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Mercury switches were used in several Tektronix products | '''Mercury switches''' were used in several Tektronix products for generating pulses with clean edges. | ||
for generating pulses with clean edges. | |||
The switches are electromagnetic relays with mercury-wetted contacts | The switches are electromagnetic relays with mercury-wetted contacts inside glass envelopes that contain pressurized gas. | ||
inside glass envelopes that contain pressurized gas. The gas prevents | The gas prevents arcing of the contacts. Mercury switches have limited life. | ||
arcing of the contacts. Mercury switches have limited life. | |||
In pulse generators, the coil of the relay is typically driven by a | In pulse generators, the coil of the relay is typically driven by a multivibrator or other periodic current source. | ||
multivibrator or other periodic current source. | Turning off the coil drive waveform when the pulse generator is not in use is recommended. | ||
Turning off the coil drive waveform when the pulse generator is not in use | |||
is recommended. | |||
Tektronix products using mercury switches are: | Tektronix products using mercury switches are: |