When I bought this it seemed so much smaller and cheaper than the other kinetic switches (self powering remote control switches) that I thought it would probably just have a battery inside.
It didn't help that when it arrived it felt exactly like a cheap clicky tactile switch. But it turns out there's a reason for that.
This is the first piezo powered remote switch I've seen, and the circuitry is very odd in the way it resets itself. One of the worst things for microcontroller stability is a slow voltage drop. It can cause problems with software register corruption without causing a full reset. This circuit gets round this in a bizarre way.
The range on this switch is acceptable if used in line of sight of the receiver or direct sight into the room the receiver is in. But it's not putting out a strong signal. Normal receivers do not pair with this switch, and its receiver does not pair with other remotes. For maximum range and versatility I still recommend getting a standard battery operated remote.
The piezo disk is supported by a rim so that it bows slightly when the button presses against it.
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It didn't help that when it arrived it felt exactly like a cheap clicky tactile switch. But it turns out there's a reason for that.
This is the first piezo powered remote switch I've seen, and the circuitry is very odd in the way it resets itself. One of the worst things for microcontroller stability is a slow voltage drop. It can cause problems with software register corruption without causing a full reset. This circuit gets round this in a bizarre way.
The range on this switch is acceptable if used in line of sight of the receiver or direct sight into the room the receiver is in. But it's not putting out a strong signal. Normal receivers do not pair with this switch, and its receiver does not pair with other remotes. For maximum range and versatility I still recommend getting a standard battery operated remote.
The piezo disk is supported by a rim so that it bows slightly when the button presses against it.
If you enjoy these videos you can help support the channel with a dollar for coffee, cookies and random gadgets for disassembly at:-
http://www.bigclive.com/coffee.htm
This also keeps the channel independent of YouTube's advertising algorithms allowing it to be a bit more dangerous and naughty.
This reminds me of one of the first tV remotes.
The contents was 2 magnets. (one for vol, the other for channel)
The push button simply vibrated the magnet and the TV sensed this vibration.
I have encountered some of those piezo devices in drum machines for one example. I also have salvaged some, where they were presumably intended to be sounders of one sort or another (in telephones). I took one that was encased in blue plastic and just for the heck of it connected it to my scope, and it seemed to make a pretty good microphone! I also recall running across something a while back that talked about using one as a "pickup" in a guitar…
I am always amazed how little power modern chips need to operate. If you removed that shunt transistor would the voltage stay high enough for it to stay active? Would it keep transmitting the code until the energy is drained enough to shutdown? A self kill switch to ensure it only runs once each press.
brilliant
Some of these have amazing range.
As used by Whyle E Cyote.
🤣🤣 there's a flaw with these. Im guessing theyre not coded.
I have some bike lights (varying brands) one is front light with brightness settings only (no rf signals), then i have a rear light and a set of indicators (rf enabled).
Now it took me some months of cycling to realise when i pressed the brightness/power button on my front light…it was toggling the indicators and rear light.
Now that front light has no radio function. But obviously was cheaper to build with one. Everything in china being modular now.
So im wondering…if you rig your house with these switches…what will be getting turned on and off?
Kettle? Bike lights? Car engine? No coding makes these verrry risky to use.
I had one of those stuck to my washing machine, and I got a disco bathroom 😀
jocks a side, it's very interesting. and it's possible that they use the multiple input for more than one button to control multiple devices.
That's very interesting about the Piezo generating electricity I did not know that. Where did you find your information out about the pizzas? Sorry it took me so long to get back to you but this is the first time I've seen this video very educational thank you very much for your hard work
KL4 DIODE = BAT54S
If you place it on a subwoofer cranked up to 11 can it be activated without depressing the button like when you were 'pumping' it?
SOLAR FRICKING ROADWAYS!
I work as a product engineer in a factory that makes piezoelectric components. The 'crystals' are ceramic materials which become piezoelectric when DC voltage is passed across them at temperature. Voltage is typically 2-3.5 kV per mm and temperatures are typically around 100-130°C which is usually a bit below the curie point of most of the materials. This process is usually done with the components submerged in heated insulating oil to prevent voltage breakdown, but can be done in air if the components are thin enough. If you heat a piezoelectric material to above its curie point it ceases to become piezoelectric, but the mechanism is reversible
I believe the manufacturing process Clive mentioned is for certain 'electret' devices, with a fixed electric charge analogous to a hard magnet, piezo devices rely on the stress/strain interaction with the charges in certain crystal lattice, for instance if you cleave standard quartz crystal along the right orientations it will naturally exhibit piezoelectric properties.
I've got an old remote control car from the 80's,the hand control is "kinetic" you "click" it and the car moves forward, click twice and it stops. I'm not sure how it transmits the signal for the servo. I've not yet taken it apart as it was my father's and don't want to break it. It genuinely looks like magic 😅
I wish I could find this switch…
Just what I wanted to know: if a kinetic switch can be paired with a "regular" 433Mhz receiver found all over Aliexpress and vice-versa – apparently the answer is no for both…