Remote control with mains referenced antenna

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  • เผยแพร่เมื่อ 23 ก.พ. 2021
  • When I saw this on eBay I wondered if the chunky brass connector on the antenna was going to be referenced to the mains supply. It didn't disappoint. In the wrong circumstances it can impart a serious electric shock. (Especially if live and neutral are swapped.)
    If you have one of these, be aware that it needs to be mounted fully inside a plastic enclosure.
    Other than that fairly significant thing, the only other obvious issue is the parallel zener diodes, where series connection would spread the load better. They're also dissipating a significant amount of power. If using this module I would look at changing the dropper cap for a lower value one matched to the real current requirement of the circuit with relay activated (around 50mA). Keeping in mind that the hold current of the relay is lower than the initial pull in current.
    If the supply is wired correctly, and the neutral is referenced to local ground, the potential on the antenna socket with respect to ground should be relatively low, but a reversed supply will allow a very high current shock. Basically the live feed, a diode and then you.
    I missed one small detail off the schematic of the receiver. The button is wired between a microcontroller pin and the 0V rail.
    It was only when I watched the video after recording it that I realised the F and N markings on the remote control are the last letters of off and on. I've never seen that before.
    If you enjoy these videos you can help support the channel with a dollar for coffee, cookies and random gadgets for disassembly at:-
    www.bigclive.com/coffee.htm
    This also keeps the channel independent of TH-cam's advertising algorithms allowing it to be a bit more dangerous and naughty.
  • วิทยาศาสตร์และเทคโนโลยี

ความคิดเห็น • 722

  • @kevinsellsit5584
    @kevinsellsit5584 3 ปีที่แล้ว +185

    Thankfully they had the courtesy to gold plate the hot antenna. I mean, if you are going to take a bite from the mains, good continuity is a must at any amperage!

    • @kaitlyn__L
      @kaitlyn__L 3 ปีที่แล้ว +10

      Holy shit, I love “take a bite of the mains”

    • @kevinsellsit5584
      @kevinsellsit5584 3 ปีที่แล้ว +5

      @@kaitlyn__L Sarcasm can be difficult to read. I do my best to prevent any confusion
      ;)

    • @funkyironman69
      @funkyironman69 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      @@greggoog7559 They probably could have just mounted it inside the plastic enclosure ;)

    • @youtubeistyrannical1787
      @youtubeistyrannical1787 3 ปีที่แล้ว

      What most people don't realize is gold is a worse conductor then copper... Only silver is a better conductor then copper.
      The main reason they coat things in gold is because it does not easily oxidize...
      Go look it up, it's totally not what you would think

    • @kevinsellsit5584
      @kevinsellsit5584 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      @@youtubeistyrannical1787 "Look it up". Good words. I began studying metallurgy at age 32 when I bought a mill and lathe for my home shop. I'm 54 now and have learned so much about metal that I realize I won't live long enough to learn 50% of what we already know. That said, Silver is my favorite conductor because it reduces arc transfer when breaking high current connections. ;) Steel (in it's many forms) is by far my favorite metal. Gold is for people who want jewelry more than they want a 1000lbs of misc. mixed metals on a rack in the garage.

  • @U014B
    @U014B 3 ปีที่แล้ว +440

    "And the remote control simply goes On, and Off."
    Actually, the buttons are clearly labeled Activate and Beactivate.

    • @meechmushrooms
      @meechmushrooms 3 ปีที่แล้ว +34

      Ahh yes, 🅱️eactivate. Good observation!

    • @johndododoe1411
      @johndododoe1411 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Can't the receiver be set to only accept A or B, then another receiver can use the other button for another big thing?

    • @jkobain
      @jkobain 3 ปีที่แล้ว +6

      @@johndododoe1411 Clive mentioned that those 24-bit codes divide into the 20-bit part that is unique (sort of) to one RC unit and preprogrammed in the factory, and the other 4-bit part is for commands themselves.
      So, the short answer is no, it doesn't seem to allow such operation.

    • @spacemanmat
      @spacemanmat 3 ปีที่แล้ว +4

      Ah good and Bad

    • @HighestRank
      @HighestRank 3 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      I love the oxymoron of a good portmanteau in the bAM.

  • @captianmorgan7627
    @captianmorgan7627 3 ปีที่แล้ว +78

    We recently had a safety email go out. One of the pump buildings we have was live. The building itself was live. One of the maintenance guys got a shock off the metal door when trying to open it. The metal parts of the building (i.e. most of the building) were somehow connected to power. Never did hear what was the issue that caused it.

    • @bigclivedotcom
      @bigclivedotcom  3 ปีที่แล้ว +33

      That could either have been an unbonded metal frame building, or external equipment finding a current path back to a grounded frame.

    • @Azlehria
      @Azlehria 3 ปีที่แล้ว +22

      Ran into a live panel enclosure a few years ago while tracking down a repeated server failure. That one was a "hilarious" combination of faults.
      First was the live wire contacting the shell. Okay, it happens. But that was supposed to be a _branch circuit_ coming _out_ of a breaker - so that circuit was being backfed somewhere. Not okay. This was also a subpanel, so it should have produced a direct ground short and tripped the upstream breaker - ground bus wasn't bonded to the panel. Also not okay. Finally, the panel was right next to a floor sink used to fill (and empty) mop buckets!
      Technically I suppose our ELV license would have allowed us to repair that, since it was clearly "incidental to and necessary for the licensed work", but no. Just . . . no.

