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NAVSPROUT LABS · A LITTLE CURIOSITY. A COMPLETE CIRCUIT.

Two-way lighting switches

Two changeover switches connect a lamp through one of two traveler wires. Toggling either switch changes whether a complete path exists.

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5.0 mA

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SUPPLY5.00 V
CURRENT5.00 mA
OUTPUT5.00 V
TIME0.00 s
Live curve
Calculated outputMarker = current time
ONE QUICK CHECK

Toggling either switch does what?

Switches & logic · FIELD NOTES

Understanding two-way lighting switches

Two changeover switches connect a lamp through one of two traveler wires. Toggling either switch changes whether a complete path exists.

1. Set up the experiment

Test every combination of switch A and switch B. Verify that changing either one flips the lamp’s state.

2. Connect the result to the equation

Y = (A === B) for this wiring

Change one parameter at a time and keep the others fixed. Read the signed output and current, then use the curve to distinguish a steady relationship from a changing transient.

Initial supply
5.00 V
Initial current
5.000 mA
Initial output
5.000 V

3. Notice the limits

This lab uses the convention that matching traveler positions complete the circuit. Wiring conventions may reverse the visible switch positions.

Circuit reference diagram
Power supplyPower supplySwitch 1Switch 1Switch 2Switch 2BulbBulb5 V · 5 mA

Continue this learning path

Why it’s here

Electronics 101 makes a component change visible: an altered resistance changes a current, a capacitor changes a delay, and a sensor changes a decision. The course guide links each concept to its experiment.

  1. Open Ohm’s law and predict the effect of doubling the voltage.
  2. Change the control and compare the ammeter, curve and equation.
  3. Try RC charging and use the time constant to explain the curve.
  4. Return to the course guide to choose the next experiment.

Frequently asked questions

Can I use every experiment on NavSprout?

Yes. The course guides and workbenches run on NavSprout.

Are these circuit simulations exact?

They are analytic teaching models: ideal sources and switches, fixed diode drops, simple BJT gain and saturation, exponential RC behavior, and illustrative sensor curves. They are not a SPICE solver or construction verification.

Do I need hardware or a login?

No hardware or account is needed. The 3D view needs WebGL, while diagrams, controls and static lessons remain available as alternatives. Progress is stored in this browser and can be exported.

Which current direction is shown?

Moving markers represent conventional current, not electron drift. Their motion is illustrative and is not a measurement of charge velocity.

Model references and scope

Original NavSprout lessons use standard lumped-circuit relationships and explicitly simplified component models. Diagrams explain teaching topologies, while the breadboard probe explains socket continuity. The workbench is not a verified physical assembly plan.

OpenStax: resistor networks ↗OpenStax: RC circuits ↗BJT switching reference ↗
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Pricing models are indicative. Check each official website for current plans and limits.