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Can I use AC rated switch for DC?
GopherT. Yes, an AC switch should be fine to control a few milliamperes of a relay coil. The relay is designed to switch high DC currents.
Can you use a 120v AC switch for 12v DC?
The Square D line of QO breakers and QO load centers are rated for 120/240 Volts AC, and they also have a lower voltage DC rating. When used in DC branch circuits (circuits from the battery to the load) they can be used on 12 and 24 Volt battery systems.
Are DC and AC switches the same?
With dc, you’ve got a steady current in one direction, whereas with ac, both the magnitude and direction of the current change. When you switch off power to an ac circuit, a voltage spark (or arc) is created inside the switch that’s quickly extinguished—a desirable condition.
Can AC and DC run in the same circuit?
The Electrical Code prohibits AC and DC in the same box. You’ll need two distribution boxes – one for AC and one for DC. Circuit breakers rated for AC won’t work for DC.
Does voltage matter for switch?
The voltage rating is the specified maximum voltage it can safely switch. (Higher voltages require larger contact separation.) The current rating is the maximum current it can handle. This needs to accommodate both the continuous current through the switch when closed and any arcing during opening.)
Does a house use AC or DC?
Home and office outlets are almost always AC. This is because generating and transporting AC across long distances is relatively easy. At high voltages (over 110kV), less energy is lost in electrical power transmission.
What’s the difference between AC and DC on a switch?
For example: A switch rated for 20 amps at 125V AC or (10 amps at 250V AC ), would typically have a current rating of less than 1 Amp at 125V DC, and yet the only difference was going from 125 volts AC to 125 volts DC.
Can you use AC rated switches on DC relays?
I would use the AC switch to power a 12vdc auto relay. A 30 to 40 amp relay is only a few dollars. That’s a way! Use the timer to control a DC relay which uses only a little current for its coil. Can I use an AC rated switch to power this load and if so what ratings do I need to be looking for on the switch?
Can you use DC and AC at the same time?
Standard receptacles will work for DC or AC. You must exercise caution in using both in the same household. Plugging a 12V DC load into a 120V AC socket may fry the load if the circuit breaker/fuse doesn’t pop first.
Can a DC rocker switch handle a DC current?
At very low voltages (say 12VDC or less), switches designed for AC mains use will “probably” safely handle DC currents equal to their AC current rating.