Kinetic light switches

[cliveb]

No. They are not necessarily Wifi. The main thing is the ability to add a second swith, as described somewhere above. It has a sticky back, and you just stick it on the wall. It has no battery, and is powered by kinetic energy to talk to the main switch.

Right. These kinetic switches are not WiFi in any sense. The act of pressing the switch generates enough kinetic energy that can be converted to a small radio frequency signal which the receiver picks up. The switch has no batteries (although there are some similar devices that do need a button cell in the switch - they aren't kinetic, but they are still wireless without being WiFi per se).

 

[USER1999]

Back to which one to buy, I have a box of these at work from different manufacturers. They really are the same. If you are only buying one set, for one room, it kind of doesn't make much difference. Buy a recognised brand, or what ever from Amazon, often the same kit is supplied by a host of different brands. I would avoid the cheapest of the cheap, but otherwise, spending more doesn't make much difference.

 

[cliveb]

Back to which one to buy, I have a box of these at work from different manufacturers. They really are the same. If you are only buying one set, for one room, it kind of doesn't make much difference. Buy a recognised brand, or what ever from Amazon, often the same kit is supplied by a host of different brands. I would avoid the cheapest of the cheap, but otherwise, spending more doesn't make much difference.

Thanks for the advice. In the end I went with Quinetic, as they were the only brand I found which had a light switch with integrated receiver that fits inside the back box. That way I don't even need to get into the ceiling void to fit a receiver. And I think they do look a bit classier than others. For a one-off spend, the extra cost isn't really significant.

 

[USER1999]

I have quite a few, some use ceiling boxes, some it all fits in the light switch. I agree the ones that fit in the wall are the best. The others tend to be cheaper, or, have wifi, which if you don't want, is point less.

 

[SocketRocket]

No. They are not necessarily Wifi. The main thing is the ability to add a second swith, as described somewhere above. It has a sticky back, and you just stick it on the wall. It has no battery, and is powered by kinetic energy to talk to the main switch.

I'm just struggling with the Kinetic energy bit. It's the energy created by movement. I guess they must communicate by WiFi/Bluetooth/infrared or similar so how do they gather Kinetic energy to charge. Just interested

 

[USER1999]

I'm just struggling with the Kinetic energy bit. It's the energy created by movement. I guess they must communicate by WiFi/Bluetooth/infrared or similar so how do they gather Kinetic energy to charge. Just interested

When you push the switch, it operates a device that generates a charge. They used to use pizo electric. It then RFs a signal to a reciever. It doesn't charge as such, just sends a one off signal.

 

[SocketRocket]

When you push the switch, it operates a device that generates a charge. They used to use pizo electric. It then RFs a signal to a reciever. It doesn't charge as such, just sends a one off signal.

Thanks

 

[Crazyface]

No. They are not necessarily Wifi. The main thing is the ability to add a second swith, as described somewhere above. It has a sticky back, and you just stick it on the wall. It has no battery, and is powered by kinetic energy to talk to the main switch.

WOW, just blinking WOW. Who thinks of all this stuff? I'd never ever sit there thinking that I'd need something like this in my life............but I do now !

 

[williamalex1]

WOW, just blinking WOW. Who thinks of all this stuff? I'd never ever sit there thinking that I'd need something like this in my life............but I do now !

On the installation I refused to do, all the lights inside/ outside[ on off and diming] , curtains opening and closing were all controlled from a portable control panel the size of a small laptop.

 

[USER1999]

WOW, just blinking WOW. Who thinks of all this stuff? I'd never ever sit there thinking that I'd need something like this in my life............but I do now !

Well, I thought of it 20 years ago, when I first came across kinetic switching in a different use, and the company I work for wouldn't invest in it, and more to the point, didn'tget it. Now, it's fairly common, and when I was asked at work to look into it a couple of years ago, yep, I wasn't very happy, and boy had they missed the boat.

 

[cliveb]

Just a quick follow up to say that the Quinetic switches arrived today. One switch with inline receiver, and one remote. Had to put in a slightly deeper pattress to accomodate the receiver switch. Done in less than 10 mins and works a treat. Not cheap, but so much easier than any other way.