I thought you couldn't even get these anymore, but they are for sale on eBay. I bought a few. I guess I will have to be careful with them.
The answer to the question in a big fat ZERO in "today's" world [although I have a couple in the box bought years ago]. In any case, I do hope the seller packaged them REALLY REALLY well, with individual bubble wrap on each element. Plus an import sticker that said "Dangerous Chemicals Inside". Yes?
The really stupid thing is, the gummit is phasing out tungsten bulbs in favor of "energy efficient" fluorescents, and said fluorescents all have mercury. How the heck do you even properly dispose of 5-foot long fluorescent tubes these days? No one around here will take them.
oric_dan:
The answer to the question in a big fat ZERO in "today's" world [although I have a couple in the box bought years ago]. In any case, I do hope the seller packaged them REALLY REALLY well, with individual bubble wrap on each element. Plus an import sticker that said "Dangerous Chemicals Inside". Yes?
What, am I a mind reader? XD
oric_dan:
The really stupid thing is, the gummit is phasing out tungsten bulbs in favor of "energy efficient" fluorescents, and said fluorescents all have mercury. How the heck do you even properly dispose of 5-foot long fluorescent tubes these days? No one around here will take them.
Remove fingerprints, dump on government land with a note "since you required these, here you go"? ]
Bad Dog! Both cases.
Here are the switches in question
http://www.ebay.com/itm/360667919082
It's interesting that you assumed it was from an international seller as I didn't mention that. And you were right. But there are some domestic sellers. This guy has made 96 sales so far.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/111053750323
The reason I went with the Chinese guy was not price, it was the higher current rating.
Mercury switches are still permitted in some applications like medical and military that is why you can still buy them. It is not illegal to buy them.
JoeN:
It's interesting that you assumed it was from an international seller as I didn't mention that. And you were right. But there are some domestic sellers. This guy has made 96 sales so far.
I had actually looked at several sites, just to check on the addresses, but I figure it all comes from ... you-know-where.
BAHAHAHAHAHA..... Got them. ]
None were broken. They were wrapped in about 8 layers of bubble wrap, in a padded envelope. Not a lot of protection I guess but it worked out.
And to think... when I was a kid I used to break them open and play with the mercury...
Hasn't had any gurk effect ark on me...
majenko:
And to think... when I was a kid I used to break them open and play with the mercury...
Yes I spent two weeks "chasing" some mercury on the floor in the school playground where the caretaker had dropped a thermometer. I got a blob about the size of a large pea and kept it in a small plastic box for years.
I bought a bag of those off eBay a couple of months ago.
(If you have an equivalent device without mercury in it, I'm all ears...)
majenko:
And to think... when I was a kid I used to break them open and play with the mercury...Hasn't had any gurk effect ark on me...
My understanding is that elemental mercury isn't really that hazardous. It's the compounds that are so very toxic and also I guess vapor. But I don't think that at room temperature vapor is really a problem, only in industrial settings in the past where hot mercury was used, mercury compounds, or other compounds that were simply contaminated with high levels of mercury products. Like a lot of hazards, it's probably overblown, assuming you don't try messing with it in a chemical way and end up with organomercury compounds.
None were broken. They were wrapped in about 8 layers of bubble wrap, in a padded envelope. Not a lot of protection I guess but it worked out.
Why am I not surprised that [air, etc] pollution in CN is about the worst in the world anymore? We should definitely get rid of the EPA, and go back to "just do it, baby, it's all cool". DUH!
BTW, I entered 'mercury switch' into digikey's search field, and got nada - however, mouser was more obliging [lol]:
http://www.mouser.com/ProductDetail/Standex-Electronics/KSK-1A31-3050/?qs=%2Fha2pyFaduizjWIyMJ4YighopLXi8zUWuI6hk3r%252bzutoNzYTvYiW%2FA%3D%3D
Mercury Wetted Reed - interesting.
Mercury Wetted Reed - interesting.
It reduces the contact bounce and makes the switch resistance smaller.
Sad we can no longer use them in the majority of applications.
There is a whole load of Mercury tilt switches here.
Grumpy_Mike:
Mercury Wetted Reed - interesting.
There is a whole load of Mercury tilt switches here.
Those look well encased, indeed. Not the little glass bulbs that mine are. Mine appear to me as if they are hand-made in some aspect, every one is just a little different.
Makes one wonder,
http://www.kake.com/news/headlines/63780737.html
"Like virtually all hazardous material, mercury is not mailable".
http://uspsnotices.lettercarriernetwork.info/not107.pdf
"Hazard Classes
For purposes of transportation and shipping, federal regulations assign each hazardous material to one of the following nine hazard classes. The following list provides examples of items that are subject to mailing restrictions or prohibitions.
........
Class 8: Corrosives Chlorine bleach, ammonia, batteries, drain cleaners, acids, mercury"
Joe, I wouldn't be surprised if your package was mailed by some dweeb going to school in the USA, and not knowing much in addition to nothing at all.
JoeN:
My understanding is that elemental mercury isn't really that hazardous. It's the compounds that are so very toxic and also I guess vapor. But I don't think that at room temperature vapor is really a problem, only in industrial settings in the past where hot mercury was used, mercury compounds, or other compounds that were simply contaminated with high levels of mercury products. Like a lot of hazards, it's probably overblown, assuming you don't try messing with it in a chemical way and end up with organomercury compounds.
Agree, it's not really that hazardous in an elemental form. You can find medical reports where individuals ingested or injected mercury into their skin; it can take weeks or months for inflammation to start and after removal the toxicity treatments are relatively straightforward.
I dunno if anyone really cares about that, and if I were a conspiracy person I'd say it's a cover story. What they do care about is what mercury does to an aluminum airplane -- note that they list it as a corrosive. See: http://periodictable.com/PopSci/2004/10/1/index.html.
My understanding is that elemental mercury isn't really that hazardous. It's the compounds that are so very toxic and also I guess vapor.
Yes, it's the compounds that are of concern.
Us old guys have some in our teeth.
oric_dan:
Joe, I wouldn't be surprised if your package was mailed by some dweeb going to school in the USA, and not knowing much in addition to nothing at all.
It was China Post->USPS->Joe. I think we have determined they are not particular about US regs.
LarryD:
My understanding is that elemental mercury isn't really that hazardous. It's the compounds that are so very toxic and also I guess vapor.
Yes, it's the compounds that are of concern.
Us old guys have some in our teeth.
Of course, my dentists always swore the mercury-silver amalgam was safe. Silver being a precious metal [even if it does tarnish like the dickens] apparently nullifies the mercury poisoning, duh.
After all, sodium and chlorine are each nasty business alone, but put them together and you got the salt of life, double-duh. [this is yer brain on the wonders of modern chemistry].