The reliability of any system is the higher, the less moving elements are in it. Therefore, considering the mechanical-type and touch-sensitive lighting switch, it can be noted that the latter has serious advantages in this sense. But, in addition to reliability, touch devices strike, of course, with their futurism. Space design and advanced functionality, what can better respond to the trend of modern technology?
Touch switch - what is it
The touch device is able to feel any impact on it. Speaking of the switch, such an impact will be a person’s touch on the area of the sensitive zone. But, unlike a mechanical switch, in addition to the light touch of the operator, no additional effort is required to make the device work. Moreover, a repeated touch in the same area will lead to a change in the state of the device - to the opposite.
The touch light switch, just like a regular electromechanical one, is designed to turn on and off the lighting. But this happens not with a direct mechanical break of the contact, but through an electronic circuit that previously analyzes the signal coming from the sensor (s) and gives a command to the relay. Therefore, it is wrong to say that a switch with a sensor device is completely devoid of mechanics. But the reliability of such a relay is much higher than a simple mechanical contact.
The appearance of the device can be completely different. But in all cases, this is a panel on which there is a certain background and touch zones are clearly marked. For ease of orientation in a dark room, the sensors are highlighted with a special indication. Switches come in one, two or three positions with the ability to switch up to three zones.
What the device consists of
Schematically, all touch switches are similar to each other. Their work is based on the same processes. Therefore, one device node (referring to the switching node) is assembled on these three main elements:
- A sensor or sensor is a sensitive component, which is located immediately behind the front decorative panel. His tasks include responding to touching or approaching an object, in particular, this is a person’s finger.
- Analytical management scheme. Executed on semiconductor elements and microcircuits, a processor that processes sensor information and sends a signal to the actuator.
- The relay or switching device is the executive body of the sensor, which is already breaking or turning on the circuit, depending on the control signal received from the processor.
Connecting the touch switch to the network
Despite the fact that the sensor is a complex electronic device, installing it in a circuit does not require any special knowledge from the installer. All this is explained by the presence in the circuit breaker of standard contact connectors, which are also in mechanical switches.
Also, the size of the sensor seat and its mounting elements are consistent with standard installation boxes.
Let's take a closer look at how to connect a touch switch:
- Disconnect the installation area of the switching device from the mains.
- Remove the decorative panel by acting on the latches.
- Identify the phase and line contacts on the sensor connectors (they are marked “L-in” and “L-load”, respectively).
- Connect the corresponding wires to the contacts - phase to "L-in", the wire of the lighting fixture to "L-load".
- Install the appliance in the landing box.
- Secure the switch to the box using adjustable levers and self-tapping screws.
- Install the front panel to the device.
The more switching zones a switch can provide, the more pairs of contacts it will have on the back side.
Connecting the sensor to a desk lamp
The general lighting of the room is not always enough for normal operation. This is because the chandelier, as a rule, is located in a certain place of the ceiling and its light may not fall quite successfully on the workplace. The way out of the situation is the acquisition of a table lamp.
The inconvenience of most table lamps is that the mechanical switch is usually located not on the product body itself, but on the power cord. To look for such a switch, especially at the nightlight, to put it mildly, is inconvenient. With the advent of the lamp touch switch, it became possible to rectify the situation.
The sensor is better suited for these purposes than a conventional switch, because the latter must be embedded in the front panel - this does not always work out successfully, from the point of view of aesthetics. The touch switch can simply be hidden under the body of the product, as close as possible to the surface. To install the sensor in a table lamp, you need:
- Turn the desk lamp upside down, there will be a protective cover or plate at the bottom, which must be unscrewed with a curly screwdriver or adjustable wrench.
- Disconnect the wires from the power cord.
- Unscrew the body weight, it can be plastic with the addition of mineral filler.
- In the weighting agent, you need to cut out with a grinder a place for installing the sensor. This place should be convenient for inclusion, so that at the time of the presentation of the hand, nothing would interfere with it from above.
- Screw the weighting agent into place and insert the touch switch into the freed space with the sensor side as close as possible to the decorative lamp housing.
- The sensor can be fixed using hot-melt adhesive and a soldering iron, carefully gluing it to the weighting agent.
- Strip the sensor leads and connect one of them to the lamp wire, the other to the power cord wire. Connect the free wire of the lamp to the remaining wire of the power cord. Insulate all contacts carefully with tape.
- Replace the protective bottom plate.
Connecting the sensor to the control panel
The touch switch is convenient to use, but sometimes there are times when you need to attach a control panel to it. Most sensors support this feature. This may be necessary if it is impossible to approach the switch to a sick person in other situations. Using the Livolo touch device as an example, it’s convenient to understand how this connection process occurs:
- A universal remote control of the type VL-RMT-02 for touch devices is purchased. It looks like a car security keychain, the front panel of which has four buttons with a designation using the first four capital letters of the Latin alphabet. The remote control is compatible with the series of switches C7 and C6.
- The touch device is turned off.
- By pressing and holding the button for about 5 seconds, they wait for a sound signal.
- On the key fob, press any of the buttons A, B, C, a second sound signal informs that the remote control is connected by the button that was pressed.
- It is easy to untie the remote control from the sensor by pressing and holding the button of the latter until the second of consecutive sound signals appears.
Instrument selection criteria
Just like ordinary switches, devices are designed to work with a certain current and voltage, so when choosing them, you must first pay attention to these parameters. Information can be found on the device or on its packaging. If the electricity in the real network deviates from the parameters required by the switch, then the stabilizer must be connected to the circuit.
Other selection criteria are:
- The number of zones connected to one device.
- The need for a dimmer.
- The need to have a timer, remote control, temperature sensor or other additional function in the device.
- Type of device - LED touch switch, for other lamps or electrical appliances.
At the very last stage, you can decide on the design of the product, its compliance with the style of the room where it will be installed.
Benefits
If we compare two types of switches - classic and touch, the latter has a wide range of advantages:
- Ability to work in tandem with most lighting systems and various equipment.
- Longer service life with high reliability.
- Safe for human life and health when used even with wet hands.
- Advanced functionality.
- Easy to connect and install.
- Silent work.
- Aesthetic appeal of appearance.
Using the touch switches of lighting fixtures can save energy effectively. For this, not ordinary devices are purchased, but those that have a dimmer function. This allows you to reduce the voltage supply to the lamp, thereby changing the brightness of its burning.
Finally
When installing any systems (desktop touch-sensitive switches or wall-mounted), one should not forget that working with electricity requires utmost care and safety. Therefore, in the absence of the necessary skills, it is better to invite a qualified electrician for installation.