In this contact arrangement, the moving wiper bridges the old and new contacts momentarily during a transition. This prevents the circuit from ever being completely open, avoiding voltage spikes or signal dropouts in sensitive audio and power routing applications.
Heard on the job
Use a make-before-break rotary switch for the audio source selector so we don't get a loud pop when changing channels.
Insider tip
Always specify make-before-break for current transformers; opening the secondary circuit while under load will generate lethal voltages.
Also heard as
- shorting switch