Three position switch for AC circuit - has unidirectional semiconductor device coupled to current line terminals

摘要

The switch housing has a base plate, a cover, terminal clamps and a switching element for the circuit making or breaking. In addition to the switching element (18) it contains a unidirectional semiconductor device (20) coupled to the terminals (12, 14) for the current line (16). The switching element can be brought into three positions. The first two positions are for the circuit making and breaking respectively, while the third position permits reduced current supply to the load. In this position the current is permitted to flow through the semiconductor device. Thus only positive, or only negative voltage components of the individual cycles can flow through the load. A diode is preferably used as the semiconductor device.