    • @SalP123c
      @SalP123c ปีที่แล้ว +2

      Sounds like a pretty cool place to work: death is around every corner and around every metal bannister

    • @davelowets
      @davelowets ปีที่แล้ว +6

      I found a situation like this once at an airport my company was a contractor at.
      What I had found was that a motorhead for one of the giant sliding hanger doors was replaced, and was causing the issue. The old one was a "2-phase, 220volt" piece and the replacement that someone had installed in it's place was a single phase, 120volt unit. The installer must have realized the issue of not having a neutral wire, and had connected one leg of the 220volt two phase to the live terminal of the unit, and then connected the unit's neutral terminal DIRECTLY to the metal chassis of the building.. 😳
      I found the issue by accident as the door was a slider that parted in the middle and had 2 motorheads on it, one for each half, that drove them. I just happened to be servicing them and noticed that the spec plates on them had 2 different voltages listed, and questioned the maintenance staff about it, and they had no issue why. So I started looking into it, and that is what I found. Thankfully there were no accidents from the entire building being used as a neutral conductor, but it certainly could have ended up as an electrocution in the right situation.

    • @Boogie_the_cat
      @Boogie_the_cat 4 หลายเดือนก่อน

      Well that's a good thing that they used email and not something useful and immediate like a text message.
      You definitely want to be sure your employees have to wade through dick enlargement spam in order to find out they shouldn't touch an entire building due to Mr. Electron running rampant through the walls.

  • @jmargarson
    @jmargarson 3 ปีที่แล้ว +81

    At least it's transmitting in the 433MHz ISM band, I've had some Chinese RF remote devices that transmitted in the DAB radio band causing interference.

    • @TechyBen
      @TechyBen 3 ปีที่แล้ว +8

      Is that not a kindness to your neighbours, stops them listening to poorly and over cheaply encoded trash. XD

    • @After_Tech_Industries
      @After_Tech_Industries 3 ปีที่แล้ว

      I had an audio transmitter that did that but with phone service

    • @GodmanchesterGoblin
      @GodmanchesterGoblin 3 ปีที่แล้ว +5

      That's what it *says* it's doing. Without a decent spectrum analyser, who knows...?

    • @SolaLupus
      @SolaLupus 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      I bet its harmonics cover many other bands anyway

  • @johnpossum556
    @johnpossum556 3 ปีที่แล้ว +117

    You should have a BC sticker that says something to the effect of "Identifying shock hazards since 2005"

  • @fouzaialaa7962
    @fouzaialaa7962 3 ปีที่แล้ว +55

    clive has acquired a skill that lets him know if a product is designed to kill you or not just by looking at it !!!!
    Clive !! your the next step of human evolution !!

    • @squidcaps4308
      @squidcaps4308 3 ปีที่แล้ว +8

      Electrical engineering, tinkering with odd things.. you can learn that skill too. Just open everything you buy, there are patterns you learn. Any metal parts sticking outside from a plastic case that is connected to mains but not earthed = red flag.

    • @JR-yl8qi
      @JR-yl8qi 3 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      "made in china" and bought from ebay is all you need to know XD

    • @moonshinepz
      @moonshinepz 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      A made in china sticker 👍

    • @millomweb
      @millomweb 3 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      It's quite simple really - 2 core power lead and bare metal components.
      I'd earth thant anty enna.

    • @rocketman221projects
      @rocketman221projects 3 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      @@millomweb If you earth that antenna, the bridge rectifier will explode as soon as you connect the power.

  • @bufordmaddogtannen
    @bufordmaddogtannen 3 ปีที่แล้ว +103

    Look, a telescopic antenna. It's the eighties all over again. 😁😂

    • @bansheemania1692
      @bansheemania1692 3 ปีที่แล้ว +7

      FIRST Cordless Phones...what a throwback

    • @funkyironman69
      @funkyironman69 3 ปีที่แล้ว +4

      They are fun, can unscrew them and pretend it's a police baton

    • @ppheanix
      @ppheanix 3 ปีที่แล้ว

      Wait... is that a cordless phone in your pocket or are you ready in case I fart ?

  • @katelights
    @katelights 3 ปีที่แล้ว +106

    the positions labeled F and N are clearly oFf and oN

    • @AAAyyyGGG
      @AAAyyyGGG 3 ปีที่แล้ว +10

      They probably thought "On and Off start with the same letter so let's be clever with our labeling"!

    • @fumthings
      @fumthings 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      also f and n sounds like off and on.

    • @LieseFury
      @LieseFury 3 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      @@AAAyyyGGG I think it's more likely that they assumed the capital O was just an unnecessary symbol.

    • @davidaustin3272
      @davidaustin3272 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      @@gadgetman4494 Except "F" is off, at least on mine.

    • @dashcamandy2242
      @dashcamandy2242 3 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      Foff and Non. Clearly a Google Translate error. LOL

  • @Mayyde
    @Mayyde 3 ปีที่แล้ว +8

    every time I see you grab that thin red and yellow screwdriver I feel a wee bit more comfy and I cannot explain why

    • @mernok2001
      @mernok2001 3 ปีที่แล้ว

      Because its a certified 1000V insulated electrician tool.

