I have a kinetically self-powered door. It opens with a light kick. : )

There is no stored charge - everything is done with the energy from the push. These clickers will typically flash a white LED quite brightly. The RF encoding is optimised for the short packet length, typically AM, so unlikely to work with battery units

It's amazing that they can harvest enough energy from what seems to be a very low effort push.

These seem pretty great! Being able to add lightswitches by just sticking another one where you want it and doing no wiring at all is very clever.

Interesting, I was hoping you would hook up a scope so we could see just how much voltage was developed, and how long that 2.5V supply stayed up.

Fascinating little devices. Well explained too!

They've probably recognized your name immediately and sent you more stuff to watch a longer video! ;D

Amazing little device, love it! In essence the human is the battery. The Matrix was right all along!

I'd love to see an oscilloscope trace of the power induced into the coil.

I have some door chimes that work on a similar principle. I've had one of the pushbutton units outside mounted to my gatepost for over two years, fully exposed to the weather and it is still working perfectly well.

'super disco mode' 😂😁Phillips makes those for their HUE range of lamps. They use zwave to communicate and work great. Imagine the number of button cells the world can save on a yearly basis!

Ooooo... really like the snappy action of those switches and a possible 6 codes being sent to a micro controller without the need for a battery in the transmitter, that sounds super useful, thanks Clive :)

I didn't know that this existed, it's awesome.

I've always wondered how these worked, and like you I had presumed the clicking action and the power came from a piezo-electric mechanism, so I've really enjoyed your deep dive into this switch, thanks for taking the time to reverse engineer it for all your viewers.

Understanding a maximum of 1% of what you are saying but these videos are fascinating.

I have fitted a few of those Curv kinetic switches over the years, and had zero failures. They're great for 2 way or intermediate lighting without bashing walls out or running cable. I always wondered how they worked, cheers Clive...great explanation.

Big Clive: "That was good. I really enjoyed that." Me: "so did I, Big Clive. So did I."

Clive, stick a scope on to see: A - the psu voltage up time and B - the transmission data. Would be interesting!

My first thought: is it the 1th of April already? Then I realized the switch is real...

It would be really interesting to see you take a look at the Quinetic receiver switch, which incorporates the wireless receiver into a switch plate, and most intriguingly, works just on the Common and L1 wires with no need for neutral.

It's an ingenious, non-obvious solution, I can well understand why it took so long to reverse engineer. It also appears that the receiver could be modified to work on 5 VDC by bypassing the switch-mode PSU. The listings I found seem to offer the switch with and without the receiver units, so I suspect your "wrong box shipped" idea is correct.

Wow Clive! I can often follow along with your circuit analysis but this time I think I'll have to watch the video a few times to have a chance. I'm always impressed with your ability to reverse engineer and then explain these obscure devices.

Thank you sir for your time. Working out the clever circuits. Cheers from across the pond.

I believe the TX10-1 ic is used in car remotes under a different name it a very versatile chip . thanks for the tare down clive i am really enjoying your channel i am a new Patreon supporter and having fun going through your back catalogue of videos , i am a semi retired EE.

When you described the transmitter circuit operation, you could have called those four diodes a "full bridge rectifier" because that's what they are. A button press delivers their AC input - just half a cycle of one polarity or the other.

I had no idea these things were even a thing. My first guess was also piezo. I'm guessing they don't generate enough current because if they worked, sure they'd be cheaper than those complex coils, magnets, and mechanics. Suppose it'd also be hard to tell the switch position from a piezo alone. 🤔 Either way, this is super neat!

I really enjoyed that as well. Honestly, it restores my faith in mankind. For that much creativity and engineering to be put into a switch device that is not a killing device or a weapon of war makes my day. It also makes one appreciate the power of the milliamp. With about one mm of movement, enough power is generated to store, convert, run logic circuits, and transmit radio frequencies. Spectacular. The only worry I have now is one of these "free energy" KZfaqrs will watch this and make a video that claims this switch will power your home and charge your car. Talk about A LOT of clicks ... imagine the blisters just to charge your Tesla

My parents always thought it was amazing that they found me taking apart the alarm clock with tools, this must have been what would have happened if they didn’t just laugh and point and actually encouraged me 😆

Saw this advertised just today on the Internet. A one gang switch wired into the mains via a live cable and neutral. Other switches can be located anywhere in the room,by another door or bed,without any wiring at all. Each one can be programmed from the main switch by holding the switch down for six seconds. No cost mentioned but I intend to call into the electrical store tomorrow to enquire about them. The name quoted was Quinetic. Kinetic energy is the motive power,as you say,sounds like piezoelectric. Surprised to see your video come up the same day! Very interesting.

