Re: Strange Electrical switches

stig wrote:
> 
> Hi, I bought my home in 1976. For some ungodly reason, the light switches
> were retrofit with these small, flat, half-oval switches. They are connected
> to a central 15 volt(?) transformer in a closet; when you push one of these
> switches down, you can hear a slight buzzing noise a few feet above it,
> where a relay turns on the A.C. Someone told me that these are "mercury"
> switches, but I cannot validate this. This is a MAJOR pain in the butt for
> me, as it will not allow me to put a dimmer anywhere in the house, but the
> REAL problem is that I cannot find these things ANYWHERE, and no electrician
> seems to know anything about them. They are starting to break, and I am
> getting nervous. Any insight that you might be able to part with here?
> Thanks, C

It is likely a GE remote control (low voltage-24V) system.
Became popular in the 60's and died out.
There was no mercury involved; the relays are magnetically held.

AFAIK the original GE devices are no longer made.
One company is now making replacements for the
RR-7 and RR-9 relays:
http://www.reliantrelay.com/

Ask at a large electrical supply house (not Lowes/HD).

You sometimes see the GE units show up on eBay.

For dimming, you would have to cut into the 
switch leg (120V) for the fixture.

Jim