mercury compartment switches= frustration

Often this is just a ground issue on the lid through the hinge mounting. If the switches fail they have to be dug out and reinsert a new pod. UNLESS your in California and we can not ship mercury switches to California. BCB Admin.

mad gaffer,They will, though we would hold out a few months on upgrading those. We know theyre working on a retro that may help. If the grounds are right then the switches should work just fine. The switches hardly ever seem to be the issue as its more the grounds working loose. BCB

Since aluminum is a poor conductor obviously his could be an issue, as could corrosion. We doubt that as usually it is the bolt mounting of the ground wire through the hinge mounting bolts. The ground on the mounting bolt stem offers some play in time with that bolt mount. That play tends to become worse in time and the ground deteriorates from wobbling machine screws, loosening of hinges, wear of carpeting, rubber neoprene capped seal washers wearing and many more areas. Tighten the machine screws up and revisit the mounting of the ground wires on those lids which seem to have developed a problem. You could even extend the wire to a direct mount inside the lid, as long as the mercury switch is functioning. A very few of the mercury switches did get overheated when the pockets were welded to the lids which caused solder joints on the single one wire to fail.

We have used a probe or an awl to sort of dig the old capsule out from the back side and replace it with a new one just glued in or silicone. It is not that hard, though careful. It is easier than removing and replacing on then lid. You can also cut the top off the aluminum capsule and replace the internal pod capsule in this fashion. Mercury is a toxic substance so be careful.BCB