Name 1
RELAY - MERCURY (COLLECTION)
Name 2
/
ID number
002.398.Idrija
Manager / Administrator
Idrija Mercury Heritage Management Center, Bazoviška 2, SI-5280 Idrija
Ownership
Public
Owner
Republic of Slovenia
Local / Original ID Number
/
Type of Object
Daily life
Description
Short description
The collection contains 5 electromagnetic mercury switches - relays. These consist of a glass tube with mercury, metal and wire conductor. The short glass tube is equally semi-circularly fused on both ends and is filled the small amount of mercury. The middle part of the tube is narrowed, while the end parts are wider and coated with a metal conductor. Inside the tube itself (in the end part), the wire conductors (+/–) are also visible.
Measures
Length 7.5 cm, width 1.2 cm, height 0.5 cm.
Materials
Glass, mercury, steel.
Dating
1960s
Author / Producer
Manufacturer information is not known.
Picture attachments
Original use
The relay is an electromagnetic switch, which is controlled by the flow through a magnetic coil, where the control and power circuit are galvanically separated. At one time, mercury was used in relays, because it is liquid, thermally expandable and electrically well conductive.
Present use
The mercury relays (5 in total) are being preserved, secured and presented as important mining heritage of Idrija with exceptional universal values. They are a part of the CUDHg smelting collection. Visitors can view them within the permanent museum display “From Ore to Mercury Drops” in the Hg Smelting Plant, which represents the characteristics and the versatile use of mercury in science, technology, medicine, culture and every day life. Within the exhibition the object is placed in the segment of electrical conductivity and it presents the usefulness of mercury for technical devices and practical solutions.
Original location
Power plant of the Mežica mine.
Present location
Hg Smelting Plant (From Ore to Mercury Drops), Arkova 50, SI-5280 Idrija
STATE OF CONSERVATION
History of conservation:
The mercury relays are well preserved. Additional interventions are not necessary. Security of the premise is taken care off.
Present state
good
Necessary activities:
Regular seasonal maintenance.
DOCUMENTATION
Addresses / collections / links etc. where further in-depth information is accessible:
- CUDHg Inventory Book.
Submitted
Mestni muzej Idrija
Submitted by
Miha Kosmač
Date Submitted
17. 3. 2018
Date Edited
Never