Mercury-arc rectifier - photo

[Altair]

Mercury-arc rectifier used to power electric trains.




Previously:

1914 GE mercury arc rectifier charging station - photo
Vacuum tube tester - photo
Tubemaster tube and battery tester - photo
36kV hi-pot electrical tester - photo
https://www.homemadetools.net/forum/...720#post159600

[hemmjo]

Fascinating, I had to know more about that...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mercury-arc_valve

[NeiljohnUK]

Mercury-arc rectifier used to power electric trains.

Also used in older cinemas (movie theatres) to rectify for the arc light source in the projectors, one I worked in 35 years ago had a row of these under the old projection room floor, unused by then and still full of mercury, the mercury was worth a bit, but no-one wanted it, as far as I know they're still there.

[Claudio HG]

Wow that's soooo cool!