  • @MadScienceWorkshoppe
    @MadScienceWorkshoppe 3 ปีที่แล้ว +53

    EV1527 is a classic. Very hackable. It has 4 inputs, and every combination of the 4 inputs sends a different code. I've used it in projects to give a dozen or more buttons.

  • @ItsMrAssholeToYou
    @ItsMrAssholeToYou 3 ปีที่แล้ว +86

    Clive got that old familiar itch
    And tore-down a shit R/C switch
    It's antenna block
    Could give quite the shock
    A feature that seems very niche

    • @cortos_9733
      @cortos_9733 3 ปีที่แล้ว +8

      People need to show some love for this limerick.

    • @jkobain
      @jkobain 3 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      @@cortos_9733 indeed!

    • @javaguru7141
      @javaguru7141 3 ปีที่แล้ว +6

      Wonderful! Its* though ☺️

    • @jkobain
      @jkobain 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      @@javaguru7141 ♥

    • @frankowalker4662
      @frankowalker4662 3 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      Bravo.

  • @davidaustin3272
    @davidaustin3272 3 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    I bought a 4-button A/B/C/D version with the same F/N switch and telescoping antenna to control an LED swimming pool light. This was an Amazon purchase in the US. It claims a 1 km range and I thought it might be useful to control other things, but when I received it I noticed it didn't have any of the usual FCC markings. It's pretty easy to get a 1 km range if you don't worry about silly things like regulations. Judging by the amount of noise that comes out of my PC speakers when I press the remote buttons half way across the room, I suspect it may transmit more power than FCC 15.231 allows. I measured the frequency to be 433.92 MHz with a cheap Chinese SDR. For some reason one of the buttons had a slightly different frequency than the other three.
    My receiver looks similar but it does not have an external antenna, so maybe there is no electric shock hazard.
    Thanks for doing this, Clive. I did my own tear-down of the light but didn't think to open up the remote.

  • @agenericaccount3935
    @agenericaccount3935 3 ปีที่แล้ว +17

    The remote looks like it controls the trap door in an 80s villain's foyer.

    • @pear7777
      @pear7777 3 ปีที่แล้ว

      A remote with a 9v block, that's a first, suppose it lasts for ages.

    • @chrisakaschulbus4903
      @chrisakaschulbus4903 2 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@pear7777 "A remote with a 9v block, that's a first" uhm... what about rc cars?

    • @pear7777
      @pear7777 2 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@chrisakaschulbus4903 fcuk, I'm getting denented, did I write that? I looks like it. Nvm, the rc cars run way more communications than an on off..

    • @chrisakaschulbus4903
      @chrisakaschulbus4903 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      @@pear7777 everyone can have a little brain fart... it happens to the best of us as well...
      sometimes when i cook and need to make my sauce tasty, i add honey and mustard and it kicks ass

  • @rmx4087
    @rmx4087 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    When I saw the thumbnail, I got the impression the device had melted the plastic bulb. I was a bit disappointed when I learned that wasn't the case.
    But when I heard the word China, my joy returned.

  • @IvyMike.
    @IvyMike. 3 ปีที่แล้ว +13

    I shall watch this video to the end and things worthy of note, I shall wait patiently for the next video, Thanks Clive, love from Cornwall, UK.

  • @cprfenom
    @cprfenom 3 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    After watching you for a few years with general interest, I am actually beginning to not only follow the schematics, but understand the principles. Great video as always!

  • @RobertMarchini
    @RobertMarchini 3 ปีที่แล้ว +19

    In the US, 433mhz is a licensed amateur radio band, and you do occasionally get some naughty devices from China that use 433mhz instead of an unclicensed band (e.g. 315mhz). They’re not illegal, because they’re so low power, they just don’t work at all if you have an amateur radio operator using the frequency.

    •  2 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      I think, that the 433 MHz band also is used in Germany for amateur radio.

    • @kingsman428
      @kingsman428 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      In the UK 433Mhz is the unlicensed band and sometimes the Chinese send 315Mhz so this is clearly just a mistake

    • @davelowets
      @davelowets ปีที่แล้ว +1

      They also don't work when you have many devices in operation in the nearby area.
      My grandfather eventually ended up in a posh "community living center" for the elderly. He was always an electronics geek and had to take his latest "weather station" with him wherever he went. The temperature/humidity probe was wireless and operated at 433mhz.
      When he was still in his own home, the sensor had always operated properly, and he never had an issue with the display receiving the signal from it.
      When he moved into the community living center, he had all kinds of issues with the display losing the signal from the wireless sensor. When he questioned me about the issue he was having, he had the sensor just sitting on the brickwork of the building right outside his window. I decided to help him out, and mount the sensor in it's proper bracket, which stands it off of it's surroundings, thinking this will help with his issue, but about halfway through drilling the holes in the brick to mount it I realized that this probably wasn't the issue when I spotted similar sensors mounted outside of just about EVERY OTHER window on the building. Yep, old people must just like to have their weather stations. His unit did have switches inside to change the channel for the communication between the sensor and the display. I changed his channel to a random combination of switches, and he had no more problems with it.

