| A mercury-type light switch is easily installed as a | | | | corroded, and may require a drop of penetrating oil |
| replacement for noisy controls - it's perfect for | | | | before they come out. |
| bedroom or bath. | | | | 3: To make sure wires are dead after removing fuse, |
| The baby has finally fallen asleep, and with an inward | | | | apply leads of a Lightester to switch terminals and |
| sigh of relief you tiptoe out of the nursery. You go | | | | from the metal wall box to each of the terminals in |
| into your own bedroom, which is probably adjacent, | | | | turn. Safety first will pay off. |
| and turn on the light so that you won't trip over the | | | | 4: Pull switch out slowly (connecting wires are usually |
| furniture. That does it. | | | | fairly stiff) and remove leads from under terminal |
| "Yahhhh!" The click of the switch, sounding like the | | | | screws; save switch for possible future use as a |
| report of a .22 in the quiet of the house, has | | | | replacement in the basement or kitchen. |
| awakened the little darling, and you have to spend | | | | 5: The wall box invariably has lots of dirt and bits of |
| another five minutes quieting him/her down again. | | | | plaster in it. Clean this out with a brush while you're at |
| There's really no need at all to suffer this sort of | | | | it. By the way, an old paint brush will come in handy |
| thing. For less than a dollar apiece you can buy | | | | as a useful odd-job cleaning tool. |
| absolutely silent toggle switches of the mercury type. | | | | 6: Clean the bared ends of the wires with the back |
| These are regarded by some parents as the | | | | edge of a pocket knife or use a small piece of |
| greatest boon since disposable diapers. Removing an | | | | emery cloth. A clean and bare wire is easiest to work |
| old switch and installing a silent one is a simple | | | | with and assures you proper contact. |
| screwdriver operation. It will take you about ten | | | | 7: The next step is to fasten the cleaned ends of |
| minutes to do the first switch and probably five for | | | | the wires to the terminals of the mercury switch; at |
| the second. | | | | this point be sure the end marked TOP is positioned |
| The utility of mercury switches is not restricted to | | | | that way before attaching the switch. |
| households with children, of course. Plenty of adults | | | | 8: With wires attached to the mercury switch, push |
| of all ages are light sleepers and are disturbed by the | | | | wires carefully back into box and press new switch |
| short but sharp snap of ordinary switches. An | | | | gently into position. Then pass screws through "ears" |
| especially important location for a silent switch is the | | | | of switch, center vertically, and tighten. |
| bathroom. It enables a person to make a nocturnal | | | | 9: Using the plate from the previous switch, |
| visit to the latter without awakening another | | | | reassemble with the original screws; a plastic shield |
| occupant of the same bedroom. | | | | overlapping the plate helps keep fingerprints off the |
| 1: Wait! Before you reach for that screwdriver to | | | | wall; it's a good investment. |
| open up the old switch, remember to pull the fuse | | | | 10: Easy does it. The light goes on and off almost |
| that controls the circuit. If this darkens the room, | | | | magically as mercury switch is flipped up or down. |
| have a flashlight handy, or do the job during daylight | | | | With no springs to wear out, this type of switch will |
| when you can see well. | | | | last indefinitely; they're tops for bedrooms, bath. |
| 2: With the switch cover plate off, two more screws | | | | Now you will never be woken by a noisy light switch |
| come into sight. These hold the "plaster ears" of the | | | | again! |
| switch body to the wall box. They are often | | | | |