Why do light switches work differently in the US than they do in the UK or Australia?

Answer 1

They do not work differently. one position turns the lights on, and one position turns the lights off, any where in the world, any light switch, any amperage, any voltage... except for dimmer switches, or three way light switches.

Of course, the light switches may look different, and they may have a different sort of switch, and the switch may be pointing differently in the on, or off positions... but even in america, the way a light switch is placed can change that.

In older houses in america, turning the switch DOWN usually turns the light on, while in newer houses, turning the switch turns the lights on. Apparently, someone decided that an earthquake, or a 16 wheeler, or a tornado, or other natural accidend was more likely to make a switch fall down than rise up, so, making the switches turn off when down was reccomended.

This way, after a disaster, if the electric cables still work, but the gas lines leak, no random light switch falling down will close a circuit, and lead to a gas explosion, and if a really monstrous car rumbles past while you're on vacation, the electric bill won't be too big of a surprise when you get back.

Australia, of course, is worrying about other things, like getting national health care, saving koalas, keeping kangaroos out, and finding the easiest way to crawl to the next pub, so they could care less about the light switches.

Answer 2

We have on and off. What do they do in the UK or Aussie land?
After on and off there must be something else or you would be wrong.
All electric switches,not just light switches,work the same way all over the world. They make and break an electrical connection. There may be different designs but they all work the same. On a dimmer switch the "on" position is variable to allow more or less current to the light.

Answer 3

A switch is not a load in an electrical circuit, thus it doesnt draw any amps, it is rated for a certain amount of amps but that is based on how many amps the load in the circuit will draw. The mechanical function of a switch is the same around the world.

Answer 4

the usa use 60 hz and uk is on 50 hz. usa uses 120 volt as a standard while other countries use 220 volt or other for standard. other than that switches operate the same. as far as being up when theyre on and down when theyre off is a safety tradition. any switch,unless 3way or 4 way, should be off in down position.

Answer 5

Different amp.