  • @MartijnWismeijer
    @MartijnWismeijer 3 ปีที่แล้ว +6

    Anyone else here clicking that like button on any video posted to Clive's channel even before the advertisement finished playing?

    • @Spiderelectron
      @Spiderelectron 3 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      You get ads? I use an adblocker - works great!

    • @samuelfellows6923
      @samuelfellows6923 3 ปีที่แล้ว

      And I have subscribed to TH-cam premium for 15£ and don’t see those infernal things 😁

    • @tncorgi92
      @tncorgi92 3 ปีที่แล้ว

      It's a given.

    • @nilswegner2881
      @nilswegner2881 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      @@Spiderelectron an adblocker is nice on PC but as soon as you watch in the phone app it's ads all over again.
      Well unless you block ads by blocking them with your DNS server, like do.

    • @NiHaoMike64
      @NiHaoMike64 3 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@nilswegner2881 Or install TH-cam Vanced.

  • @NorthernKitty
    @NorthernKitty 3 ปีที่แล้ว +6

    As you mentioned, these are often used to control pumps. It's not uncommon for a pump to be below ground and you wish to control it remotely from above ground. I think they set up the antenna this way so that you could have the relay in a box or chamber below ground, removing that little antenna nub and instead screw on a long cable attached to an external antenna above ground. Still, it wouldn't have taken much to add a removable cap or boot so that the metal isn't normally exposed.

  • @daveys
    @daveys 3 ปีที่แล้ว +4

    Most of these RF switch/smart switch thingies don’t have enough room in them to maintain the double insulation into the box so I’d always advocate putting them into an enclosure anyway. However, the SMA antenna implies that the antenna could be remoted so it’s a fail from me ;-) Excellent teardown as usual Clive, keep up the great work!

  • @colinpye1430
    @colinpye1430 3 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    With the On and Off, clearly, the O is redundant. In Canada, where we have both English and French as official languages, the water taps are either labeled H and C or C and F. I’ve often thought it would make sense for them to be H and F (as opposed to C and C), so each language group would get one “good” letter, and the other as “not the good” letter, or something else bacronymed into the situation (Hot and Frigid as an English example)

  • @bleach_drink_me
    @bleach_drink_me 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    How did I not see this months ago?
    This is one of my favorite kinds of videos you do.

  • @klausdudas
    @klausdudas 3 ปีที่แล้ว +58

    Assume the F and N labels are for ofF and oN. English is a right-to-left language, right?

    • @SonofTheMorningStar666
      @SonofTheMorningStar666 3 ปีที่แล้ว +11

      Well you can mark it O/O but that wouldn't be really helpful, right?

    • @jkobain
      @jkobain 3 ปีที่แล้ว +6

      @@SonofTheMorningStar666 how about I/O, what do you think?

    • @SonofTheMorningStar666
      @SonofTheMorningStar666 3 ปีที่แล้ว +11

      @@jkobain Nah. No one would understand that.

    • @opif
      @opif 3 ปีที่แล้ว +5

      @@jkobain ⏽& ⭘ could work, or just ⏻ and let people figure it out.

    • @bdf2718
      @bdf2718 3 ปีที่แล้ว +11

      Stop criticising. They very helpfully marked the LED with "LED."

  • @mashamambea5704
    @mashamambea5704 3 ปีที่แล้ว

    Hey I've been watching your videos for a very long time now and I noticed I've never subscribed wonder how I missed that. Anyway now am in thanks for the very informative content I love them keep them coming.

  • @hotmailcompany52
    @hotmailcompany52 3 ปีที่แล้ว +15

    That little receiver board looks exactly like one of my 433mhz receivers for my Arduino

  • @Hunter-xy6qq
    @Hunter-xy6qq 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Clive, I must admit these video’s are getting juicer each day. 👍

  • @graemezimmer604
    @graemezimmer604 3 ปีที่แล้ว +4

    The antenna circuit is decidedly odd: It has a loading coil in series (which is redundant if it uses a loaded antenna). And that means that the coax connector is no longer 50 Ohms, so the metal outer is completely redundant and doesn't need to be connected to "Earth" (eg it should have just been left floating). It rather looks to me that the design started life as a 27MHz remote and was clumsily redesigned.

  • @joshmyer9
    @joshmyer9 3 ปีที่แล้ว +37

    Ironically, the external antenna might even make the reception worse. Those little boards are typically tuned at manufacture, so tacking extra conductor on the end without re-trimming might impact the receiver circuit (assuming this module even has the usual trim inductor).
    I can also see someone deciding that the reception isn't good enough inside their plastic enclosure, so they install a bulkhead SMA pigtail, bringing that diode-to-mains shell out of an ungrounded case.

    • @TheChipmunk2008
      @TheChipmunk2008 3 ปีที่แล้ว +4

      Yes, found the same with quinetic wireless switches here. They operate at an unknown band, but the antenna is a precise length of wire.... adding wire to it or removing any DRAMATICALLY detunes it

    • @Electronics-Rocks
      @Electronics-Rocks 3 ปีที่แล้ว +5

      It still has the standard coil antenna which will interact with the exterior antenna. So the external antenna is a gimmick.

    • @km5405
      @km5405 3 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      @@Electronics-Rocks its so you can tell its a reallllly good receiver!

