page_title: Light switch
section_title: Push button
hierarchical_section_title: Light switch / Variations on design / Push button
caption_attribution_description: English: A picture of a push button light switch from my house. Both switches are three-way switches.
context_page_description: In electrical wiring, a light switch is a switch most commonly used to operate electric lights, permanently connected equipment, or electrical outlets. Portable lamps such as table lamps may have a light switch mounted on the socket, base, or in-line with the cord. Manually operated on/off switches may be substituted by dimmer switches that allow controlling the brightness of lamps as well as turning them on or off, time-controlled switches, occupancy-sensing switches, and remotely controlled switches and dimmers. Light switches are also found in flashlights, vehicles, and other devices.
context_section_description: The push-button light switch has two buttons: one that closes the contacts and one that opens the contacts. Pushing the raised button opens or closes the contacts and pops out the previously depressed button so the process can be reversed.  In the U.S., the buttons were commonly black; the "on" button typically had a white mother-of-pearl (real or simulated) inlay to indicate its function.  By convention, the switch was customarily installed with the "on" button on top.  Push-button switch reproductions are available on the market today for vintage or authentic styling.
caption: Vintage push-button light switches
exif: {"Image Make": "EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY", "Image Model": "KODAK EASYSHARE CX4230 ZOOM DIGITAL CAMERA", "Image Software": "Version 1.0500", "Image YCbCrPositioning": "Co-sited", "Image ExifOffset": "156", "EXIF ExposureTime": "33333/1000000", "EXIF FNumber": "69/25", "EXIF ExposureProgram": "Program Normal", "EXIF ISOSpeedRatings": "140", "EXIF ExifVersion": "0220", "EXIF DateTimeOriginal": "2002:10:03 17:41:34", "EXIF DateTimeDigitized": "2002:10:03 17:41:34", "EXIF ComponentsConfiguration": "YCbCr", "EXIF CompressedBitsPerPixel": "53/20", "EXIF ShutterSpeedValue": "49/10", "EXIF ApertureValue": "73/25", "EXIF ExposureBiasValue": "0", "EXIF MaxApertureValue": "73/25", "EXIF MeteringMode": "CenterWeightedAverage", "EXIF Flash": "Flash fired", "EXIF FocalLength": "277/50", "EXIF FlashPixVersion": "0100", "EXIF ColorSpace": "sRGB", "EXIF ExifImageWidth": "1632", "EXIF ExifImageLength": "1232", "EXIF ExposureIndex": "140", "EXIF SensingMethod": "One-chip color area", "EXIF FileSource": "Digital Camera", "EXIF SceneType": "Directly Photographed", "EXIF CustomRendered": "Normal", "EXIF ExposureMode": "Auto Exposure", "EXIF WhiteBalance": "Auto", "EXIF DigitalZoomRatio": "0", "EXIF FocalLengthIn35mmFilm": "36", "EXIF SceneCaptureType": "Standard", "EXIF GainControl": "None", "EXIF Contrast": "Normal", "EXIF Saturation": "Normal", "EXIF Sharpness": "Normal", "EXIF SubjectDistanceRange": "1"}