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Feature: Energy harvesting


Wires and batteries lead to inflexibility Whether for new buildings or retrofitting, wires require a detailed plan and an evaluation of each project site for suitable connections between actuators, sensors, control units and receivers. Once complete, it is only possible to change the positions of these modules on the existing wiring plan. Adjustments require a new planning phase, tear-down, laying of new wires and returning the building to its previous state, all of which require electricians and other trades, which costs more money. To gain a full picture of the wiring


budgets required, it is not enough to consider only the initial costs, but also the followup costs if re-designs are needed over time. An alternative to cabling is RF


communication between lights and pushbuttons. As soon as a decision has been made whether to use batteries or energy-harvesting technology, the initial cost consideration is still a crucial factor. To get the full picture, further criteria need to be evaluated, including battery maintenance and the cost of their purchase and eventual disposal. Building managers need to understand the performance of battery-powered modules and have a detailed overview of their locations, whilst keeping track of when to replace the batteries. For hotels, airports, production halls and offices this means monitoring hundreds of light switches, which are most likely located over several floors. Also, batteries are considered a


hazardous waste, containing heavy metals like mercury, lead or cadmium, which have a detrimental impact on the environment. Hence, batteries must be disposed of in a considered manner, with the associated costs. In Germany alone, over 80,000 tons of batteries were used in 2019; complicated recycling procedures were set up, but these require a lot of effort and maintenance.


Energy harvesting Energy-harvesting solutions don’t suffer from the disadvantages associated with wires and batteries. Using ZF’s technology based on the inductive principle, a


To gain a full picture of the wiring budgets required, it is not enough to consider only the initial costs, but also the follow-up costs if redesigns are needed over time.


As soon as a


decision has been made whether to use batteries or energy harvesting technology, the initial cost consideration is still a crucial factor


small generator can create mechanical energy, typically around 330µWs, by manual actuation via a compact inductive generator (20.1 x 7.3 x 14.3mm); see image below. Tis energy output is enough to reliably transmit RF commands to smart lighting applications or other smart home modules. For this unit, commands include


ON/OFF and dimming the lights. Te communications range varies between protocols and can be up to 30 meters indoors, using the frequency range of either 865MHz, 915MHz or 2.4GHz. Te main advantage is the maintenance effort saved over the unit’s life, which can exceed 20 years. Te energy-harvesting generators themselves have a long life, up to a million switching cycles. Te wireless light switch modules


from ZF are compatible with standard frames available on the market and can be combined with customer-specific control and design panels. For example, connected doors and windows can send RF signals to log their status (open/closed). Other potential applications are smart industrial switches or stop-request pushbutton switches for buses. Te RF light switch module from ZF is


available in two RF standards – KNX-RF and EnOcean.


ZF EHS monostable generator


www.electronicsworld.co.uk April 2023 23


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