Who is correct about switches: Technician A says "pole" refers to output circuits, Technician B says "throw" refers to input circuits?

To understand why neither Technician A nor Technician B is correct, we need to clarify the definitions of "pole" and "throw" in relation to electrical switches.

The term "pole" in the context of switches refers to the number of separate circuits a switch can control. For example, a single-pole switch controls one circuit, while a double-pole switch can control two circuits. Therefore, when Technician A states that "pole" refers to output circuits, it misunderstands the term because "pole" is about the number of circuits controlled by the switch, regardless of whether they are input or output.

On the other hand, the term "throw" refers to the number of ways a switch can connect or direct the circuit to different outputs. For instance, a single-throw switch connects the circuit in one way, whereas a double-throw switch can connect it in two different ways. Technician B's assertion that "throw" refers to input circuits is also incorrect, as "throw" pertains not to the input but rather to how the switch's output positions are set up.

Thus, both definitions provided by the technicians do not accurately represent the terminology used in the context of switches, leading to the conclusion that neither technician is correct.