Just came across the MK Echo wireless switch system. Sounds quite
interesting.

http://www.mkelectric.com/en-gb/Prod...s/default.aspx

And for prices, there are 58 results on amazon.co.uk.

The biggest downside seems to be their high cost. Are there any other
manufacturers of similar products. (It sounds as if the technology is
being made common to permit interworking.) Anyone got experience of using
them?

To be honest, for now, the ordinary plug-in devices that cost a tiny
fraction of those prices does everything I really need. So this is by way
of interest rather than serious intent.

--
Rod

On Mon, 16 Jan 2012 21:22:50 -0000, polygonum
wrote:

Just came across the MK Echo wireless switch system. Sounds quite
interesting.

http://www.mkelectric.com/en-gb/Prod...s/default.aspx

And for prices, there are 58 results on amazon.co.uk.

The biggest downside seems to be their high cost. Are there any other
manufacturers of similar products. (It sounds as if the technology is
being made common to permit interworking.) Anyone got experience of using
them?

To be honest, for now, the ordinary plug-in devices that cost a tiny
fraction of those prices does everything I really need. So this is by way
of interest rather than serious intent.

Interesting that the transmitter works without batteries by
"harvesting energy". I wouldn't have expected it to work.

--
Graham.
%Profound_observation%

Graham. wrote:

wrote:

Just came across the MK Echo wireless switch system.

Interesting that the transmitter works without batteries by
"harvesting energy". I wouldn't have expected it to work.

This is the underlying technology ...

http://www.enocean-alliance.org/en/enocean_technology/

Andy Burns wrote:
Graham. wrote:

wrote:

Just came across the MK Echo wireless switch system.

Interesting that the transmitter works without batteries by
"harvesting energy". I wouldn't have expected it to work.

This is the underlying technology ...

http://www.enocean-alliance.org/en/enocean_technology/


And here is where it was invented

http://vps.templar.co.uk/Cartoons%20...7322.strip.gif

On Mon, 16 Jan 2012 22:19:02 +0000, Andy Burns
wrote:

Graham. wrote:

wrote:

Just came across the MK Echo wireless switch system.

Interesting that the transmitter works without batteries by
"harvesting energy". I wouldn't have expected it to work.

This is the underlying technology ...

http://www.enocean-alliance.org/en/enocean_technology/

I'm still intrigued, but all I see is marketing eco ********. What I
would like to see is actual circuit diagrams etc.

--
Graham.
%Profound_observation%

On Mon, 16 Jan 2012 22:12:18 -0000, Graham. wrote:



Interesting that the transmitter works without batteries by
"harvesting energy". I wouldn't have expected it to work.


Sort-of sounds like the homeopathy of the energy world. :-)

--
Rod

In article ,
polygonum writes:
Just came across the MK Echo wireless switch system. Sounds quite
interesting.

http://www.mkelectric.com/en-gb/Prod...s/default.aspx

And for prices, there are 58 results on amazon.co.uk.

The biggest downside seems to be their high cost. Are there any other
manufacturers of similar products. (It sounds as if the technology is
being made common to permit interworking.) Anyone got experience of using
them?

X10 is the cheaper standards-based option, and that's because
the patents have run out and anyone can manufacture X10 parts,
and many people do.

There are lots of newer (and better) products now, but you will
pay heavily for them still being covered by patents/licensing.
Some of the newer products are X10 backwards compatible, allowing
you to upgrade an X10 installation without having to replace it
all.

To be honest, for now, the ordinary plug-in devices that cost a tiny
fraction of those prices does everything I really need. So this is by way
of interest rather than serious intent.

They are even cheaper than X10, but with no compatibility between
products.

--
Andrew Gabriel
[email address is not usable -- followup in the newsgroup]

On Mon, 16 Jan 2012 22:39:53 +0000, Graham. wrote:

On Mon, 16 Jan 2012 22:19:02 +0000, Andy Burns
wrote:

Graham. wrote:

wrote:

Just came across the MK Echo wireless switch system.

Interesting that the transmitter works without batteries by
"harvesting energy". I wouldn't have expected it to work.

This is the underlying technology ...

http://www.enocean-alliance.org/en/enocean_technology/

I'm still intrigued, but all I see is marketing eco ********. What I
would like to see is actual circuit diagrams etc.


http://www.enocean.com/en/patents/



--

Andrew Gabriel wrote:

writes:

Just came across the MK Echo wireless switch system. Sounds quite
interesting. (It sounds as if the technology is being made common
to permit interworking.) Anyone got experience of using them?

X10 is the cheaper standards-based option

I hadn't heard of this home automation software before, apparently it
works with the Echo/EnOcean switches ...

http://fhem.de/fhem.html

On Mon, 16 Jan 2012 22:12:18 +0000, Graham. wrote:

Interesting that the transmitter works without batteries by
"harvesting energy". I wouldn't have expected it to work.

Well you don't need much for a short duration few mW pulse of RF...

Looking at the site mentioned they have motion (switch operation or
waggle it about/vibration) for power generation. I have a "shaker
torch", powerful magnet slides back and forth through a coil of wire.
Just letting the magnet drop through the coil makes the LED flash.

I like the peltier thermal stuff, there are temperature gradients all
over the place. Light switch, warm room air one side, cold wall the
other. Handheld remote, warm hand, cold innards.

--
Cheers
Dave.

Andy Burns wrote:
Graham. wrote:

wrote:

Just came across the MK Echo wireless switch system.

Interesting that the transmitter works without batteries by
"harvesting energy". I wouldn't have expected it to work.

This is the underlying technology ...

http://www.enocean-alliance.org/en/enocean_technology/

In California, where they're based, they just wait for a 'quake to shake
the building.

In a few years, they might just have a problem with overloading when the
big one hits.

--
Tciao for Now!

John.