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What is a Mercury Switch?

Michael Pollick
Michael Pollick
Michael Pollick
Michael Pollick

A mercury switch consists of a sealed glass tube containing two unconnected electrodes and a small amount of liquid mercury. As long as the liquid metal remains on the opposite end of the tube, the electrodes remain disconnected and no current will flow. Once the tube is moved past a certain angle, however, the mercury will pool between the two electrodes and a connection is made. The result is electricity flowing through a completed circuit. Once the liquid metal has returned to its original position, the electrical current stops immediately.

The use of a mercury switch has become controversial in recent years. Mercury is considered to be a very hazardous substance, especially if allowed to vaporize. Mercury in its liquid form can be handled safely under controlled conditions, but accidental ingestion or skin contact can cause serious nerve damage or even death. For this reason, many manufacturers have begun to replace mercury switches with other mechanical methods of disrupting electrical current. School science classes are also phasing out experiments which may expose students to mercury.

A mercury switch can be used along with a car battery to activate hood and trunk lights.
A mercury switch can be used along with a car battery to activate hood and trunk lights.

One common use of a mercury switch can be found in older room thermostats. A heat-sensitive metal coil expands and contracts according to the ambient room temperature. A mercury switch is balanced near the end of this coil, connected to the central heating and cooling system. If the room temperature rises beyond the preset range, the expanding coil will cause the liquid mercury to move to the other side of the switch. This causes two electrodes to form a complete circuit, which in turn causes the cooling system to send out colder air. As the coil in the thermostat contracts, the liquid metal will eventually return to the opposite end of the switch and the connection is broken.

A mercury switch contains a small amount of liquid mercury.
A mercury switch contains a small amount of liquid mercury.

Because a mercury switch is motion-based, some car manufacturers use them to activate hood and trunk lights. As the lid is raised, the mercury switch becomes tilted and an electrical connection is made between the car's battery and the light bulb. Once the lid is closed, the liquid mercury returns to its original location and the light is extinguished. Controversy over the safety of mercury, however, has prompted many owners to change out their old mercury switches in favor of mechanical ones. Some refrigerator units, such as chest freezers, may also use mercury switches in their lids.

Mercury switches are also popular as detonators in motion-activated bombs. Any attempt to shake or move the explosive device will cause the mercury to complete the circuit between a detonator and the explosive charge. This is why law enforcement officers caution by-standers not to touch or move any suspicious packages. An explosive device armed with a mercury switch must be defused in place or moved without changing its original orientation.

A broken mercury switch is considered toxic waste, so untrained and unprotected individuals should never attempt to remove them. If you find an older appliance or thermostat with a broken switch, contact the local Hazardous Materials unit for advice. Car owners may also want to learn more about removing older mercury switches safely.

Michael Pollick
Michael Pollick

A regular AboutMechanics contributor, Michael enjoys doing research in order to satisfy his wide-ranging curiosity about a variety of arcane topics. Before becoming a professional writer, Michael worked as an English tutor, poet, voice-over artist, and DJ.

Learn more...
Michael Pollick
Michael Pollick

A regular AboutMechanics contributor, Michael enjoys doing research in order to satisfy his wide-ranging curiosity about a variety of arcane topics. Before becoming a professional writer, Michael worked as an English tutor, poet, voice-over artist, and DJ.

Learn more...

Discussion Comments

anon1001240

Mercury and heavy metal poisoning is a silent pandemic. Look up Cutler Chelation. Mainstream medicine is in the dark ages when it comes to treating mercury poisoning.

Phaedrus

I wish mercury switches weren't so hazardous to use, since they really are the best way to close and open circuits based on position or motion. There's no other material that has the same properties as liquid mercury, but I understand that mercury poisoning is very serious. I remember my science teacher back in high school used to put a few drops on everyone's desk and we'd play with it. I'd "float" things on top of it and break it into smaller pieces before pushing them back together again.

The last thing I actually saw with mercury in it was a thermostat switch. I seriously considered breaking the glass open and experimenting with the mercury inside, but I did some research on the Internet and found out what a bad idea that would be. If I had any open cuts at all, some of the mercury might seep into my bloodstream, plus some nasty gases would be released as the mercury evaporated.

Ruggercat68

I thought they were kidding about handling broken thermostats like toxic waste, but then I accidentally broke one during a renovation project. The mercury switch shattered when I hit the old thermostat with a hammer during demolition, and my supervisor had everyone stop what they were doing until a hazardous materials team arrived. There was a surprising amount of liquid mercury on the floor, and he didn't want anyone without proper equipment or training to get near it.

After it was safely removed, I got a stern lecture about working around old thermostats and freezers and other things that might have used mercury switches.

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    • A mercury switch can be used along with a car battery to activate hood and trunk lights.
      By: Avantgarde
      A mercury switch can be used along with a car battery to activate hood and trunk lights.
    • A mercury switch contains a small amount of liquid mercury.
      By: marcel
      A mercury switch contains a small amount of liquid mercury.