I opened up our range hood tonight to replace the off-on switch for the light. Where I was expecting to find a single pole switch on the live wire, I found a double pole switch.

The circuit goes live wire to switch, then to the light and then it returns to the other side of the switch and back to neutral. Why would they do this? Can I replace the switch with a single pole on the live side and connect the neutral directly?

You're obviously not qualified to be attempting this.

A stove is a fixtured electrical appliance, which can only be serviced by a qualified-certified Electrician.

As far as the switch itself is concerned, the manufacturer has done the right thing, in using double pole.

Why? Because they know that no one can be trusted to have correctly installed the house wiring.

A very common mistake can occur within a building's wiring, where the Active and the Neutral wires get transposed.

This mistake can happen anywhere, but especially in a power flylead, an extension cable, the rear of any plug.

Too many possible places where something can wired incorrectly

If you blindly believe the wire terminal in the stove, that is labelled i.e. 'Active', then you are taking your life into your hands.

Single pole switches went out of 'fashion' a long time ago. For at least the last 30 years, even elecrtic lighting circuits employed double pole switching.

Thanks for the response. Now I have a reason. I guess that I am 30 years out of date.

live long and prosper

Just replace with a double pole switch they are readily available, along with single pole I might add.

Thanks. I am an American. I had not seen a double pole switch in a hood, but this thing my wife carried home in her luggage from Taiwan years ago and it was "Honey, please."