Looking for hard to find parts for the Electricity Project Books?
Try www.mouser.com
This company has NO minimum order, NO service charges,
an "800" number for ordering or tech support, and good prices!
Electricity – Frequently Asked Questions
An electricity project, from Investigating Electricity, shows a picture and gives directions for making a circuit with a mercury switch. I was unable to find a mercury switch at a supply contractor or local stores. Is there a substitute recommendation that you have for this particular project item from the book?
There are several solutions:
1) Mercury switches are still available, but they are a hazard if broken or disposed of improperly. A inexpensive solution is to contact any heating/air conditioning contractor who may have thermostats lying around. Many thermostats had a mercury switch that was tilted by a bimetal coil that responded to temperature. You may even offer to return the switch to the contractor when you are finished with it so that the mercury is recycled properly.
2) A mercury switch may also be ordered from http://www.mouser.com
Mouser Electronics has no minimum order, an 800 number for ordering, and will accept credit cards. For a glass mercury switch, order "107-1003." For a metal mercury switch (won't easily break), order "107-1001."
3) You may wish to order a "non-mercury tilt switch." It has a little copper ball inside that rolls against the contacts when tilted. This switch is "107-1006." This switch has four leads on it. To wire it, position the switch with the arrow pointing up. The two leads on the left (vertical) are one connection (connect these two leads together). The two leads on the right (vertical) are the second connection (connect these two leads together).
|