    • @Electronics-Rocks
      @Electronics-Rocks 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      @@km5405 lol

    • @davelowets
      @davelowets ปีที่แล้ว

      Yes, one would need to use shielded coax, and an external antenna of the correct length, for it to work properly.

  • @ceptimus
    @ceptimus 3 ปีที่แล้ว +32

    F and N are sensible for oFF and oN. Better to use the last letter of the words than the first - the labels 'O' and 'O' wouldn't be much help.

    • @skylined5534
      @skylined5534 3 ปีที่แล้ว +5

      You know what's more sensible for two tiny words like off and on? 'Off' and 'on'.

    • @dashcamandy2242
      @dashcamandy2242 3 ปีที่แล้ว +9

      They could have done the standardized O and | nomenclature...

  • @hadireg
    @hadireg 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    👍❤Thanks Clive for your great videos.. a well spent time indeed!!

  • @Poop-nu1so
    @Poop-nu1so 3 ปีที่แล้ว +9

    I always power my antennas with full mains voltage for maximum wireless reception. Also prevents people from touching it... At least twice anyways.

  • @Spiderelectron
    @Spiderelectron 3 ปีที่แล้ว +9

    F and N is from a bigger "OFF and ON" switch that has been hacked down to size!

  • @rpavlik1
    @rpavlik1 3 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    These transmitters with otp codes are pretty nifty. I was surprised recently when I got two identical LED floor lamps, and their remotes didn't operate each other, they had those unique codes. Fortunately with a hacked Sonoff RF bridge I was able to read and reproduce the signals for automation.

  • @mkase4697
    @mkase4697 3 ปีที่แล้ว +4

    I added a DIY antenna extension to a plug-in doorbell from Amazon (UK) and when testing it, never considered for a moment that it would be at mains voltage. Well, a clean pair of underwear later and I was now a LOT more respectful of my dodgy antenna!!

  • @nonactiveemail8141
    @nonactiveemail8141 3 ปีที่แล้ว

    Another great Video from Clive👍

  • @charliegordon5085
    @charliegordon5085 3 ปีที่แล้ว

    738K subscribers, congratulations 🇨🇦

  • @andreasu.3546
    @andreasu.3546 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    That remote looks so 1980s. Reminds me of the toy walkie talkies I had as a kid.

  • @georgeprout42
    @georgeprout42 3 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    Yay for saying PP3! I was starting to think I was the only person that didn't call it a "9V battery" these days.

    • @kingsman428
      @kingsman428 2 ปีที่แล้ว

      Even better is a PP9 😁

  • @piconano
    @piconano 3 ปีที่แล้ว

    I bought a $7 SONOFF a few years ago, and really like their design. Upgraded the firmware to run Tasmota. Love it.
    This is nothing but an old garage door opener chip and easy to hack. Also, the 2W standby power is just ridiculous.

  • @sipos0
    @sipos0 3 ปีที่แล้ว +5

    "Nice big chunky terminals. That's a good sign." - I feel like the live exposed metal is a much bigger bad sign.

  • @alpcns
    @alpcns 3 ปีที่แล้ว +21

    "A" and "B". Activate and (then) Burial.

  • @Dingbat217
    @Dingbat217 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    The tri-state inputs on the back of the remote is so that you can give the remotes different addresses so if you had a lot of them you could make sure they don't overlap.

  • @Uncle-Duncan-Shack
    @Uncle-Duncan-Shack 3 ปีที่แล้ว

    Neat, besides the way it gets it's 24Vdc.
    Touching the antenna connector will brighten your day unexpectedly.

  • @CraftMine1000
    @CraftMine1000 3 ปีที่แล้ว

    Other than the live antenna I'd say this was decently designed, very nice pcb!

  • @kimsleep4111
    @kimsleep4111 3 ปีที่แล้ว +15

    Im not certain why it even needs that stubby antenna, other than to make it look cool. Ive used many of this type of unit, and usually that short spiral wire antenna gets TONS of distance.

    • @davidaustin3272
      @davidaustin3272 3 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      I have another version of the same remote with 4 buttons for controlling a pool light and changing its color. It doesn't have the external antenna. Still 433 MHz. There is no need for that big 80s-cordless-phone antenna.

  • @heyarno
    @heyarno 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Perfect, even with live and neutral swapped for maximum shockage :D

  • @AgentLokVokun
    @AgentLokVokun 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Keep up the great content

  • @moseskioko1299
    @moseskioko1299 ปีที่แล้ว

    You videos are amazing

  • @67martinyoung
    @67martinyoung 3 ปีที่แล้ว

    Deep, really deep. Love it.

  • @amorphuc
    @amorphuc 3 ปีที่แล้ว

    Thanks Big Clive. Very cool.

  • @Rollmops94
    @Rollmops94 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    I love these videos.

  • @rockinghorsesciencemechani6020
    @rockinghorsesciencemechani6020 3 ปีที่แล้ว

    Love your videos big Clive. I wish I had your understanding of electronics. Jealous

  • @bbowling4979
    @bbowling4979 3 ปีที่แล้ว +10

    So how do you decouple the exterior casing of the antenna from the mains supply in a design like this?

