Unknown electrical device.

Netlist · 26th May 2006, 09:03 AM

Does anyone recognise this device?
It can be plugged into the mains, and consists of a box with a bulb containing a bit of mercury. It has two big terminals on top, a switch (the red button) and inside two coils and a resistor.
The label says:
Important:
1: Remove the cover, apply the voltage.
2: Remove the safety screw on the left hand side. Push the red start button with a pointed device for one minute.
3: Turn off the voltage. Apply the screw. Wait 15 minutes.
4: Apply the voltage.

The missing part is the cover and the safety screw.

/Hugo

Geek · 26th May 2006, 10:45 AM

Mercury rectifier?

tade · 26th May 2006, 10:48 AM

sounds to me like some sort of old quack medical device. Maybe it had atachmetns for combing your thinning hair or something at one point.

DoomPixie · 26th May 2006, 10:53 AM

could be a mercury rectifier of some sort, looks a little ont he small side though....

SY · 26th May 2006, 11:00 AM

It's a bi-lateral frammistat.

Or an igniter control.

davidallancole · 26th May 2006, 11:23 AM

The top part looks like an oil filled capacitor.

tade · 26th May 2006, 11:32 AM

yeah, back when mercury devies contained more than trace amounts of mercury. In old fluorescent bulbs sometimes you can see drops of mercury inside.

Netlist · 26th May 2006, 12:01 PM

Google didn’t bring much on the ‘bi-lateral frammistat’ so if you could enlighten us what the otherwise nice sounding term might be…
Doompixie’s drawing looks a bit like what I have.
I’ve made a drawing myself. The upper part is guesswork as it’s a black box.

/Hugo

SY · 26th May 2006, 12:33 PM

It is a type of constant volume nepton retarder, often used in older petulizers to prevent overload. Very nostalgic, haven't seen one in years.

DoomPixie · 26th May 2006, 12:39 PM

yup, netlist's drawing makes it look more like a mercury rectifier.. could be anything though, this is all guess work really..lol.
~Owen

26th May 2006, 11:00 AM	#5
SY diyAudio Moderator Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Chicagoland Blog Entries: 1	It's a bi-lateral frammistat. Or an igniter control. __________________ If there's a sucker born every minute, where do the rest of them come from?

26th May 2006, 12:33 PM	#9
SY diyAudio Moderator Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Chicagoland Blog Entries: 1	Frammistat It is a type of constant volume nepton retarder, often used in older petulizers to prevent overload. Very nostalgic, haven't seen one in years. __________________ If there's a sucker born every minute, where do the rest of them come from?

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: Advanced Search

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Uk electrical probs, please help!	mikee55	Parts	7	16th December 2006 07:34 PM
Help - Zen V4 electrical short?	vsr123	Pass Labs	1	27th April 2003 08:57 AM

New To Site?	Need Help?
Register to Participate Search Privacy Statement Contact Us	Frequently Asked Questions Did you forget your password? Mark Forums Read


	Please consider donating to help us continue to serve you. Ads on/off / Custom Title / More PMs / More album space / Advanced printing & mass image saving

26th May 2006, 10:45 AM	#2
Geek diyAudio Member Join Date: Sep 2004	Mercury rectifier?

26th May 2006, 10:48 AM	#3
tade diyAudio Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Ralieigh nc	sounds to me like some sort of old quack medical device. Maybe it had atachmetns for combing your thinning hair or something at one point.

26th May 2006, 11:23 AM	#6
davidallancole diyAudio Member Join Date: Nov 2005	The top part looks like an oil filled capacitor.

26th May 2006, 11:32 AM	#7
tade diyAudio Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Ralieigh nc	yeah, back when mercury devies contained more than trace amounts of mercury. In old fluorescent bulbs sometimes you can see drops of mercury inside.

26th May 2006, 12:39 PM	#10
DoomPixie diyAudio Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Aberystwyth / Llanelli (wales)	yup, netlist's drawing makes it look more like a mercury rectifier.. could be anything though, this is all guess work really..lol. ~Owen