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Appliances Needed for Mercury Switch Seminars

  1. Gas Stoves—preferably 1960-1980s models. Some older or newer may also contain mercury too. Look for stoves that have a constant pilot in the broiler section of the stove. Stoves with electronic pilot do not contain mercury, however, will be a good example to show participants the difference. Two stoves with pilots and one with electronic or hot surface ignition are needed.
  2. Washing machines—Look for washing machines with lids that do not have the plastic tab mechanism that acts as a switch for the power. The washing machines with mercury have no visible switch but acts as a tilt switch when the lid is opened, breaking the power. One or two of these would be great.
  3. Chest Freezers—these should have the light in the lid. Need the lid, not just the freezer (the mercury is contained in the lid). Models without lights in lid do not contain mercury. Two of these would be great but one will do.
  4. Boilers and Furnaces--We don’t need the heat ducts, but the furnace, heat exchanger and controls are needed. Boilers can be gas or oil-fired but need the controls intact. The high limit/fan switch control should be included on hot air furnaces. The Oil burner is not necessary though. One boiler and one furnace would be great.
  5. Sump Pumps or other float shut-off devices---need pumps where the wire actually goes into the float and not the mechanical arm. Sometimes you can shake the float and hear the mercury inside. As many as possible. 5 max.
  6. Industrial or Commercial gas-fired equipment, HVAC---anything industrial or unusual.
  7. Gas refrigerators and furnaces from RV’s--- these small units normally have mercury devices in them.
  8. Other gas appliances--- not residential gas water heaters, no mercury in them. Some large commercial water heaters do but must have flame sensor system. Not typical thermocouple. If you know of something that contains a mercury switch that is not listed here, please add it!
  9. Electric Space Heaters with tip-protection circuits that cut power to heating elements.

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