Zappit

Project: Wireless Mains Voltage Indicator

Electricians working in domestic, commercial, or industrial environments, face a common challenge – Is this circuit live or not? The answer to this question could be a matter of life or death.

In order to safely carry out work on a circuit, which may be located some distance from the associated fuse or circuit breaker, the electrician must isolate that particular circuit. They must then go back to the circuit location to check that it is isolated. Several trips may be required before the correct circuit is identified and safely deactivated.

Enter Zappit!

The Zappit Transmitter is connected to the circuit to be worked on. It gives a clear indication of the status of the circuit in the local area. The electrician then carries a small Receiver unit, which mimics the indication given by the Transmitter, to the intake point. When the correct circuit is isolated, this is detected by the Transmitter, and an encoded message is sent to the Receiver, which confirms the new circuit status with a clear audible and visual indication. It also alerts the user if the circuit is unexpectedly re-energised. Problem solved!

Among the technical challenges which needed to be overcome was the requirement to work reliably indoors, through solid walls and other obstructions. Careful choice of RF frequency, modulation parameters, and transmission protocol solved this problem, while minimising power consumption to provide long battery life.

Steve Bragoli, the inventor of Zappit, said: “The team at Project understood my idea immediately, and quickly created a prototype for me to evaluate. It worked really well, and I must say I’m delighted with the final product.”

For more details, and to purchase Zappit online, please visit the official website.

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