Mercury Tilt Switch

Description:-

Mercury switches have one or more sets of electrical contacts in a sealed glass envelope that contains a small quantity of mercury.  

The envelope may also contain hydrogen at pressure, an inert gas, or a vacuum.  

Gravity constantly pulls the drop of mercury to the lowest point in the envelope.  

When the switch is tilted in the appropriate direction, the mercury touches a set of contacts, thus completing an electrical circuit.  

Tilting the switch in the opposite direction moves the mercury away from that set of contacts, breaking that circuit.

Features:  

• The contacts are enclosed, so oxidation of the contact points is impossible.  
• In hazardous locations, interrupting the circuit does not emit a spark that could ignite flammable gases.  
• Contacts stay clean, and even if an internal arc occurs, the contact surfaces renew on every operation, so they don’t wear out.  
• Even a small drop of mercury has low resistance, so switches can carry useful amounts of current in a small size.  
• The sensitivity of the drop to gravity provides a unique sensing function and lends itself to simple, low-force mechanisms for manual or automatic operation.  
• The switches are quiet, as no contacts abruptly snap together.  
• The mass of the moving mercury drop provides an over-center effect to avoid chattering as the switch tilts.  

Specifications:-  

• Operating Voltage (VDC): 3.3 ~ 5
• Output Format: digital switching outputs (0 and 1)  
• Diameter (mm): 4
• Length (mm): 35

Package Includes:-