I’ve noticed this switch getting really loose over the past year or so. There was a bit of time to spare, after some gardening work, now it’s time to replace it. I can easily go to the hardware, blue, or orange store, for a replacement single pole switch. However, it was decided to take a different route, and go new old stock. This room has always had a “silent switch” installed since I’ve been around, so I went back with a new old stock GE mercury switch from around 1977. Installation is very simple on a single pole switch, and I had this completed in less than ten minutes. Smooth as butter operation is restored, once again!
Always know your limits, and do not attempt unless you are confident in repairing electric fixtures!
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#lightswitch #mercuryswitch #silentswitch #lightswitchreplacement #diy #replacement #fix #repairing #homerepair #hunteroriginal
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"Don't mind me, I'm just gonna switch this switch!" Seriously though, I've got a couple of those kickin' around.
Switch that's uses mercury inside
The house I grew up in my parents had built in 1964 and every light switch was a Leviton mercury switch. The only time one of them gave us a problem was when I was running a space heater in my bedroom that was plugged into the outlet run by the switch. I was probably 12 or 13 at the time and after the heater had been running a while there was a loud POP and the lights and the heater went out. The mercury capsule inside the switch exploded. I don't think any of the mercury actually escaped from the outer switch housing, at least I don't remember seeing any inside the box. I ended up replacing that switch with a lighted rocker switch. Years later when I left for college and my brother took over my room which was much bigger than his, I ended up moving the switch to my new room and put the other one in my brother's room. I figured it was mine, I bought it so I was going to keep it. I never ran the space heater off a switched receptacle again.
I remember those silent switches. Never cared for them, the way they feel when operated, I mean. I like a solid click in my switches, much like I like my Model M keyboard. I need that tactile and audible feedback.
My parents used to have a switch in their kitchen for the fluorescent light that made a super-loud click when operated. The light was actually a fluorescent circline unit, which I have one vague hazy picture of in my mind of when I was in a highchair and looking at it. It was swapped out for a dual 4-footer soon after, and was replaced a few years ago with a garbage picked unit that takes 4 bulbs.
The only loud click switch I have is the one for the boiler, which I do enjoy, the 2 times a year it's operated. The Decoras I have click, but not anywhere near as nicely.
The old silent switch might be able to be taken apart to extract the mercury bulb inside, to be used in a different project! I used to have a mercury switch I installed on the gas shocks on the hatch of my 81 Chevy. Worked great for the trunk lights I put in. Then I learned that every time I would brake, the lights would flick on. A number of cars used them, and indeed, it did that same thing in them.