For those interested in the microjoule generator and the sort of micro-controller that can use it, there is a similar system described in the reference design by Texas Instruments, the TIDA 00690, with a lot of useful waveforms and data. The switch concept is similar to the AFIG0007 bare mechanism sold by Cherry, which gives a a 5msec pulse into 100 ohms load of around ~4V mean and 8v peak, total energy 300micro- joules. Mike PJ

Reminds me of when I was 7 or 8, Dad took me to tractor repair place he work at part time. I was playing with a little device on the bench with a shaft sticking out. I rotated the shaft and it bit me, fly across the room. My dad and the other tech were laughing so hard while I learned a never to be forgotten lesson about magnetos.

Never heard of the remote switches with the magnetic power generators. Thank you Clive for the inside look at this device. Fasinating.

I got a kinetic doorbell. Works so much better than all the other battery powered doorbell pushers I’ve had over the years!

Thanks Clive - a superb insight into these devices. Great to see a tantalum cap for the energy storage - stands a chance of lasting! Unfortunately the hard-programmed on and off codes don't make these good for 2-way switching. Since 'down' is always on you have to switch the 2nd switch twice to change the lamp state. It's a shame you can't configure them to toggle on any change of switch position. They also unfortunately don't work with Sonoff RF devices

Excellent explaining of the switch mode power supply! Very clever design, overall 👍

I wonder what the output of the switch mechanism is, a scope across the leads would be needed I guess as the power output will be tiny. very interesting gadget 2x👍

Would be curious to see how much energy the switch generates- what’s the power budget for the transmitter? Maybe attach a coulomb counter and press a few times?

These things are absolutely fascinating!

Nothing too weird, apart from the magnet switchy thing, that's just brilliant!

A surprisingly complicated circuit for this application, but then again we do have some wireless bell pushes which are also more than I would have expected for the application.

"Pinky nail sized" sound like yet another imperial unit

I nearly didn't bother watching this video but I'm glad I did, it turned out to be much more interesting than I imagined. It was especially interesting to see that it was able to generate all the power it needed in a single operation which took a fraction of a second, fascinating stuff !

Thank you for making great videos. Ayman from Saudi Arabia.

Brilliant breakdown Clive. Love it!

That was freakin awesome Clive. Really appreciate the amount of time that you put into your channel.

This is the future of electrical installs

That took me back to STC again, where we used smaller rocking armatures in 'Trill Phones' to transduce the signal into the vibrations heard in the ear piece, via an aluminium foil cone glued to a small gold pin, soldered to a notch on one side of the armature. I used to use a surprising number of different gadgets and machines to both test all the raw materials and destruction test the finished earpiece. The number of tests that went into what was basically a metal and plastic version of your earbones and drum, was astonishing. Worst task given me was to measure the variation of the physical properties of a thousand of the little brick shaped magnets before they were magnetised. The Sinclair calculator had only just been invented, (and a pricy 60 quid was three weeks pay to do very slow, simple calculations. But, at least you could pretend it was a Star Trek communicator when proudly flipping open the case!). With only this to help, (the computer occupied a whole sealed floor of a large building, with coloured silica gel snow all around), I had to use proper micrometers to measure all 1000 little bricks and log all the dimensions on actual paper spreadsheets, and work out the density of every one, and then mean and standard deviation of the batch! I could barely see or think by the time I finished! I still keep finding the magnet assemblies stuck to long unused tool boxes. I used to find phone parts all over the town, carried further and further with each tyre they got stuck to! :)

I think the best thing about your voice is that it conveys really useful and interesting information and that means I don't have to acknowledge how much I like it 😉

I'm glad you've done this one, I have just had some installed at home.. the technology!

It sounds like a story from the "free energy" universe. Unbelieveable that this tiny impulse powers a transmitter chip.

Great video, a totally clear and understandable teardown and analysis. These things are all about lazy convenience - at the sacrifice of reliability. I never had to hit an old-school toggle switch twice to get my light to go on or off.

I was searching about this tech two weeks ago and didn't find what I was looking for. So a very special thank you, for finding it for me. Edit: Clive, your coffee is on the way!

You could have pointed out that is a "Full Bridge Rectifier" on the receiver circuit!

Really interesting video. I'm having to watch it a couple of times to get my head around all the circuitry but fab explaination, it's just that I'm not too bright and it takes a couple of runs through to take in the details 😊

AMAZING! Never expected something like this could actually work/exist, when I think of 'recycling' I think of this -> less wasted batteries and such.

Always enjoy all your content Clive and what an interesting device!

I really like the design of it. Looks like someone actually wanted to make a quality product. I wonder if anyone makes these that work with the zigbee network. My father has everything in his house switching with ZigBee then controlled by Google. It's great but I like turning in switches rather than voice. We do have some of the IKEA tactile switches which seem to work ok

A good day is one where I learn something new. Today was a bumper crop of knowledge!

