Daft Q on switches

[Shedendman]

Heres something i've always wonder
On most switches down is on and up is off ie lights etc in the Uk and most of europe excluding the US
How comes its the other way round for the likes of MCB's RCD's fuses and boxes etc?

 

[angellonewolf]

gravity helps ?

 

[julianthegypsy]

Industrial switches have always been up for on and down for off. Easier to bang a switch down if you need to turn a machine off in a hurry.

 

[Wendelspanswick]

My guess is in an emergency your instinct is to strike down, so your turn the light on OR you turn the power off at a MCB.

 

[Shedendman]

Industrial switches have always been up for on and down for off. Easier to bang a switch down if you need to turn a machine off in a hurry.

Why isn't that the same for your bog standard light then?

 

[mike 109444]

Cos when you enter a room in the dark it's easier to strike down to turn light on and it's good practice to have light switch just inside door way within easy reach so even if you enter a room you are not familiar with you should still be able to find switch.

 

[Shedendman]

Cos when you enter a room in the dark it's easier to strike down to turn light on

Two way lighting goes out of that theory then?

 

[Shedendman]

Few comments on here has prob answered it
http://ux.stackexchange.com/questions/36207/which-way-should-be-on-for-a-switch

 

[rtbcomp]

I like the knife switch explanation, I suppose if you lose your grip on the handle whilst switching the switch it will fail to "off", or you can just knock the handle it will switch off. Looks like the Yanks got it right.

 

[8ob]

Why isn't that the same for your bog standard light then?

Bog standard light switch, please note up to turn it on

Bob

 

[rtbcomp]

Please note - Push-buttons are off topic!

 

[ukracer]

Please note - Push-buttons are off topic!

What about pies?