• WARNING: Tube/Valve amplifiers use potentially LETHAL HIGH VOLTAGES.
    Building, troubleshooting and testing of these amplifiers should only be
    performed by someone who is thoroughly familiar with
    the safety precautions around high voltages.

Honeywell Mercury Tube?

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fid

Member
Joined 2012
Hi Folks,

I came across what looks like an old tube. It has mercury inside of it - sloshing around. It says Honeywell Regulator Company on a green label, and has some numbers on it. Is this something I should throw away? Anybody know what it's from?
 
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riccoryder

Member
Joined 2011
That's a mercury switch. They're valuable to some people. They make great switches with contacts that never wear out. It'll last as long as the wires do. Some older thermostats used them. It's probably better than what's used in electric heaters to shut them off if they tip over. You're better off selling it to someone that can use it (Ebay maybe?), or giving to a metals recycler that sells mercury. It's valuable, but very toxic waste if not handled properly. Don't break it open, put it in the trash or with recycled bottles/cans. Those curious about mercury rectifiers might get data sheets for the 866A and 872. They're low-voltage drop rectifiers, but may need a 15 minute warm up to vaporize the mercury before turning on the high voltage. Most AM broadcasters with tube type transmitters from the 50's using them replaced them with silicon rectifier modules combining strings of diodes to handle the voltage..
 
F

fid

Member
Joined 2012
Thanks

Ok, thanks for that. I'll put it on ebay later tonight, rather have somebody who knows the value of it and can put it to use be in possession of it. Don't know what it's worth, though .

riccoryder said:
That's a mercury switch. They're valuable to some people. They make great switches with contacts that never wear out. It'll last as long as the wires do. Some older thermostats used them. It's probably better than what's used in electric heaters to shut them off if they tip over. You're better off selling it to someone that can use it (Ebay maybe?), or giving to a metals recycler that sells mercury. It's valuable, but very toxic waste if not handled properly. Don't break it open, put it in the trash or with recycled bottles/cans. Those curious about mercury rectifiers might get data sheets for the 866A and 872. They're low-voltage drop rectifiers, but may need a 15 minute warm up to vaporize the mercury before turning on the high voltage. Most AM broadcasters with tube type transmitters from the 50's using them replaced them with silicon rectifier modules combining strings of diodes to handle the voltage..
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