Just bought one for my Attic. Very easy to install and setup 🙂🍀🇮🇪

Very interesting. I had no idea these existed, nor that enough power could be produced in this way. Would have been useful a few years ago as I was looking for exactly this. Nice to know for future fun.

Love these, I’ve put a few in my house. Recommend them.

wow! thanks for the 'taking it to bits and pieces" great job

Reminds me of what I do every day, rebuilding vintage magnetos. Change of magnetic polarity inducing a voltage in a coil. What a great idea. I just wish I had a use for one

Brilliant as always Clive, you da’ man Big Clive! Thanks Bob

What a clever little mechanism!

Great work. 🔎 Thanks so much for sharing. 😎👌🏼

So clever! Loved the video.

Wow, great video! Haven't seen this before!

Classic Big Clive - very interesting & entertaining - thanks !

Awesome! I think the little coil antenna is also glued in place to keep it from vibrating which would induce addition nastiness one not wants in an RF circuit...

I've been using a waterproof outdoor doorbell based on this tech for at least the past 6 years. It's really great not having to run wiring to outside your gate. The reach is pretty long. The doorbell receivers actually relay the signal inside the house, so one doorbell can sound multiple receivers inside the house.. really neat.

Bought a new doorbell a few weeks back that works the same way. My money was on a piezo of some sort, but seems to have a lot more going on there. Love that E magnet arrangement.

That is a very interesting controller with all those diodes. I'm reverse engineering a 3-way CFL myself and it uses its own interesting configuration of rectifier diodes to vary its DC rail voltage based on which contacts are supplied with AC power. A video will be up on my channel soon, hopefully this week.

This was great! I work at an electronics store that sells a wireless doorbell operating on the same/similar principles(I assume). Have actually had at least 2 customers suggest I send one to you to reverse engineer. Glad I now have an answer for everyone who asks "How does it work?" Thanks mate👍🍻

I remember these ‘clickers’ from the 70s. Im sure i still have a clicker around here somewhere but the tv is gone :)

This is brilliant. I never imagined this existed. Very clever idea (even if this is a copy). I can imagine a number or uses for it already. Bathrooms. Inaccessible retrofits. Wall to wall windows. I really like this. The mov on the receiver is a bit of a fail.

Thank you. Good work.

That E-shaped coil idea is great. Scalable.

Excellent information! My humble thanks.

That is fascinating (the transmitter side). The boot time on the transmitter RF chip must be ridiculously quick, and at only 2.5V. The power generation is also quite clever. That type of generator might be made to work on a hand power device like the wind up flashlights I have seen that use a small DC motor applied (inefficiently) as a generator to charge a lithium button cell. I feel a project coming on...

I always enjoy your videos, but when you enjoy it yourself and notify us, there is additional enjoyment for me too :)

Fascinating. This is practically Star Trek tech - it works by reversing the polarity of the magnetic field emitters :)

very interesting, might use this principle in one of my projects

... and so they all said Nlchola Teslà was crazy ! Thanks Clive, another fascinating vid. ;)

19:46 "back to school" vibe cool stuff btw, apart the switching regulator consumption they surely can find their place in our homes, good thing to not wire switches anymore

Thanks Clive I have 2 of these systems one ikea (bathroom lights) with a battery to allow for colour changing leds and one like that kinetic for an outside light. The range is impressive and works over 10 meters through a wall and door.

Amazing video!!! (as expected)

Such a clever group of switches.

Kinetic self-powered remote switch alternative: get a bb gun and use it to shoot at the wall switch.

Excellent well explanation

Awesome! Dave at EEVBLOG should scope one of these and see how much power it can deliver. And yes, I know we can read datasheets but that is less fun.

That _was_ good! Very interesting

Very Interesting !

Brillant design.

I bougth a door bell with a kinetic switch a couple of years ago via Ebay, it works far better than battery operated units here above the arctic circle where it can be way below -30C during winter. Batteries usually only lasts a month or two when it's really cold, but this one just keeps working no matter what. I've lackered the components inside it with finger nail lacquer to avoid rust or corrosion, seems to work well.

Thanks for this Clive, very interesting. I was one of the people suggesting you have a look at these things. I don't think the neodymium based magnets are as susceptible to losing their magnetism from repeated striking as the "standard" ferrous/cobalt based. Only time will tell!

That "generator" is just inverting the magnetic polarity through the core by means of a rocker clicky-thingy? That's all of it? Ingenious!

Very interesing 👍👍awesome video 👍

Those switch units look very reliable.

Another great video! I'm surprised they didn't design the up/down positions to be momentary or a single momentary push in, since the receivers allow multiple switches and the physical position of the switches are no longer meaningful (and causes unexpected tactile response, or the lack thereof), with more than 1 switch.