Types of Electrical Switches and Their Uses in Indian Homes
The types of electrical switches in an Indian home look alike behind their plates, but they are not interchangeable. A 1 way switch, a 2 way switch, a bell push, an indicator switch and a 32A DP switch each do a different job, and fitting the wrong one either fails to work or leaves a geyser half connected. This guide takes each type in turn: what it does, the rating it needs, where it goes, and the KEMPS, VIZA and VIYONA codes and MRPs from our current catalogue, plus the symbols used for each on a wiring drawing.
Key takeaways
- 1 way switches one light or fan from one place; 2 way switches one light from two places and must be planned at wiring stage.
- Bell push completes the circuit only while pressed; an indicator switch glows to show a point is on.
- DP (double pole) cuts live and neutral together — fit a 32A DP switch on every geyser and AC point.
- Ratings: 6A or 10AX for lights and fans, 16A–20AX for heavy directly switched loads, 32A DP for geysers and ACs.
- Our catalogue covers every type here, from the VIYONA 6A 1 way switch at ₹22 to the KEMPS 32A key tag DP at ₹650 MRP.
What are the types of electrical switches and their uses?
The main types of electrical switches used in Indian homes are the 1 way switch, 2 way switch, bell push, indicator switch, double pole (DP) switch, switched socket, dimmer, fan regulator and key tag switch, each built for a different job and made in ratings from 6A for lights up to 32A for geysers and ACs.
Behind the plate they differ in only three ways. The first is how many paths the switch can complete: a 1 way switch makes or breaks one, a 2 way switch chooses between two. The second is how many conductors it breaks: an ordinary switch cuts the live wire only, a double pole switch cuts live and neutral together. The third is the action: most switches stay where you leave them, while a bell push springs back the moment you let go.
Everything else, from the indicator lamp to the rating, is a variation on those three ideas. We make all of these types in Mumbai across KEMPS, VIZA and VIYONA.
Types of switches for home: the list at a glance
A typical flat uses five or six of these types; a pump, a hotel room or a clinic adds the special ones.
1 way One light or fan from one place. 2 way One light from two places, such as the top and bottom of a staircase. Bell push Completes the circuit only while pressed. Indicator Glows to show a point is on. DP 32A Cuts live and neutral for a geyser or AC. Switched socket A socket with its own switch. Dimmer Fan regulator Vary brightness or fan speed. Key tag Powers a room only while a key tag is in the slot.
Highest rating we catalogue for each switch type
Ratings from our current catalogue. Bar length is each type’s highest rating as a share of 32A, rounded to the nearest 5%; the label gives lowest to highest.
Most points in a home need only three types: 1 way switches for lights and fans, a 2 way pair where one light has two switch positions, and a DP switch for each geyser and AC.
| Type | Rating | Where it goes | Our codes and MRP |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 way | 6A to 20AX | Lights, fans, beside sockets | K101 ₹65, V000 ₹45, VIYONA 101 ₹22 |
| 2 way | 6A to 20AX | Stairs, corridors, bedside | K102 ₹105, V1216 ₹95, VIYONA 102 ₹36 |
| Bell push | 6A to 10AX | Doorbell, buzzer, call point | K103 ₹105, V1203 ₹90, VIYONA 103 ₹30 |
| Indicator switch | 10A to 25A | Geyser, pump, porch light | K108 ₹120, V1204 ₹95, V124 ₹155 |
| DP switch | 32A | Geyser, AC, immersion heater | K116 ₹360, V225 ₹295, VIYONA 176 ₹205 |
| Switched socket | 6A to 16A | Kitchen, bathroom, utility | V1283 ₹230, V285 ₹180, VIYONA 156 ₹83 |
| Dimmer | 300W to 1000W | Feature and bedroom lights | VIYONA 135 ₹130, K211 ₹275, V1273 ₹540 |
| Key tag | 32A DP | Hotel and guest rooms | K221 ₹650, V1281 ₹497, V282 ₹485 |
1 way switch: the one on almost every board
A 1 way switch (single pole, or one way) has two terminals: press to complete the live wire to a fitting, press again to break it. Lights, fans and the switch beside a socket are all 1 way switches.
