30 Amp 240-Volt 2-Pole Fused Indoor Light Duty Safety Switch for H or J Fuse Types

A:  The Aluminum or copper is referring to the wire size and range per NEC it is 12-6 Al or 14-6 Cu / 1 conductor per phase. General Duty Safety Switches have aluminum lugs as standard, which accept both copper and aluminum wire. There are no optional copper lugs available. Regards, Customer Care

A:  The terminal lugs are a plated copper alloy that is suitable for copper or aluminum wiring. The reference in the description to "copper or aluminum" applies to the wiring, not the lug. If you have a choice, use copper wiring.

A:  You won't need a wiring diagram. Black to black, red to red and white to white.

A:  Wiring diagram is located on inside cover. Please contact Schneider Electric at 888-778-2733 if needing assistance with questions about wiring or consult local Electrician. Regards, Customer Care

A:  This is a double pole single throw (DPST) switch with internal fusing. You'll need two type K5 fuses, rated at 30 Amps or less, depending on your application. Attached is a photo of the wiring diagram inside the cover, along with a photo of the interior, as installed.

A:  No, fuses must be used cannot bypass non fused switches are not offer in this type of light duty switch. Regards, Customer care

A:  Sure, you can, but why? The two type K5 fuses required aren't expensive, don't wear out, and can save you a headache. The breaker is sized to protect the household circuit and is matched to the breaker output wiring size going to the input side of the switch, but the choice of wiring from the switch to your application, chosen to match the load, might be smaller than the breaker capacity. The internal fuses should be chosen to match the output wiring (output side of the switch) and the load. Using the breaker, as you mentioned, with smaller wire gauge on the output side of the switch won't provide adequate protection. Back in the day of screw-in fuse panels and copper pennies, folks would by-pass the fuses by using a penny in place of a fuse. More than one housefire resulted. For the cost of a couple of fuses, its not worth the risk.

A:  I wouldn't recommend bypassing using fuses. The fuses for this switch are ridiculously cheap, like 4 bucks for a pack of 2 ( 2 fuses is all you need anyway) why risk burning down your home just to save 4 bucks?

A:  How many times do you expect to switch from power on to power off? I use this switch, installed interior, on my garage heater and switch once a day, during the cold months. I'd call that very light duty. According to the Square D website: Light Duty has a 10 kA Short Circuit Current Rating and is useful for home applications in disconnecting power to workshops, hobby rooms, furnaces, and garages. General Duty has a 100 kA Short Circuit Current Rating and with Proper Current Limiting Fusing is designed for residential and commercial applications such as lighting, air conditioning, and appliances. Read more at their website.

A:  In some cases the fuse types, the AIC rating capabilities, duty applications. Light duty is available in Nema 1 only and General duty is available in Nema 1 or Nema 3R enclosures. The General duty is supplied with spring-activated quick-make, quick-break operating mechanism and Light duty is not.