Product Overview
CP Clare MSS2-1A12 DIP-14 Mercury Wetted Reed Relay – 12V Coil, SPST-NO, All-Position MYAD Mounting
Condition
Unused NOS. Minor scuffs and scratches on packaging consistent with long-term storage — nothing out of the ordinary. Evaluation: Visual inspection only. Function testing not performed. Sourced from an electronics distributor consolidating inventory. Backed by our no-hassle satisfaction guarantee.
Ships same business day from Idaho. Packed carefully.
Product Overview
CP Clare MSS2-1A12 is a mercury-wetted reed relay in a 14-pin DIP package. The mercury-wetted contact eliminates contact bounce, providing a clean switching signal critical for precision measurement, test instrumentation, and legacy telecommunications circuits. The MSS2 series uses CP Clare's MYAD technology, which suspends the mercury around the contacts regardless of orientation — allowing all-position PCB mounting without the tilt restrictions that apply to standard mercury relays. Coil voltage is 12V DC nominal.
Key Features
- Contact form: 1 Form A (SPST-NO, normally open)
- Coil voltage: 12V DC nominal (operating range approximately 9V to 20V)
- Coil resistance: approximately 500 ohms
- Switching capacity: 50W maximum, 500V maximum, 2A maximum
- Switching speed: up to 200 Hz typical
- Contact material: mercury-wetted (Hg) — zero contact bounce
- Package: DIP-14, 14-pin through-hole, compatible with standard IC sockets
- All-position mounting via MYAD technology — no orientation restriction
- Hermetically sealed housing
Applications
- Precision measurement and laboratory instrumentation (signal generators, oscilloscopes)
- Automatic test equipment (ATE) switching matrices
- Legacy telecommunications switching circuits
- High-fidelity audio signal routing — preamplifiers, volume attenuators
- Repair and maintenance of existing mercury-relay-based systems
Frequently Asked Questions
What coil voltage does the MSS2-1A12 require?
12V DC nominal. The operating range is approximately 9V to 20V. This relay is not compatible with 5V or 24V control systems without level shifting or additional circuitry.
Is this the standard variant, or does it include a suppression diode?
This is the standard MSS2-1A12 — no internal diode. The MSS2-1A12B adds a suppression diode (polarized). The MSS2-1A12C adds a diode and an electrostatic shield. Verify your system requires the standard variant before ordering.
Can this relay be mounted in any orientation?
Yes. The MYAD design suspends mercury around the contacts in all positions. Standard mercury relays require upright mounting; this one does not.
Are there shipping or disposal restrictions for mercury-containing parts?
Yes. Mercury-wetted relays are subject to shipping regulations and local disposal requirements in many regions. Verify compliance with your jurisdiction before ordering. This part is intended for repair of legacy systems that specifically require mercury-wetted switching.
What does the contact bounce elimination mean in practice?
When the relay closes, the mercury provides a continuous liquid-metal bridge between contacts. There is no mechanical chatter. This produces a single, clean switching event — important for precision measurement circuits and audio signal paths where bounce would introduce noise or false triggers.
The MSS2-1A12 is a legacy component. Confirm your application requires mercury-wetted switching performance before purchase. Datasheet verification is recommended for coil drive and load calculations.