    • @amojak
      @amojak 3 ปีที่แล้ว +11

      a low value capacitor in series with both legs on the board to be safe. something like a 100pf or less would be a short at 433mhz but not let through any AC mains.

    • @gavincurtis
      @gavincurtis 3 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      Mount one of those locking thermostat boxes over it.

    • @caramelldansen2204
      @caramelldansen2204 3 ปีที่แล้ว +6

      throw it in the recycling and buy a safe one.

  • @afeathereddinosaur
    @afeathereddinosaur 3 ปีที่แล้ว

    This piece of equipment could be quite the shocker, eh? Truly a Beast from the East

  • @therealjammit
    @therealjammit 3 ปีที่แล้ว +18

    Why didn't they at least separate the RF ground through a 1pf capacitor?

    • @colejohnson66
      @colejohnson66 3 ปีที่แล้ว +4

      That capacitor being removed saves a penny!

    • @eDoc2020
      @eDoc2020 3 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      That's how it was done on hot chassis TV sets.

    • @davidfaraday3085
      @davidfaraday3085 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Indeed it was, though the capacitor values were usually a lot higher than 1pF. At least for the older sets that needed Band 1 reception (40 - 70 MHz) the capacitors would typically be 1nF, (or .001 microfarad as it would have been described at the time). These capacitors were also usually shunted by a resistor, typically 2M2, to discharge them.

    • @Roflcopter4b
      @Roflcopter4b 3 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@eDoc2020 And many tube radios back in the day. Though they sometimes didn't bother with the capacitor for those too, leaving the chassis connected straight to the line (unpolarized plugs back then, so 50/50 chance to have a live chassis). Even when there was a cap, they almost invariably short over time. Fun stuff.

  • @zeekjones1
    @zeekjones1 3 ปีที่แล้ว +16

    Me: picks things up by the antenna.
    Also me: checks live wires with fingers.
    Also me: has abnormally high skin resistance.
    Looks like fun.
    I somehow want to buy this more.

    • @bigclivedotcom
      @bigclivedotcom  3 ปีที่แล้ว +19

      Don't really on your high skin resistance to much. Water makes a huge difference.

    • @zeekjones1
      @zeekjones1 3 ปีที่แล้ว +4

      @@bigclivedotcom
      Good thing I'm always dehydrated...
      .
      Jokes aside; I do take due precautions, only messing with known values.
      Although as a kid, how I learned of my resistance... I was the kid who put a finger in the light socket, and switch contacts, and plugs... Probably why I got interested in electricity and electronics.

  • @MrBrianms
    @MrBrianms ปีที่แล้ว

    Cover the exposed antenna with a thick plastic housing. Then it would pass. So near to a great design. Zapp! Brilliant video. Thanks.

  • @creativejamieplays7185
    @creativejamieplays7185 3 ปีที่แล้ว +7

    The crazy thing is, just yesterday I ordered a 12v remove relay with exactly the same control. The unit I have has one of those little pin connectors so you can move it for different modes. 1 mode is A- on and B- Off. 2nd mode is A- On A- Off B-Nothing. And if you take it out all together its just A-On until released. I am using its bits along with another external relay to make a buzzer to say when power goes off.

    • @mattelder1971
      @mattelder1971 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Thank you for that info. I've been trying to figure out how that damned jumper worked!!! The Chinglish in the product description on Amazon was no help at all.

    • @creativejamieplays7185
      @creativejamieplays7185 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      @@mattelder1971 you had instructions? :O. I just did trial and error.

  • @ObiwanNekody
    @ObiwanNekody 3 ปีที่แล้ว

    Thank you for sharing this!

  • @serversurfer6169
    @serversurfer6169 3 ปีที่แล้ว +33

    _“This chip isn’t powered until you press the button. Very strange…”_
    I don’t really know about this stuff, but isn’t that why/how it draws no current while idle? 🤓🤔🤷‍♂️

    • @bigclivedotcom
      @bigclivedotcom  3 ปีที่แล้ว +20

      It's the way they did it that was odd. But subsequently turns out to be a datasheet example.

    • @janosnagyj.9540
      @janosnagyj.9540 3 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      @@bigclivedotcom Maybe that controller doesn't have sleep or low power mode... which is still odd for a mostly battery-operated ASIC... but they solved it with this workaround. It's much more difficult to do this hack on silicone level :)

    • @MostlyInteresting
      @MostlyInteresting 3 ปีที่แล้ว +4

      On newer MCU's this hardware wake up circuitry is built in. Just tickle a pin and it will wake up and do a thing and the go back to sleep.

    • @Agent24Electronics
      @Agent24Electronics 3 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      @@janosnagyj.9540 Impossible, I'd imagine, to hack it with silicone... :P

    • @MrBBea4
      @MrBBea4 3 ปีที่แล้ว

      I'm torn between strange and an old-school brilliant way to save that poor old 9v battery as there is no "idle" state. Other then the slight "parasitic drain" this thing draws next to nothing when the buttons are open. Just enough to cause the battery to leak out in a few years of being lost behind the couch. Reminds me of my first TV clicker, back in 1970's-something. Way to go China, always pushing the curve in engineering advancement

  • @chris1newbury
    @chris1newbury 3 ปีที่แล้ว

    i like that, its nice and sturdy but with just the right amount of danger

  • @GNARGNARHEAD
    @GNARGNARHEAD 3 ปีที่แล้ว

    such an insight, thanks so much

  • @stevenspmd
    @stevenspmd 3 ปีที่แล้ว +23

    If it was meant to be enclosed in a box then why is the antenna exposed? Seems like what you really have there is a wireless taser :-)

    • @NorthernKitty
      @NorthernKitty 3 ปีที่แล้ว +4

      I believe so that you can run an antenna cable. For example, imagine this relay is in a chamber deep below ground and you want to control it remotely from above ground. You could then run a conduit for an antenna so you'd be able to receive a signal from above. Still, they could easily have made a removable cover or boot as a safety precaution.

