Patent ID: 8148851

Claim:
A switching arrangement to control the flow of electrical current through a plurality of switched lines to a plurality of electrically powered light producing devices (EPLPDs) comprising: a) a first power switching device (PSD) comprising at least one pole, a first connection point on a line side of said first PSD and at least a first, a second and a third connection point on a load side of said first PSD, and having a first, a second, and a third position; said first connection point on said line side operatively connectable to a power source; said first connection point on said load side of said first PSD being electrically connected to a first switched line operatively connectable to a first group consisting of at least one EPLPD selected from said plurality of EPLPDs to generate a first light output when said first PSD is in said first position; said second connection point on said load side of said first PSD being electrically connected to a second switched line operatively connectable to a second group consisting of at least one other EPLPD selected from said plurality of EPLPDs to generate a second light output when said first PSD is in said second position; said first PSD adapted to selectively interrupt current from flowing to said plurality of EPLPDs when said first PSD is in said third position; and b) a second PSD comprising at least a first and a second pole, each having a respective first and second connection point, said first connection point on a line side of said first pole being electrically connected to said first switched line, and said first connection point on said line side of said second pole being electrically connected to said second switched line, said first connection point on a load side of said first pole being electrically connected to a third switched line, said third switched line operatively connectable to a subset of said first group of said plurality of EPLPDs; and said second connection point on said load side of said second pole being electrically connected to a fourth switched line, said fourth switched line operatively connectable to a subset of said second group of said plurality of EPLPDs; wherein said first PSD is adapted to selectively interrupt current flowing from said power source to said plurality of EPLPDs and adapted to selectively allow current to flow to either said first or said second group of said plurality of EPLPDs depending on which of said first and second positions of said first PSD is selected; and said second PSD is adapted to selectively interrupt current from flowing to said subsets of said first and second groups of said plurality of EPLPDs.