SENSORS
Wireless technology – the key to smart buildings
In recent years, wireless technologies have established themselves as the preferred solution in both building automation and smart homes. These technologies offer more flexibility during planning and save on the cost and hassle of extensive wiring during installation. Furthermore, battery-free wireless solutions eliminate the need for ongoing maintenance, reducing operating costs.
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n an intelligent building, sensors act as the nervous system, capturing various data such as temperature, humidity, presence, or CO2 to intelligently control actuators. However, connecting these components can be cumbersome and expensive due to the need for wiring. Wireless solutions provide the required flexibility, especially during renovations. While some wireless solutions dependent on batteries require intensive maintenance, are more expensive, and create hazardous waste, those without batteries offer significant advantages.
Maximising flexibility with wireless When it comes to integrating numerous
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sensors and switches into a system, wired solutions are impractical. It’s costly and inflexible to connect each sensor with its own wire. Wireless systems offer a solution. Sensors for presence, temperature, air quality, light, as well as switches or smoke detectors can be placed exactly where they are needed without the constraint of cables. The strength lies in the ability to expand the system with new products and additional sensors without the need to break walls.
Wireless sensors and switches minimise coordination among various trades and reduce the interference in existing building structures. For instance, when repurposing an office building, there’s no need to break walls
APRIL 2024 | ELECTRONICS FOR ENGINEERS
for cabling or place power lines inconveniently. This saves costs and is more appealing to building owners or future occupants.
Sustainable operations without batteries
A significant drawback of some wireless solutions is their dependence on external power sources or batteries for the energy required for sensors and communication. This results in increased maintenance costs and environmental concerns. In practice, batteries often deplete faster than their theoretical lifespan and need to be replaced by professionals annually. The replacement of batteries not only involves labour, but also
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