Click! The switch is open, allowing current to flow through the light bulb, and the lamp is on. Click again, the current has been cut, and the lamp is off. We take switches for granted, but if you have ever remodeled a room, you know that it takes some thought to choose the right kind of switch—and that there are many kinds of switch to choose from.
The basic switch is known as a single-pole switch. If you have lights operated from two places you'll need a three-way switch. Photoelectric switches sense the amount of light in a room or outdoors, and dimmers control the amount of electricity that flows and the amount of light available. Dimmers can be operated with a toggle, dial, slide, switch, touch pad, or button.
Central lighting control stations allow you to operate all of the lights in the house from one room, such as the master bedroom or living room, and can be programmed for lighting in different zones in the house at different times.
