Knife switch

Knife switches are a more or less obsolete type of power switch used in the 1800s. The live (hot) parts of the switch are uncovered and uninsulated, and they are unsuitable for use at shock-risk voltages. Knife switches have a relatively large contact spacing when open, so in the 1800s were often used to control power machinery running at high voltage, a use that can only be considered dangerous, Above about the Knife switch information content.

Knife switches are seen in horror films set in the 1800s, especially in underground laboratories, and have something of an association with Frankenstein et al, Above about the Knife switch information content.

Today knife switches are used in demonstrations, where the large size and simple mechanism make for easy and immediate understanding of operation. They are also sometimes encountered in heavy-duty industrial applications, Above about the Knife switch information content.

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