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This may be a bit off topic but I wanted a tilt switch for lights under the hood on my Camaro. The stuff I could find online all had mixed reviews. The stock light socket is an old mercury switch so I got to thinking.....
I had an old mercury bulb thermostat lying around so decided to pull it out of the thermostat carefully! I had some foam "clay" that I am using for another part of my project.
First I tested the bulb as a tilt switch on a 12v light and it worked great. I cut the wire spring off but left a tab for a connector.
I wrapped the bulb in clay and shaped it with a paint stick dipped in water and stood it on end. The foam clay is to protect it from breaking and I am confident I could drop it from 10ft without it getting damage. However, it is not crust proof.
I left it out overnight to dry and when I came back it had fallen over. But sometimes you get lucky with a mistake. All of the uneven parts smoothed out and it took a shape that will be easy to mount. The bottom is perfectly flat and it looks almost like a factory piece.
so if you ever need a tilt switch and have an old thermostat I think this is probably a good solution.
Thats exactly what I am going for but wanted a tilt switch instead of a plunger as I don't want to drill holes in my cowl. This is a nice set up and wasy enough to swap in a tilt switch!
Maybe I just have a sick sense of humor, but I'd paint it white and put a fake timer on it. And the wires would look like they went into a blasting cap.
Nice thing about mercury switches is they never wear out. I have seen them used in old houses and also grain bins. The first time you pull out a switch and tilt it to work on the wiring and things start switching on and off is a surprise. LOL
My 78 Bronco had an under-hood light that came on when you opened the hood and contained a reel of the wiring that allowed you to pull it out and would reach to the rear of Bronco you then could set the light down to change the tire. It was a factory install accessory. Think they used them up into the 80's. Looked very adaptable.
My 78 Bronco had an under-hood light that came on when you opened the hood and contained a reel of the wiring that allowed you to pull it out and would reach to the rear of Bronco you then could set the light down to change the tire. It was a factory install accessory. Think they used them up into the 80's. Looked very adaptable.
Rezvani's Latest Post-Apocalyptic Monster Is a Ford F-150 Raptor Underneath
Slideshow: Called the Fortress, the 850-horsepower pickup combines Raptor underpinnings with military-inspired features, survival equipment, and a starting price of $285,000.
