Why do some toggle switches have terminals of different color?

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I sometimes see three terminal rocker/toggle switches, and one terminal is a different color than the other two.



Here is an example:
switch

(Image from ebay.com)



What does the colored terminal indicate?










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    up vote
    3
    down vote

    favorite












    I sometimes see three terminal rocker/toggle switches, and one terminal is a different color than the other two.



    Here is an example:
    switch

    (Image from ebay.com)



    What does the colored terminal indicate?










    share|improve this question























      up vote
      3
      down vote

      favorite









      up vote
      3
      down vote

      favorite











      I sometimes see three terminal rocker/toggle switches, and one terminal is a different color than the other two.



      Here is an example:
      switch

      (Image from ebay.com)



      What does the colored terminal indicate?










      share|improve this question













      I sometimes see three terminal rocker/toggle switches, and one terminal is a different color than the other two.



      Here is an example:
      switch

      (Image from ebay.com)



      What does the colored terminal indicate?







      switches terminal






      share|improve this question













      share|improve this question











      share|improve this question




      share|improve this question










      asked 1 hour ago









      Bort

      2,91111530




      2,91111530




















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          up vote
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          down vote













          I have found a common convention with the off-color terminal being "ground", meaning it is connected to the internal light and is non-common (doesn't connect to both sides).



          My interpretation is that the different colored terminal is used to identify between load and power to the internal light. The "Ground" terminal is indicated because the other two terminals operate as a normal two terminal switch, while Ground is not supposed to carry load current.



          Note that conventions are just that, and the datasheet should always be referenced.




          It's hard to see in the photo, but this switch has the pins numbered on the black plastic.
          Datasheet



          iluminated E-switch datasheet diagram



          E-switch datasheet diagram



          (Images from ckswitches.com)



          The circle with an "X" in it is generic symbol for a "lamp". So there is a lamp and a resistor in the switch. Typically, neon lamps will be used for mains AC, and nowadays LEDs will be used for lower, DC voltage (as seen further below).




          Some switches will are labeled outright like so:



          illuminated toggle switch

          (Image from ebay.com)




          I found this one interesting because the colored pin also has two holes instead of just one.



          Illuminated toggle switch by Lumexlumex illuminated toggle switch diagram

          (Images from Digikey.com)






          share|improve this answer




















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            up vote
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            down vote













            I have found a common convention with the off-color terminal being "ground", meaning it is connected to the internal light and is non-common (doesn't connect to both sides).



            My interpretation is that the different colored terminal is used to identify between load and power to the internal light. The "Ground" terminal is indicated because the other two terminals operate as a normal two terminal switch, while Ground is not supposed to carry load current.



            Note that conventions are just that, and the datasheet should always be referenced.




            It's hard to see in the photo, but this switch has the pins numbered on the black plastic.
            Datasheet



            iluminated E-switch datasheet diagram



            E-switch datasheet diagram



            (Images from ckswitches.com)



            The circle with an "X" in it is generic symbol for a "lamp". So there is a lamp and a resistor in the switch. Typically, neon lamps will be used for mains AC, and nowadays LEDs will be used for lower, DC voltage (as seen further below).




            Some switches will are labeled outright like so:



            illuminated toggle switch

            (Image from ebay.com)




            I found this one interesting because the colored pin also has two holes instead of just one.



            Illuminated toggle switch by Lumexlumex illuminated toggle switch diagram

            (Images from Digikey.com)






            share|improve this answer
























              up vote
              3
              down vote













              I have found a common convention with the off-color terminal being "ground", meaning it is connected to the internal light and is non-common (doesn't connect to both sides).



              My interpretation is that the different colored terminal is used to identify between load and power to the internal light. The "Ground" terminal is indicated because the other two terminals operate as a normal two terminal switch, while Ground is not supposed to carry load current.



              Note that conventions are just that, and the datasheet should always be referenced.




              It's hard to see in the photo, but this switch has the pins numbered on the black plastic.
              Datasheet



              iluminated E-switch datasheet diagram



              E-switch datasheet diagram



              (Images from ckswitches.com)



              The circle with an "X" in it is generic symbol for a "lamp". So there is a lamp and a resistor in the switch. Typically, neon lamps will be used for mains AC, and nowadays LEDs will be used for lower, DC voltage (as seen further below).




              Some switches will are labeled outright like so:



              illuminated toggle switch

              (Image from ebay.com)




              I found this one interesting because the colored pin also has two holes instead of just one.



              Illuminated toggle switch by Lumexlumex illuminated toggle switch diagram

              (Images from Digikey.com)






              share|improve this answer






















                up vote
                3
                down vote










                up vote
                3
                down vote









                I have found a common convention with the off-color terminal being "ground", meaning it is connected to the internal light and is non-common (doesn't connect to both sides).



                My interpretation is that the different colored terminal is used to identify between load and power to the internal light. The "Ground" terminal is indicated because the other two terminals operate as a normal two terminal switch, while Ground is not supposed to carry load current.



                Note that conventions are just that, and the datasheet should always be referenced.




                It's hard to see in the photo, but this switch has the pins numbered on the black plastic.
                Datasheet



                iluminated E-switch datasheet diagram



                E-switch datasheet diagram



                (Images from ckswitches.com)



                The circle with an "X" in it is generic symbol for a "lamp". So there is a lamp and a resistor in the switch. Typically, neon lamps will be used for mains AC, and nowadays LEDs will be used for lower, DC voltage (as seen further below).




                Some switches will are labeled outright like so:



                illuminated toggle switch

                (Image from ebay.com)




                I found this one interesting because the colored pin also has two holes instead of just one.



                Illuminated toggle switch by Lumexlumex illuminated toggle switch diagram

                (Images from Digikey.com)






                share|improve this answer












                I have found a common convention with the off-color terminal being "ground", meaning it is connected to the internal light and is non-common (doesn't connect to both sides).



                My interpretation is that the different colored terminal is used to identify between load and power to the internal light. The "Ground" terminal is indicated because the other two terminals operate as a normal two terminal switch, while Ground is not supposed to carry load current.



                Note that conventions are just that, and the datasheet should always be referenced.




                It's hard to see in the photo, but this switch has the pins numbered on the black plastic.
                Datasheet



                iluminated E-switch datasheet diagram



                E-switch datasheet diagram



                (Images from ckswitches.com)



                The circle with an "X" in it is generic symbol for a "lamp". So there is a lamp and a resistor in the switch. Typically, neon lamps will be used for mains AC, and nowadays LEDs will be used for lower, DC voltage (as seen further below).




                Some switches will are labeled outright like so:



                illuminated toggle switch

                (Image from ebay.com)




                I found this one interesting because the colored pin also has two holes instead of just one.



                Illuminated toggle switch by Lumexlumex illuminated toggle switch diagram

                (Images from Digikey.com)







                share|improve this answer












                share|improve this answer



                share|improve this answer










                answered 1 hour ago









                Bort

                2,91111530




                2,91111530



























                     

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