    • @davidmcgill1000
      @davidmcgill1000 3 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      @@NorthernKitty Which sounds like a great way to cause radio interference thanks to its unique "feature".

    • @PeterShipley1
      @PeterShipley1 3 ปีที่แล้ว

      I'd like to see how the design would be fixed

  • @matthewbeddow3278
    @matthewbeddow3278 3 ปีที่แล้ว

    Would it be possible to heat shrink sleave the live metal antenna part, obviously you'd have to cut the sleeve in half to get it over but I think that would make it at least safer? Not sure if it would reduce the antennas sensitivity.

  • @TheSpotify95
    @TheSpotify95 3 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    Lovely! I love it when we have parts that are easily touchable, that are live at full mains voltage :).
    In fact, you could add an external antennae to it (which is more powerful/more directional). Would that not make the antennae live?

  • @Umski
    @Umski 3 ปีที่แล้ว

    I do like that telescopic antenna'd remote - looks like an evil villain's A for Activate, B for Boom type of accessory :D

  • @AntzWilkz
    @AntzWilkz 3 ปีที่แล้ว

    Good Zener tip!

  • @felenov
    @felenov 3 ปีที่แล้ว +4

    Chinese engineering has met our expectations this time. Great device

  • @darrenglynn597
    @darrenglynn597 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Where do you get the plug socket from that you use that has the multi display on it. The one you use in your videos. Thanks for your help.

  • @jlucasound
    @jlucasound 3 ปีที่แล้ว

    Clive said "Here we go" and then "There we go". I was running back and forth. But he did get that remote open quite smoothly. ;-)

  • @whoeveriam0iam14222
    @whoeveriam0iam14222 3 ปีที่แล้ว

    the slider on the side of the controller is for oN and ofF
    or No and Ffo? they were looking at a button upside down when making the button

  • @BitwiseMobile
    @BitwiseMobile 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    I remember when I was an avionics technician in the Navy they told us that even 100mA can be fatal in the right conditions, so 75mA is going to give you a decent shock.

  • @YTANDY100
    @YTANDY100 3 ปีที่แล้ว

    is it possible to cut the track to the antenna and put in a capacitor like on the old tv recievers ? , that would make it safer :-)

  • @AintBigAintClever
    @AintBigAintClever 5 หลายเดือนก่อน

    I just got a similar unit from Amazon through the Vine programme. The antenna shield on this one is wired directly to neutral, so it's getting a nice PAT fail photo for the one star review.

  • @philmerrifield1163
    @philmerrifield1163 3 ปีที่แล้ว +6

    Yet another live item from China lol I bought a set of mains powered lights from China just before Christmas and got a zing off it, 1 diode between you and certain death 😁love your vids mate stay safe and sound in these very uncertain times

  • @nutsnproud6932
    @nutsnproud6932 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    The way the transmitter switches power the IC via the transistor keeps the quiescent current super low. It is for long battery life.

  • @kevinwingfield2007
    @kevinwingfield2007 3 ปีที่แล้ว

    Would not a mains rated low value capacitor in series with the antenna outside serve to isolate it from the the mains and eliminate shock hazard?

  • @ThePoxun
    @ThePoxun 3 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    You know what video I'd really like to see... something demonstrating the issues with these mains referenced exposed metals... something maybe starting with an oscilloscope and ending with some bangs and flashes and maybe a hotdog or two for human finger substitutes ;)

  • @simontay4851
    @simontay4851 3 ปีที่แล้ว +10

    You could easily put some heatshrink over the exposed metal of the antenna.

    • @capnskiddies
      @capnskiddies 3 ปีที่แล้ว

      TH-cam says you've commented 2 minutes ago. I came to the comments 10 minutes ago to find this comment.

  • @AntzWilkz
    @AntzWilkz 3 ปีที่แล้ว

    Cut the ground and signal lines to the antenna and put 220pF Y type caps in both paths. It will still work and it will not be a shock hazard anymore. It was a method Phillips use to use in their TVs.

  • @chrishartley1210
    @chrishartley1210 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Programming modes for these remote switches are often momentary (single button), continuous (while single button pressed), toggle (single button) and on/off (two buttons).
    I can't see that momentary would be much use in a switched relay configuration though.

  • @AiOinc1
    @AiOinc1 3 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    The "N and F" positions, my guess has to be they just took the last letters of On and Off and stuck them in the side. maybe they don't know I/O yet?

  • @transistorbaluba
    @transistorbaluba 3 ปีที่แล้ว

    would it be safe to wrap te disposed metal with electrical tape? or would that mess with transmisjon?

