A Good and Bad day

Today I discovered Reed Switches. Realised I'd saved one.
Thought it was a fuse and only clipped it off to keep the nice long glass tube, it broke, but the tube was mainly intact.
Hoping to use the tube for experiments.

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4426/...bfbf7fca11.jpg

One of the contacts is missing! Perhaps a double contact!
What item did it come off? or did I simply throw the end bit away, I having a frantic search right now :(
Found a few Ru SMD resistors and Germanium diodes that had escaped my eyes - bonus.
I'll keep looking...

Reed switches are Ru, Ir, Rh, W contacts!!!!
Here are some other examples of Reed Switches/Relays:

http://www.littelfuse.com/~/media/im..._small-jpg.jpg

https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/i...tJ8eNr-d1YAsVg

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikiped.../Reedrelay.jpg
https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/5FEAA...GYb/s-l225.jpg

https://c1.staticflickr.com/4/3542/3...27dec7b14c.jpg

I have been saving the ones I find. Some security alarm stuff, the odd safety switch and a few 'lid raised' or 'case open' setups.

I have found that along with this sort of stuff you may find Mercury Switches and another version of switch that uses a contact, a spring and a ball bearing in a similar enclosure, (freezer lids, washing machine lids).

Some Reed switch's are Gold plated, maybe something under or over it too.
And some are 'Mercury Wetted', meaning that the contacts are coated with a thin layer of Mercury, so there's a danger aspect to them too. There's a good thread on SMF about it too.
Normally they have some sort of 'Code' in the model # to indicate it.

Yes, you are correct some Mercury relays looks similar to the oblong relay in the first picture - but they are clearly marked as containing Hg.
And all scrappers should already be well versed in looking out for these not only for safety reasons - but they are valuable. mercury relays can be sold - I don't believe they wear out (unless you break the glass ones YIKES).

You are right, I did scrap and alarm board, one of the unique items I had. And today having a look for something else I noticed a little wire!!!!!
YES, got the bastard!
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4504/...fffe164ac4.jpg
Can you see the little bit of wire that is soldered on - wonder if that is Iridium or such?
Just checked the other one and it has the same little piece. Not much, but hay if it's Ir :lol:

I used to install alarm systems. All of the magnetic door contacts contain one of those glass reed switches.

Great info.
Mine was just a large wall panel system not associated with any doors.