Do I have to accept a smart meter?
Smart meters are the latest technology for your household electricity and gas meters. They electronically record your energy use and send this to your supplier. But do you have to accept one if you’re offered it?
What is a smart meter?
The government has pushed back the deadline for the smart meter rollout until 2024, and you do have the right to refuse a smart meter if you don’t want one.
Energy companies have been asked to take ‘all reasonable steps’ to install smart meters in every home. If it hasn’t already, your energy supplier will contact you between now and 2024 to arrange an installation. But remember that you can still say no to having a smart meter installed.
If you really don’t want a smart meter, make this clear to your supplier and they may be able to set up a smart meter to work in ‘dumb’ mode, with all the communications switched off. Be aware that if your energy company has contacted you to change your energy meter to a smart meter because your current meter needs replacing (ie it’s too old), then you should get it replaced as it could be a safety hazard not to.
Here are some of the concerns people have about smart meters and the roll-out:
Estimated cost While there will be no upfront charge to customers being transferred to a smart meter, everyone is paying for the smart meter roll-out through their energy bills. The cost of installing the smart meters is estimated at £11bn. Energy companies are meant to pass on cost savings to customers but there are concerns about the extent to which they’ll do this.
Security & privacy Who can see your consumption data and what can they do with it?
Health Concerns about radio frequencies and electromagnetic radiation produced. The evidence to date suggests exposure to radio waves produced by smart meters doesn’t pose a risk to your health. Public Health England provides advice and information on the health implications of smart meters, which can be found on the PHE website.
Smart Light Switch
[EASY INSTALLATION] No wiring required, snaps on top of an existing toggle or rocker light switch and mechanically controls the underlying switch..
[VOICE CONTROL] Through a hub (sold separately), it will work with either Alexa or Google Home to enable voice control of your lighting. It also enabled you to control your light anywhere while you are away..
[FULL COMPATIBILITY] No neutral wire required, works with any voltage (12v, 24v, 110v, 220v), an ideal solution for fireplace which is not standard 110v. It narrows enough that can be placed next to each other in 2-gang, 3-gang or 4-gang switches..
[N-WAY SWITCH] Works with the 3-Way or 4-Way switches setup. When worked together with Third Reality Hub, it will enable full N-Way Switch by utilize the both value from N-Way Switches..
[ZIGBEE STANDARD] Follow Zigbee 3.0 standard, works with existing hubs like SmartThings, Wink or Echo Plus. When use together with Third Reality Hub, it will enable advanced features like battery level reading, over the air update and more.
FLOAT SWITCH INSTALLATION WIRING AND CONTROL DIAGRAMS
How do I install and wire my float switch? Where can I find a float switch circuit diagram? Where can I find a float switch wiring diagram? You asked, and today, we answer.
Wiring a float switch isn’t necessarily hard, but it can be a little confusing if you don’t have a visual aid or two. Remember that what you’re wiring is a means of turning things on and off. Thinking carefully about when you want something off, and when it should turn on, will help you as you visualize the wiring and apply the schematic to real world control.
These instructions and diagrams will serve to teach you the basics of float switch control wiring. They certainly don’t apply in all scenarios, especially when additional control equipment is needed to handle large motors. However, with a little bit of fundamentals, you’ll be wiring like an old pro in no time.
SINGLE FLOAT SWITCH WIRING
Let’s start with the most basic float switch: a two-wire, single-pole, single-throw float switch. The rising action of the float can either close (i.e., turn on) a “Normally Open” circuit, or it can open (turn off) a “Normally Closed” circuit. Installation scenarios might include a Normally Open float switch turning on a pump to empty a tank (Control Schematic 2), or a Normally Closed float switch turning off a pump that fills a tank (Control Schematic 1). In both schematics, terminal 1 in the control circuitry represents the landing point for the float switch’s (+) wire, and terminal 2 for the (-) wire.
So there we have it. A two-wire float switch that can easily be used for turning a pump on or off. Mount or suspend your switch at the desired level, get your wires into a water-tight junction box (or out of the liquid containment area and then into a junction box), check the connections back to your control and power equipment, and you’re done.
Comprehensive guide to PoE Switches and their uses
As technology advances, the number and variety of components for an efficient telecommunications network are changing as well. One component that will be critical to the smooth operation of any network is the network switch. There are two main types of switches to choose from – a regular network switch or a Power over Ethernet (PoE) switch.
What is PoE?
Traditionally, when a device is connected to a network it requires two inputs: a power cord and a network cable. PoE is a technology that allows an Ethernet cable to carry electrical power.
In a PoE network, the power sourcing equipment can supply power and transmit data to network devices. All this is done by a single, PoE cable. In order for devices to establish a network connection with a PoE cable, the network must include either a PoE switch; or a normal switch and an additional device such as a PoE injector or splitter.
What Devices Can Use PoE?
PoE provides value for devices and networks that require power but also involve the transmission of data. The number of devices controlled remotely and requiring data is increasing exponentially as companies take advantage of the Internet of Things (IoT).
While PoE has numerous applications, the three most common areas of implementation are currently:
VoIP Phones: VoIP phones are the original PoE devices, with PoE allowing for a single connection to the wall socket and the ability for remote powering down
IP Cameras: Security camera technology is constantly evolving, and one improvement is the use of PoE, enabling fast deployment and simple repositioning.
Wireless: Many wireless access points are PoE compatible, allowing for remote positioning. RFID readers are also often PoE compatible, which allows for easy relocation.
All About Combination Switches and Receptacles
Even if you’re not doing an electrical project, it’s important to understand how the wiring in your home works. Here are the basics for installing and choosing combination switches.
There’s more to a light than just a flip of the switch. Electrical receptacles and switches look simple on the outside, but behind the wall, there is a bundle of wires that run the electricity. A responsible homeowner understands the different types of switches and how they work. Below, we show you how to wire a double switch, an unswitched plug, and a switch-controlled receptacle. Once you’ve mastered the basics, learn all about the nontraditional receptacles and switches and how they function.
Installing Combination Switches
These devices combine two functions. Correctly installed they are just as safe as two individual switches. Combination switches are always installed with through-switch wiring and never with end-line wiring. That means two or three cables enter the box.
Shut off power to the circuit before removing the old switch. To be sure that rebent wires do not break, cut and restrip the wire ends before you connect them
Double Switch
Squeeze two switches into the space of one. Three cables enter the box: One brings power, the other two run to separate fixtures. Connect the grounds and splice all the neutral (white) wires together. Attach the feed wire to a terminal with the connecting tab. Connect the other two black wires to terminals on the side with no tab.