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An oil switch is an electrical device designed to open and close electrical circuits. Its defining characteristic is that its live parts, or contacts, are immersed in oil. This immersion serves to reduce arcing, which is the electrical discharge that occurs when a switch is opened or closed. Oil switches are a type of electric switch, a category that includes many designs, such as toggle switches and mercury switches. The oil-break switch is a synonym for an oil switch.123

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