# What's This Type of Switch Called and Where Can I Buy One?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-this-type-of-switch-called-and-where-can-i-buy-one/381536
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [November 23, 2006, 10:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-this-type-of-switch-called-and-where-can-i-buy-one/381536 "2006-11-23T10:44:26Z")
**Posts on this page:** 10
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)
#### Post date: [November 23, 2006, 10:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-this-type-of-switch-called-and-where-can-i-buy-one/381536/1 "2006-11-23T10:44:26Z")
The kind of switch I’m looking for is similar (though obviously not identical) to the kind you see in movies where the guys stick their keys in a lock and turn it to be able to launch nuclear missiles. Or sort of like an ignition switch for a car, but not, again, obviously, for such a thing. I’ve seen them used on various equipment over the years to lock out power sources so that no one can run a machine. Anybody know what they’re called and where I can get one?
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### Author:  [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)
#### Post date: [November 23, 2006, 10:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-this-type-of-switch-called-and-where-can-i-buy-one/381536/2 "2006-11-23T10:47:53Z")
They’re called [Keyswitches](http://rswww.com/cgi-bin/bv/rswww/searchBrowseAction.do?N=0&Ntk=I18NAll&Ntt=keyswitch&Nty=1&D=keyswitch&callingPage=/browse/Campaign.jsp&BV_SessionID=@@@@0405217777.1164278721@@@@&BV_EngineID=ccchaddjfjmkldfcefeceeldgondhgi.0&cacheID=uknetscape&Nr=avl:uk)
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### Author:  [@groman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/groman)
#### Post date: [November 23, 2006, 10:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-this-type-of-switch-called-and-where-can-i-buy-one/381536/3 "2006-11-23T10:50:09Z")
I’ve always referred to them as “key-lock switch” or “ignition lock/switch”.
[This plays agrees.](http://www.electronicpartsforless.com/storefrontprofiles/processfeed.aspx?sfid=100806&i=5327640&mpid=36&dfid=1)
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### Author:  [@groman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/groman)
#### Post date: [November 23, 2006, 10:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-this-type-of-switch-called-and-where-can-i-buy-one/381536/4 "2006-11-23T10:51:19Z")
Grrr… “place”. That’s what I get for trying to answer a question at 3AM after ranting about theatre for a good hour.
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### Author:  [@Princhester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Princhester)
#### Post date: [November 23, 2006, 10:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-this-type-of-switch-called-and-where-can-i-buy-one/381536/5 "2006-11-23T10:56:29Z")
And then you can [put one of these over it](http://www.jaycar.com.au/productView.asp?ID=ST0578&CATID=&keywords=missile&SPECIAL=&form=KEYWORD&ProdCodeOnly=&Keyword1=&Keyword2=&pageNumber=&priceMin=&priceMax=&SUBCATID=), and _really_ make it look like it’s for launching a missile.
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### Author:  [@spingears](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spingears)
#### Post date: [November 23, 2006, 1:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-this-type-of-switch-called-and-where-can-i-buy-one/381536/6 "2006-11-23T13:09:18Z")
[QUOTE=Tuckerfan]
Anybody know what they’re called and where I can get one?
[/QUOTE]
Check them out at the nearest electrical supplier. The bigger they are the better the selection available. They can order one from catalog(S) too.
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### Author:  [@Uncommon\_Sense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uncommon_Sense)
#### Post date: [November 23, 2006, 1:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-this-type-of-switch-called-and-where-can-i-buy-one/381536/7 "2006-11-23T13:40:00Z")
[Allen Bradley](http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://leon74361.zftp.com/photo/EBAY%25208.14/ABKEYSW.jpg&imgrefurl=http://cgi.ebay.com/ALLEN-BRADLEY-800T-E11B-KEY-OPERATED-SELECTOR-SWITCH_W0QQitemZ330019046442QQihZ014QQcategoryZ58169QQcmdZViewItem&h=1188&w=1157&sz=309&hl=en&start=1&tbnid=H4FQPustMvmVaM:&tbnh=150&tbnw=146&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dallen%2Bbradley%2Bkey%2Bswitch%26svnum%3D10%26hl%3Den%26lr%3D%26safe%3Doff) Key switch or [this one by Rockwell](http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.ab.com/safety/prod_directory/prosafe_trap_key_interlock_switches/rotary_switch/rotary.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.ab.com/safety/prod_directory/prosafe_trap_key_interlock_switches/rotary_switch/index.html&h=160&w=200&sz=11&hl=en&start=3&tbnid=D1fBh0rKLOSr_M:&tbnh=83&tbnw=104&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dallen%2Bbradley%2Bkey%2Bswitch%26svnum%3D10%26hl%3Den%26lr%3D%26safe%3Doff) should fit the bill.
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### Author:  [@danceswithcats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/danceswithcats)
#### Post date: [November 23, 2006, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-this-type-of-switch-called-and-where-can-i-buy-one/381536/8 "2006-11-23T23:51:57Z")
I have accounts with both electrical suppliers and locksmith equipment vendors for that sort of stuff. They are available in a variety of functions-key retained in all but off, momentary, spring return, and so forth. Ordinary and biaxial keyways, too. Send me an email, **Tuckerfan** and detail what you’re seeking.
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### Author:  [@thirdname](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thirdname)
#### Post date: [November 24, 2006, 4:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-this-type-of-switch-called-and-where-can-i-buy-one/381536/9 "2006-11-24T04:08:16Z")
As a bit of a hijack, I have a question about a different kind of switch. Does somebody make a cheap box (not something that goes in the wall) that turns off an outlet via a remote control? It’s so I can turn the light off from bed. Bonus points if it resets to on, when I turn the wall switch off, so I can turn it back on with just the wall switch.
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### Author:  [@KP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KP)
#### Post date: [November 24, 2006, 5:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-this-type-of-switch-called-and-where-can-i-buy-one/381536/10 "2006-11-24T05:37:32Z")
[X10.com](http://X10.com) is much reviled for its ongoing “spam” once you register or order, but they have what you you sem to want, at a decent price. A lot of people also take advantage of their gimmicky bulk sales, and resell on eBay.
I’m not a _huge_ fan, but all in all, I’ve found that their products usually meet my needs, and are IMHO underutilized. “X-10” refers to the underlying technology that goes back to the 70s (at least) when I first started using them as a teem (It was pricey then, but yard sales around here often sold them, because the nouveaux-riche quickly learned that they actually had to _install_ them for them to work.