We make them in three weights. 6A / 10AX for lights and fans: the KEMPS PEONY K101 10AX 1 way switch is ₹65, the VIZA V000 6A is ₹45 and the VIYONA 101 6A Deluxe is ₹22. 16A The VIYONA 151 16A 1 way switch is ₹74. 20AX The KEMPS K106 20AX is ₹107, for a heavier directly switched load.
MRP of a 1 way switch across our ranges
Catalogue MRPs, white or standard finish. Bar length is proportional to MRP (₹107 = full), nearest 5%.
For the head-to-head on wiring, price and where each goes, read 1 way vs 2 way switch.
A 6A or 10AX switch is the right choice for lights and fans. Paying for 20AX on a bedroom light buys nothing.
A 6A or 10AX 1 way switch is right for every light and fan.
A 2 way pair needs extra wires between the two positions — decide before the walls close.
It springs back open when released, so it belongs on doorbells and buzzers.
A 32A DP switch cuts live and neutral together on fixed heavy loads.
2 way switch: one light, two switch positions
A 2 way switch has three terminals, and a pair of them switches one light from two places: staircases, corridors, or a bedroom door and bedside.
From our catalogue: K102 KEMPS 10AX 2 way, ₹105. K107 KEMPS 20AX 2 way, ₹132. V1216 VIZA Black 10A 2 way, ₹95. 102 VIYONA 6A Deluxe 2 way, ₹36. For a bedside that has no wall box, the VIYONA 186 2 way bed switch is ₹40 among our bed and surface switches.
Wiring stage A 2 way pair needs two extra wires run between the two switch positions. If they are not in the wall, swapping modules later achieves nothing. Three places Controlling a light from three places needs an intermediate switch between the two 2 way switches; we do not make one.
Decide your 2 way points before the walls are closed. It is the one switch type on this page that cannot be added later without new wiring.
Bell push switch: completes the circuit only while pressed
A bell push is spring-loaded: the circuit closes only while the button is pressed. That is what a doorbell, buzzer or call point needs.
K103 KEMPS 10AX bell push, ₹105 (grey version K503, ₹125). V1203 VIZA Black 10A bell push, ₹90. 103 VIYONA 6A Deluxe bell push, ₹30. With indicator The KEMPS K115 10AX bell push with indicator is ₹145 and glows so a visitor can find it in the dark.
The bell itself can sit on the same board: the KEMPS K224 electronic buzzer module is ₹230, and hospitals and clinics use a bell indicator such as the KEMPS K219 (₹298) to show which bed called. Stand-alone bells are in our VIYONA door bell range.
Never fit a bell push where a normal switch belongs. It carries current only while held, so anyone who wedges it down to keep a load on is running it outside the job it was built for.
What is an indicator switch used for?
An indicator switch is a normal switch with a small lamp that glows while the point is switched on, used wherever a load left running costs money or causes harm: geysers, water pumps, immersion heaters, outdoor lights and the switch by the front door that must be found in the dark.
K108 KEMPS 20AX 1 way with indicator, ₹120 (grey K508, ₹143). V1204 VIZA Black 10A 1 way with indicator, ₹95. V124 VIZA 25A 1 way with indicator, ₹155.
If you would rather keep a plain switch, a separate indicator module does the same job: K217 KEMPS 6A red indicator, ₹95; V1251 VIZA Black 6A neon indicator, ₹83; 108 VIYONA indicator lamp, ₹30.
Lamp off A dark indicator does not prove a point is dead: the lamp can fail too. Test first Check with a tester such as our VIYONA line tester before touching wiring.
Put an indicator on every geyser point. It is the cheapest reminder that a heater has been left on all day.
What is a DP switch and where is it used?
A DP (double pole) switch breaks both the live and the neutral wire at the same time, cutting the appliance off from both sides of the supply, and in homes it is used for fixed heavy loads such as geysers, air conditioners and immersion heaters, usually in a 32A rating with an indicator lamp.
