personal-site/content/light-switch.md

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Title: Remote Control Light Switch
Date: 2014-10-09
Category: Projects
Summary: A device to toggle my lights remotely.
I wanted the ability to toggle my bedroom light remotely for convenience. I
designed a circuit that allows me to control my light with any
device that can load a webpage.
I still wanted to be able to control the light manually, so I bought a metallic
face-plate and turned it into a capacitive touch sensor. The slightest touch
anywhere on the plate is enough to toggle the light. I had to electrically
isolate the metal screws from it because they screw into a grounded switch box.
![a rusted metalic hand]({static}/images/light-switch/light1.jpg)
## Function
I have a Raspberry Pi ($35 computer) on my home network that runs a web server.
When you connect to it in your web browser, a page loads with buttons to turn
the light on or off. When you press a button, the server executes a command that
sends a message over Bluetooth to the light switch. The Bluetooth module in the
wall receives this message and forwards it to the microcontroller, which
processes it and toggles the relay. The whole circuit is also powered from mains
by an AC-DC converter.
This entire process happens quicker than half a second, so it feels instant.
![a rusted metalic hand]({static}/images/light-switch/light2.jpg)
![a rusted metalic hand]({static}/images/light-switch/light3.jpg)