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submitted 11 months ago by L4s@lemmy.world to c/technology@lemmy.world

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Researcher has developed, at a cost of less than one dollar, a wireless light switch that runs without batteries, can be installed anywhere on a wall and could reduce the cost of wiring a house by ...::A U of A engineering researcher has developed a wireless light switch that could reduce the cost of wiring a house by as much as 50 per cent.

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[–] asbestos@lemmy.world 15 points 11 months ago (3 children)

Zero details bullshit article. How would it reduce the cost by 50% considering you’d need a smart relay board with connectivity and then wire all the light fixtures to them OR have separate wireless relay boards at every light fixture OR have smart bulbs and a gateway.

[–] kae@lemmy.ca 10 points 11 months ago (2 children)

Wireless switches — consisting of a transmitter on the switch and a receiver near a light fixture or other appliance — have been around for many years, and have been proven that they can reduce the material and labour cost for wiring houses, says Kambiz Moez, director of electrical engineering in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, but they require batteries to operate.

So the product already exists, what is novel here is a concept to harvest RF energy I stead of batteries.

[–] venusenvy47@reddthat.com 1 points 11 months ago

I wouldn't call it "harvesting" if you have operate power transmitters on each floor of the house. "Energy harvesting" usually means you are using something that is already present in the environment.

"each floor would have one or two RF (radio frequency) power transmitters to powe r up all switches inside the house."

[–] Nighed@sffa.community 1 points 11 months ago (1 children)

I imagine replacing the battery in your light switch in the dark (because you can't turn the lights on) is probably rather annoying. This sounds like a cool idea.

[–] realharo@lemm.ee 1 points 11 months ago* (last edited 11 months ago)

Replacing the battery in your light switch is something you do maybe once every 3 years.

And you can still use your phone as a backup remote.

[–] RaoulDook@lemmy.world 5 points 11 months ago

Seems like a solution to add light switches for people who have homes that weren't wired properly with switches for their lights.

For those of us with proper wiring, this probably falls under "ain't broke, don't fix it"

[–] kozy138@lemm.ee -1 points 11 months ago (1 children)

Copper wires are expensive. And you need to house those wires in aluminum pipes. That's a lot of metal that you no longer need to buy. Especially considering how many light switches in our homes.

[–] Saik0Shinigami@lemmy.saik0.com 1 points 11 months ago (1 children)

And you need to house those wires in aluminum pipes.

The fuck are you talking about? Romex is just run in your walls. There's no aluminum pipes in your wall.

[–] Nollij@sopuli.xyz 1 points 11 months ago (1 children)

Presumably they are in an area that requires armored cable, such as Chicago

[–] AnUnusualRelic@lemmy.world 2 points 11 months ago

Because of all the shootings?