Switch

Product Details:

The Mercury Switch Module (KY-017) is a simple electronic module that consists of a mercury switch and a set of connecting pins. It is commonly used in basic electronics projects to detect the tilting or orientation of a device. The KY-017 module can be used to trigger other circuits or systems based on whether the switch is activated or not.

A mercury switch is a type of switch that uses liquid mercury to complete or break a circuit. It typically consists of a sealed glass tube with two contacts and a small amount of mercury inside. The basic working principle is as follows:

• At rest: When the mercury switch is not tilted, the mercury remains at one end of the tube, and the circuit remains open (no electrical connection).

• When tilted: Tilting the switch causes the mercury inside the tube to flow and complete the circuit by making contact with both metal electrodes at the other end of the tube, allowing current to flow.

In the KY-017 module, this basic mercury switch is mounted onto a small circuit board with additional components that allow the module to interface with other systems (like microcontrollers, sensors, or alarms).

The KY-017 Mercury Switch Module is used to detect changes in orientation or motion, as described by the following steps:

• Normal Position (Off): When the switch is positioned horizontally or remains stationary (in the off position), the mercury inside the tube remains at the opposite end of the switch, preventing electrical contact between the metal electrodes. The circuit remains open and no current flows.

• Tilted Position (On): When the module is tilted or moved, the mercury inside the tube shifts and bridges the two metal contacts inside the tube, completing the circuit. This allows current to flow through the circuit, which can be used to trigger an event (such as lighting up an LED, activating a buzzer, or sending a signal to a microcontroller like an Arduino or Raspberry Pi).

The module generally has a digital output (HIGH or LOW), which reflects the state of the switch (whether it is activated or not). This makes it suitable for simple digital input applications.

The KY-017 Mercury Switch Module typically consists of the following components:

• Mercury Switch: The key component that detects changes in orientation based on the movement of liquid mercury.

• PCB (Printed Circuit Board): The small board that holds the mercury switch and connects the output pins to other components.

• Output Pins: The module typically includes VCC, GND, and OUT pins. The OUT pin is used to indicate the switch’s state.

• Resistor/Other Circuitry: Sometimes, additional resistors or other components may be used for voltage division or conditioning the output signal to make it more suitable for specific applications.