>
> The required wetting current depends a lot on the switch. Gold is good,
> mercury (like in reed contacts) is better (I think).


True. The mercury was used to get to zero wetting current, since it's a
liquid metal.

In my experience, the wetting current required for closing is higher than
> the one required for staying closed. So you may get by with applying a
> higher current for a few milliseconds, then reduce it to a lower current.
> (This may or may not work well with switches that stay closed for a looong
> time...)


That's what I'm thinking. But I have no data to support it.

-- 
Jealousy is a disease, love is a healthy condition. The immature mind often
confuses one for the other, or assumes the greater the love, the greater the
jealousy. In fact they are almost incompatible; both at once produce
unbearable turmoil.
Jubal Harshaw, "Stranger in a Strange Land"
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