  • @chrisglover1978
    @chrisglover1978 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Could you measure the voltage between the attenna and earth? Would be interesting to see what was actually there

  • @punkrockllama
    @punkrockllama 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    I wonder how many of these eBay or wish things are factory rejects. Like they made up a batch with the wrong stickers and decided that it was better to just sell them cheap than put on a new sticker or dump them.
    I've seen it with like chef knives. It's pretty smart.

  • @alexmarshall4331
    @alexmarshall4331 3 ปีที่แล้ว

    Whoa!! It's 6.30am here in Lockdowntown south east London LALALA...that's set me up for the day...hope all is well out there in the Irish Sea Clive 👉🇬🇧👈👉💎👈👉☑️

  • @HiddenWindshield
    @HiddenWindshield 3 ปีที่แล้ว +5

    It's possible that the "F" and "N" on the transmitter switch are short for "off" and "on", but since they start with the same letter, they just used the second letter of each word.

    • @jkobain
      @jkobain 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      OG [I/O] doesn't do it anymore?

    • @carpdog42
      @carpdog42 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      @@jkobain I always thought I/O was odd. If "I" means current then what is "O"? If I is a pictogram of a bridged circuit, then O is.... huh a loop? Is I a pictogram and O just stand for "off"? One way or another its a broken abbreviation or metaphor.

    • @boulder795
      @boulder795 3 ปีที่แล้ว +4

      @@carpdog42 I=1 O=0. 1 is on, 0 is off

    • @mattelder1971
      @mattelder1971 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      @@boulder795 I'm amazed at the number of people I encounter that don't understand this. I guess growing up in the age of the 8-bit microcomputers and learning about binary very early on, it just makes sense to me, where people who have never really dealt with binary are totally confused by it.

  • @PaulSteMarie
    @PaulSteMarie 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    ofF and oN. Makes perfect sense. Would you call those tailiviations?

  • @enginebeer6755
    @enginebeer6755 3 ปีที่แล้ว

    Excellent stuff, enjoyable, thanks. Why not break the antenna track and solder a 20 or 100pF capacitor so the antenna is not live?

  • @mysock351C
    @mysock351C 3 ปีที่แล้ว

    21:25 Suddenly hearing birds chirping in the background makes me wonder if Clive often does what I do, and forget to go to bed. "Shit, where the hell did the sun suddenly come from? I'm still working on this!"

  • @oswaldjh
    @oswaldjh 3 ปีที่แล้ว

    Similar circuitry and operating frequency of commercial garage door openers.
    Could this be the primary use of this device?

  • @viz_aviz9189
    @viz_aviz9189 3 ปีที่แล้ว

    Clive can you do a distance test with and without the antenna, that would be interesting to know?

  • @jkobain
    @jkobain 3 ปีที่แล้ว +5

    Wow, the title is already so promising!

  • @davestech6357
    @davestech6357 3 ปีที่แล้ว

    Greetings Clive, I am curious do you have a video that explains the capacitor dropper voltage and current you want to get out of it? To know what values are needed.

    • @bigclivedotcom
      @bigclivedotcom  3 ปีที่แล้ว

      For the low current applications they are suited to, it falls into a very small range between 100nF and 1uF.

  • @paranoiia8
    @paranoiia8 3 ปีที่แล้ว

    I saw similar remote and instead of microchip it had that panel with tinny little switches with numbers that you can program manually to match receiver. I found out after some playing with it I can set it to turn on/off pool pump of my neighbor house :D

    • @bigclivedotcom
      @bigclivedotcom  3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      In the past people built binary code counters to scan through every address.

  • @filthylucreonyoutube
    @filthylucreonyoutube 3 ปีที่แล้ว

    10:06 uneven _what_ sharing? 😄
    But seriously, I learned more about electronics from this one vid than a full quarter at school.

  • @PeterShipley1
    @PeterShipley1 3 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    The two amplifiers in the remote are probably also there to reduce harmonics when transmitting.
    Have you considered using a rtl-sdr dongle to get RF samples? It would be some a trivial to sample and display the bit pattern code.
    Since this transmitter uses on off AM style you'll be able to see the pattern just by looking at the waveform.
    I would suggest using the rtl_433 program, it has a feature to use display the raw and demodulated waveform with timing.

  • @georgefriday4872
    @georgefriday4872 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    Like the video. I wondered if you had seen or had an opinion on the cheap sonoff brand of wireless control devices. ?

    • @bigclivedotcom
      @bigclivedotcom  2 ปีที่แล้ว

      Hackable with new firmware. But may introduce a security risk and electrical hazard to some situation.

  • @markpunt9638
    @markpunt9638 3 ปีที่แล้ว

    Was waiting to find out about the RF circuitry - it was going to be the most interesting thing in a long time.What are those MOSFETs, for example?

    • @bigclivedotcom
      @bigclivedotcom  3 ปีที่แล้ว

      Video coming soon with remote switch RF transmitter reverse engineered.

  • @chrisengland5523
    @chrisengland5523 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    I'm amazed at the number of gadgets bought on eBay that have potentially lethal faults or designs - in this case a metal antenna housing that's connected by a diode to the mains input. I have two question:
    1. Whatever happened to Trading Standards in the UK?
    2. Are there similar dodgy products for sale on Amazon?