mercury map

Click map for NEMA's mercury information.

 

Mercury contactors, mercury relays, mercury displacement relays and similar mercury switching products are banned in many states. Power-io provides solid state relays that can be used in place of these mercury relays.

Depending on where your installation is located, the use of mercury contactors or mercury displacement relays may be restricted or totally banned for new installations. Please contact your local EPA office, the local NEMA association (National Electrical Manufacturers Association), or other local agencies to determine the exact prohibitions in your area. The following are examples of some new state laws that may apply:


Illinois Public Act 093-0964 "With some exceptions; the selling, distribution, or offer to sell or distribute mercury electrical switches and relays is prohibited, beginning July 1, 2007." ... "The deadline for requesting an exemption from the switch and relay sales ban has passed. Manufacturers of mercury-containing electrical switches, relays, or products containing mercury electrical switches or relays that did not request an exemption before the deadline cannot sell these products in Illinois after July 1, 2007." http://www.epa.state.il.us/mercury/mercury-illinois.html or Illinois eliminates mercury contactors, mercury relays, and mercury switches. PDF

Vermont bans mercury relays effective January, 2007: http://www.nema.org/gov/env_conscious_design/mercury/vt.cfm

California bans mercury relays effective July 1, 2006: http://www.nema.org/gov/env_conscious_design/mercury/ca.cfm

Maine bans mercury relays effective July 1, 2006: http://janus.state.me.us/legis/statutes/38/title38sec1661-C.html

New York bans mercury relays effective January, 2008: http://www.nema.org/gov/env_conscious_design/mercury/ny.cfm

Rhode Island bans any mercury >1 gram effective Jan 1, 2006 (a mercury contactor can have over 100 grams of mercury): http://www.nema.org/gov/env_conscious_design/mercury/ri.cfm

Louisiana bans all products with greater than 1 gram of mercury as of July 1, 2008: http://www.nema.org/gov/env_conscious_design/mercury/Louisiana.cfm


Replacement options for mercury contactors include:

din rail solid state relays ssr contactors

Dual single pole or two pole contactors for heater control, small motor control, municipal lighting, stadium lighting, highway lighting systems, and more. "C" Family of din rail contactors for applications up to 100 amps.

     up to 100 amp per pole, AC activated
    up to 100 amp per pole, DC activated, + diagnostics feedback output

din rail solid state relays ssr contactors

Single pole contactors for smaller amperage applications. Mini "D" Family of din rail relays for applications from 1-40 amps. The Mini "D" family includes: an integral heatsink, recessed terminals, a finger-safe design, and the Maximum Surge Survival™ technology:

    25 and 40 amp, AC or DC activated
    25 and 40 amp, analog 4-20mA activated
    Potentiometer input, pot input, manual station, manual % power controller

din rail solid state relays ssr contactors

Three phase contactors. "D" Family of din rail relays for applications from 1-35 amps per leg. Ideal for switching 2 or 3 legs of a three phase load (delta, star, or wye).

    1-35 amps, two or three legs, AC or DC activated
    1-35 amps, two or three legs, analog 4-20mA activated
    Potentiometer input, pot input, manual station, manual % power controller

din rail solid state relays ssr contactors

Medium amperage, single pole applications. "D" Family of din rail relays for applications up to 100 amps, single phase. These models include: large power terminals for 3-8 AWG wires, a built-in replaceable I²T fuse, and diagnostic LEDs for fuse open or over-temperature.

    up to 50 amp, 75 amp, 100 amp; AC or DC activated, contactor