Live only An ordinary switch cuts the live wire alone; if live and neutral are swapped behind it, the appliance stays connected. Both poles A DP switch removes that doubt.
Ours are all 32A: KEMPS K116 32AX DP with indicator, 2 modules, ₹360 (grey K516, ₹392); VIZA V225 32A DP with indicator, ₹295; VIZA Black V1250 ₹330; and the non-modular VIYONA 32A DP switch, concealed ₹205 or surface ₹195.
MRP of a 32A DP switch across our ranges
Catalogue MRPs, white or standard finish. Bar length is proportional to MRP (₹451 = full), nearest 5%.
For the circuit behind it, see MCB for 1, 1.5 and 2 ton AC.
Fit a DP switch on every geyser and AC point. A single pole switch there leaves the appliance connected to the neutral, which is not isolated.
Switched sockets and switch-socket combined units
A switched socket puts a switch and a socket on one unit, so the point is dead before a plug goes in or comes out. On our lists these appear as S.S. combined (switch-socket combined), the everyday choice for kitchen counters, bathrooms and anywhere a plug is pulled often.
V1283 VIZA Black 10A universal S.S. combined with indicator and safety shutter, ₹230. V285 VIZA 10A universal S.S. combined with indicator and shutter, ₹180. 156 VIYONA 6A S.S. combined, ₹83. 159 VIYONA 3 in 1 universal S.S. combined, ₹150, from our VIYONA 6 and 16 amp 3 in one range.
Shutter Where children can reach, choose a shuttered version. Rating The socket rating must match the plug: a 6A point for chargers and the TV, a 16A point for the iron, microwave or geyser. 6A vs 16A socket goes appliance by appliance, and switch-socket vs traditional socket covers why the combined unit is worth it.
Switch off at the wall before pulling a plug out. The pins then separate with no current flowing, which is what the switch on a switched socket is for.
Dimmers and fan regulators
A dimmer varies a light’s brightness and a fan regulator a fan’s speed. Both replace a plain switch on the board.
Dimmers Our dimmers are rated in watts, and that figure must cover the total load of the lamps on it: VIYONA 135 Mini 300W, ₹130; KEMPS K211 Tiny 450W, ₹275; KEMPS K212 Duro 650W, ₹425; VIZA Black V1273 Duro 1000W, ₹540.
Dimmer ratings in our catalogue
Wattage as printed in our catalogue. Bar length is proportional to the rating; 1000W is the full bar.
Regulators KEMPS K213 Tiny EME 4 step, ₹405; KEMPS K214 Duro EME 5 step, ₹450; VIYONA 137 Mini 4 step, ₹215. The VIYONA electronic dimmer and fan regulator page has the full list, and fan regulator types explains step vs electronic.
Dimmable lamps only A dimmer is for a light, not a fan, and only for lamps marked dimmable. Many ordinary LED lamps are not.
Key tag switches, motor starters and 2-in-1 modules
A few switch types exist for one particular job; it helps to know them before the board is planned.
Key tag Listed in our hotel and hospitality range, a key tag switch powers the room only while the tag is in its slot. KEMPS K221 32A key tag DP, ₹650; VIZA Black V1281 32A DP with key tag, ₹497; VIZA V282, ₹485. A spare tag alone is ₹120 (K222).
Motor starter For a single-phase pump on the board: KEMPS K223, ₹595; VIZA V292 25/32A, ₹530.
2 switches in 2M Where space is short, the KEMPS ASTER range puts two switches on one 2 module unit: K171 two 10AX 1 way switches, ₹140; K173 a 1 way plus a 2 way, ₹209; K174 a 1 way plus a bell push, ₹209. The full KEMPS list is on the KEMPS switches and sockets page.
A motor starter is sized to the pump, not the room. Give your electrician the pump’s rating plate before choosing one.
Key tag switches and bells belong mostly to hotels, clinics and offices; modular switches for office sets out what a workplace board needs.
Switch ratings explained: 6A, 10AX, 16A, 20AX and 32A
The number on a switch is the current it is built to make and break repeatedly. Under-rate it and the contacts pit, heat and weld.
