conductive liquids that wont evaporate?

Dr_Doggy

Well-Known Member

• Aug 29, 2010

• #1

Remember those mercury switches you could get for balance switching, they are obsolete now aren't they, what can i use as a replacement? I may need to make my own but i will need a similar liquid that is conductive and won't evaporate, any ideas?

what about ferro-fluid, but it will solidify under a current, don't it? what else could I use?

 

Menticol

Active Member

• Aug 29, 2010

• #2

Mercury is the most dangerous yet better working solution

 

Dr_Doggy

Well-Known Member

• Aug 29, 2010

• #3

but whats plan b?

 

L

LTX71CM

New Member

• Aug 29, 2010

• #4

What are you trying to accomplish? If you simply need to detect tilt there are dozens of tilt switches/sensors on the market today. They start at a few dollars and go up from there.

 

Externet

Well-Known Member

• Aug 29, 2010

• #5

There is plenty of mercury switches. Automobile trunk lamps use them. When opened, the mercury does the contact. Visit your wreck yard for as many as you want.
And mercury is not dangerous. Its mishandling is.

 

tcmtech

Banned

Most Helpful Member

• Aug 29, 2010

• #6

The mechanical, old dial or lever type, home thermostats still use Mercury switch's so apparently someone is still producing them.

If you cant find some of them laying around just ask around the heating and air conditioning places to see if they have any old ones the would part with cheap.

 

Last edited: Aug 29, 2010

Sceadwian

Banned

• Aug 29, 2010

• #7

Check out Digikey.com, do a search for tilt switch, they have several types.

 

Llamarama

Member

• Aug 29, 2010

• #8

Sci-toys.com have an article about an alloy that contains gallium, indium, and tin, and melts at -20° Celsius. That sounds right up your street if you want to make your own mercury type switches. Here is the specific page - Chapter 5: Thermodynamics -- A non-toxic liquid metal alloy mercury substitute