffic easier. AFAIK, the only major country that drives on the left but never had any significant political or economic ties to the UK is Japan.
The light switch thing confused me for months after emigrating from the UK to the US; driving much less so, because you're doing it along with everyone else and so driving on the right just comes naturally. But if you're operating a toggle switch in a room on your own, there isn't any "peer pressure" to help you do it right!
I can't for the life me remember what other European countries do for light switches. When I was UK-based I visited France, The Netherlands, Germany and Denmark several times, but simply don't remember anything about their light switches. I'm guessing that they're the same as Britain's (up = off / down = on), because if they were the opposite, I think that would have stuck in my mind.
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Paul Mayer
Oh get out of it Melvin, before it pulls you under!
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Posts: 3836
From: Albuquerque, NM
Registered: Feb 2000
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posted 08-28-2015 02:06 PM
For what it's worth, we have the same issue in airline flying. If you fly Boeing big iron, you are used to "up = on", If you fly McDonnell Douglas big iron, you are used to "down = on". Don't remember how Lockheed, Convair, Fairchild/Fokker, Martin, or any of the Canadians, Brits, EU, Brazilians, Russians, Kiwi/Oz, and Asians configured theirs...
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