6A / 10AX Lights, fans, chargers and the TV. 16A / 20AX A heavier directly switched load, such as the switch beside a 16A socket for an iron or microwave. 32A DP Geysers and air conditioners.
The X The X in 10AX or 20AX is the standard marking for a switch tested on inductive and fluorescent loads such as fans and tube lights. Higher is fine A rating is a maximum, not a requirement, so a 20AX switch on a light is safe, just more than you need.
ISI Switches sold in India should carry the ISI mark under IS 3854 with a licence number you can check; how to spot a fake ISI mark shows how. Every rating we make, with code and MRP, is on our switch and socket ratings page.
A switch that feels warm, smells or has a brown ring round it is overloaded. Stop using that point and read switch getting hot or socket sparking.
Types of electrical switches symbols
Electrical switch symbols are the small marks an architect or electrician draws on a floor plan or circuit diagram to show which type of switch goes where, and on Indian drawings they typically follow the IEC 60617 conventions, built from a small circle for the switch position and short strokes for its poles.
1 way A small circle with one short line rising at an angle, ending in a single tick. DP The same line with two ticks, one per pole. 2 way A circle with two angled lines leaving in opposite directions, each ending in a tick. Bell push A circle with a smaller circle or dot inside. Indicator A circle with a cross inside, the lamp symbol, drawn inside the switch circle when the lamp is built into the switch. Dimmer The 1 way symbol with an arrow through it. Switched socket The socket symbol, a half circle over a line, with a switch stroke attached.
Circuit diagrams On a wiring diagram a 1 way switch is a hinged line held open between two dots, and a 2 way switch is one common terminal with two contacts.
Read the legend US drawings mark a switch “S” and call our 2 way switch a “3-way” (S3). Always check the legend on the drawing you are given.
How to choose the right switch type for each point
To choose the right switch type for each point, list what every board controls, then match each load to its type: a 1 way switch for lights and fans, a 2 way pair where a light has two switch positions, a 32A DP switch for the geyser and AC, and a switched socket wherever plugs are pulled often.
Bedroom 1 way switches for lights and fan, a regulator, a 6A socket, and a 2 way pair if the bedside needs the main light. Kitchen Switched 16A points for the microwave and other heavy appliances. Bathroom A 32A DP switch with indicator for the geyser. Living room Dimmer on the feature light, shuttered sockets on the TV wall. Entrance Bell push with indicator outside, indicator switch for the porch light.
Then size the plate with modular plate sizes explained and how to choose a switch board. Still deciding between piano-type and modular? Read modular vs normal switch. The full VIZA list is on the VIZA switches and sockets page.
5-year warranty Our modular plates fit all major modular switch systems and do not turn yellow.
Hand your dealer a list of codes, not descriptions. “K101 × 6, K516 × 1” gets you exactly the switches in this guide at the MRP printed beside them.
FAQs
How many types of electrical switches are there?
Which switch is used for a geyser or AC?
What does 10AX mean on a switch?
What is the difference between a 1 way and a 2 way switch?
What is the symbol of a switch in electrical drawings?
Can a bell push switch be used for a light?
Why buyers choose Vinayak Electricals
- Every type in one catalogue — 1 way, 2 way, bell push, indicator, DP, switched socket, dimmer, regulator and key tag switches across KEMPS, VIZA and VIYONA.
- Ratings from 6A to 32A, so each point on a board can carry the rating it needs.
- Public MRP on every code, so a whole board can be priced before you visit a dealer.
- Made in our own works at Marol, Andheri East, Mumbai, manufacturing since 1995 and ISO 9001:2015 certified. Our switches are made to IS 3854 under ISI licence CM/L-7567794.
- 2000+ products, from switches and sockets to MCBs, LED lights and VIYONA wire.
- Plates that fit all major modular systems, UV-protected so they do not turn yellow, with a 5-year warranty.
Order every switch type by code
Browse 1 way, 2 way, bell push, indicator and 32A DP switches across KEMPS, VIZA and VIYONA with public MRP — then order through a dealer or call us.
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