How it used to be done!

Darkwood · Oct 27, 2017

Here is a pic of a relay from a Grinder/Lathe which is 80+ yrs old, still operating as good as the day it was made.
Note the glass enveloped mercury switching contacts.
PS the lamp at the bottom is just a spare for use elsewhere on the machine.

[ElectriciansForums.net] How it used to be done!

westward10 · Oct 27, 2017

I have a lovely brass socket somewhere with a mercury filled tube for the switch somewhere.

westward10 · Oct 27, 2017

I also have, "somewhere" again a small glass bottle with a cork in it filled with oil which came with Allen West starters to fill the overload pots. Later ones came with oil in sachets.

HandySparks · Oct 27, 2017

Mercury contacts were also common in room thermostats a few years ago.

Interesting to see ceramic beads used to insulate the flexible cables.

Darkwood · Oct 27, 2017

I got a lot of mercury glass envelopes from stripping out old fire alarm systems, it was a very common method across the board but most melenials will probably never come across them now.

Rpa07 · Oct 28, 2017

I’ve got one from a portable heater from the 80’s. Every now and again I handle it - feels great in the hand. There’s a link to drilled aluminium with a bead of ‘quick silver’ - take a look

Darkwood · Oct 29, 2017

Been the science geek I am I have seen that vid' a few times, just to add the use of mercury was banned in many countries, the EU starting imposing bans in about 2009 and is linked to the fact it is a neurotoxin, the liquid blobs out of equipment like above still should be handled with caution as they can and do react with skin even if your not aware, it can be disposed of through the correct channels safely.
The issue with mercury poisoning is its mostly from other sources not yet effected by the ban and gets into the food chain, typically fish, one of the biggest polluters of mercury in the world is burning coal as this releases it into the atmosphere that eventually gets into the water system and the food chain.... treat it with a lot of respect

Rpa07 · Oct 29, 2017

The fact I still have my mercury tilt switch is probably to do with the vision of arriving at the recycling centre and getting treated like a leper! Until then it’ll remain in my safe place and come out for sporadic handling!

telectrix · Oct 29, 2017

darkwood said:
Been the science geek I am I have seen that vid' a few times, just to add the use of mercury was banned in many countries, the EU starting imposing bans in about 2009 and is linked to the fact it is a neurotoxin, the liquid blobs out of equipment like above still should be handled with caution as they can and do react with skin even if your not aware, it can be disposed of through the correct channels safely.
The issue with mercury poisoning is its mostly from other sources not yet effected by the ban and gets into the food chain, typically fish, one of the biggest polluters of mercury in the world is burning coal as this releases it into the atmosphere that eventually gets into the water system and the food chain.... treat it with a lot of respect

well, i don'teat fish, so that's no bother to me.

static zap · Oct 29, 2017

Strange how that line from my parents , Fish is a brain food ...
Now Neurotoxin ...
Was it mostly the tinned -oily stuff ?
I enjoy the odd bit of fish , but only go wild when get near the coast!
( Imagine cost of cleaning up Coal/Coke cannot of helped Brit-Steel)

Darkwood · Oct 29, 2017

It really only effects certain kind of sea life, quick growing short lived fish don't tend to show any real build up but the long lived choices can contribute to mercury poisoning which is accumulative in the body and can do a lot of damage, shell fish and certain breeds of fish were tested to contain dangerous levels of mercury, if regularly consumed.. it's effects are nasty in deed and often irreversible, there are several forms of mercury thus the detrimental effects vary and how we come into contact with it, it's in the air, in our foods and in our old electronics, not a lot you can do except avoid the known issues...

Rpa07 · Oct 29, 2017

Tuna, being a predatory fish and top of the ocean food chain is said to contain the most mercury because of the accumulation up the chain - darn shame as mixed with mayo on a crispy baked potato, I’d say it was worth the risk!

static zap · Oct 29, 2017

Found something worst than Skipjack , apparently Lobster .
But if not constantly exposed we do shift some !
( More of a problem for fishermen -living from fish , when at sea)
Tuna & Mayo Sarnies . (No earthy skins for me)

Rpa07 · Oct 29, 2017

Yes, best to stay away from bottom feeders (fish, crustaceans and human kind) - even the Bible says that in Leviticus 11:12 about the ones in the sea anyway. Food for thought or not, in this case!

NDG Elecs · Oct 29, 2017

darkwood said:
It really only effects certain kind of sea life, quick growing short lived fish don't tend to show any real build up but the long lived choices can contribute to mercury poisoning which is accumulative in the body and can do a lot of damage, shell fish and certain breeds of fish were tested to contain dangerous levels of mercury, if regularly consumed.. it's effects are nasty in deed and often irreversible, there are several forms of mercury thus the detrimental effects vary and how we come into contact with it, it's in the air, in our foods and in our old electronics, not a lot you can do except avoid the known issues...

It's called bioaccumulation DW. Tends to get worse the higher up the food chain you go. A big fish eats 50 small fish and gets too keep the toxins of its prey. Accumulating it as you say.

Cool video by the way RPA.

How it used to be done!

Darkwood

westward10

westward10

HandySparks

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Darkwood

Rpa07

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Darkwood

Rpa07

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telectrix

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static zap

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Darkwood

Rpa07

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static zap

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Rpa07

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NDG Elecs

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