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From: Ron Dunnington <rbdunningtons1_at_charter.net>
subject: [Paddlewise] Locking up Boats
Date: Fri, 20 Jun 2003 20:20:44 -0500
A few yaers ago I represented a company that manufactured "Tilt Switches".
Basicly, it was a glass bulb with some mercury in it and 2 wires fused through
the glass (same principal as a home thermostat). When the switch was attached
to an object, any movement would cause the mercury to make the connection and
any number of things could be activated ...., car alarms, horns, sirens,
llights, etc. Maybe something like this, something that created a loud noise
or a flashing light, would be good to have in addition to the chains and
cables. Shouldn't be too hard to make one.





Ron in MN 


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From: Erik Sprenne <sprenne_at_netnitco.net>
subject: Re: [Paddlewise] Locking up Boats
Date: Fri, 20 Jun 2003 22:38:28 -0500
> A few yaers ago I represented a company that manufactured "Tilt
Switches".
> Basicly, it was a glass bulb with some mercury in it and 2 wires fused
through
> the glass (same principal as a home thermostat). When the switch was
attached
> to an object, any movement would cause the mercury to make the
connection and
> any number of things could be activated ...., car alarms, horns,
sirens,
> llights, etc. Maybe something like this, something that created a loud
noise
> or a flashing light, would be good to have in addition to the chains
and
> cables. Shouldn't be too hard to make one.
>
Suggest that it would be good to use something besides mercury in such a
device, as mercury is a pretty nasty metal.  It is persistent and
bioaccumulates in the ecosystem.
see http://www.epa.gov/glnpo/bnsdocs/merccomm/

Here in the Great Lakes region, there is a concerted bi-nation effort to
reduce mercury (and other toxics' use) to help preserve the Great Lakes
ecosystems.  See:
http://www.epa.gov/glnpo/p2/bns.html#Purpose


Erik
at the south end of Lake Michigan

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From: Michael Daly <michaeldaly_at_rogers.com>
subject: Re: [Paddlewise] Locking up Boats
Date: Sun, 22 Jun 2003 20:39:58 -0400
On 20 Jun 2003 at 22:38, Erik Sprenne wrote:

> > A few yaers ago I represented a company that manufactured "Tilt
> Switches".
> > Basicly, it was a glass bulb with some mercury in it and 2 wires
> > fused

> Suggest that it would be good to use something besides mercury in such
> a device, as mercury is a pretty nasty metal.  It is persistent and

I've seen tilt switches made with little metal balls instead of 
mercury.  My watch has one in it (to turn on the night light when I 
tilt my wrist to look at it.)

Mike

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