With a Double Pole switch wired in parallel, one will not know when one half fails
because the circuit will still operate with only half of the switch working.
If at some point the second half of the switch fails, then the pilot will
not be any worse off then if a single-pole switch had failed. Theoretically a
DP switch wired in parallel will last longer than a SP switch because each half
only carries half of the current. As corrosion forms, the resistance of contacts
in parallel will be half. Has anyone, perhaps a switch manufacturer, done
experiments to determine the longevity of a DP switch wired in parallel compared
to a SP switch? It is easier to install a longer-lived switch during panel
build while the circuit is fresh in mind, and while the components are easily
accessible. Is it worth the extra cost and weight and time to install a
double pole switch in an attempt to delay future trouble shooting and difficult
replacing of switches?
Joe
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Joe Gores
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