What happens when ON/OFF switch is in the midway?

[kenny1999]

I have a switch home that is not easy to press and sometimes if I forget to press it hard enough it will stay in the midway for a few seconds but I always push it to ON or OFF soon. Could this cause any problem to my electrical or electronics appliance?

 

[anorlunda]

Without the specific details, it is impossible to say with certainty.

But most electrical switches are specifically designed to be on or off with no electric midway position possible. So the likely answer is, No problem.

 

[Rive]

Could this cause any problem to my electrical or electronics appliance?

Unlikely, since switches usually has a spring mechanism to ensure the lock in one of the two stable positions regardless the unsure position of the button itself.

But, a rule of thumb: if it's line voltage then 'unlikely' is not good enough. Just replace (get somebody to replace) everything what's not working flawlessly.

 

[Tom.G]

Yes it could be a problem, especially with well-worn older switches and the device draws substantial current, and an inductive load makes it worse.

I once ran across a 3-rank electronic organ with that problem. If you were not careful, the power switch would hang in the middle position when shutting it Off.

You could sometimes hear the arcing at the switch contacts. I warned the owner about the problem and was ignored. A few years later, when the estate was being liquidated, I checked the organ again.

It was unplugged so I plugged it in and immediately heard some arcing, with the power switch Off. It seems the contact arcing eventually charred the switch body so badly that there was a Carbon track between the contacts... a rather significant fire hazard!

I attached a note:
FIRE HAZARD
BAD SWITCH
LEAVE ON
UNPLUG WHEN NOT IN USE

That's the last I heard of it.

So Yes, a switch that hangs in the middle Can indeed be a hazard!

Take care,
Tom