Solis solar-powered hands-free faucet
By Marc Perton 
posted Jun 20th 2005 8:54AM
posted Jun 20th 2005 8:54AM
We like the idea of hands-free faucets — not
because we're germophobes, but because we're too damn lazy to turn the handle — but most of them are designed for
businesses and require a power source of some kind to operate. But the Solis faucet from Sloan Valve Co. solves part of
the equation for home users by using ambient light to store enough power in a solar cell to control the faucet. In
addition to providing hands-free operation, the faucet has a built-in temperature control, so you don't have to worry
about getting scalded when washing your hands. All that automatic goodness doesn't come cheap; plumbing supply
companies sell this for about $500. Guess that's the price of laziness.
hi there from Aussie
Nice product, although a touch expensive. Just to let you know, that there is a good touchless faucet by itouchless.
check out
www.ezfaucet.com
I have been trialing one for Australia and it works well.
A solar cell doesn't store power, it is the material that the sunlight knocks electrons off of and thus produces the electricity. To store it, you would need... *drumroll* a battery.
Sounds good but I wonder just how much light is needed to make it work. My bathroom is usually dark and there are no windows...
(¯`·.¸¸.-> fLeShTwIsTeR <-.¸¸.·´¯)
The Puzzle Box Shop
http://www.HellraiserPuzzleBox.com
It seems like they could use the water pressure itself as a mini hydro-electric power plant to generate enough electricity to power itself.
I can never get those to turn on.
"It seems like they could use the water pressure itself as a mini hydro-electric power plant to generate enough electricity to power itself."
Cool idea. All it would need to move is one or two little solenoids I suppose. A solar backup might be nice though.
Run with it man! Make yourself a million bucks!
well if no water is flowing, how can u generate electricity?
well i guess u could have a small battery and it could open the valve and a generator would recharge the battery.
Well, even without water flowing, there is still water pressure, something clever could be done there. Plus if they're using ambient light to charge the solar cells, it's clearly not using much electricity at all (the same as a cheap calculator), so when it runs out of juice, it could simply turn itself on long enough to recharge itself, a few seconds ought to do it.
I have one in my house, the kids love it! I asked the guy where I bought it what the deal is whith the cell, and he said that it extends the battery life. I put this one in to replace a Delta faucet that had gotten a little long in the tooth. I am told that the Sloan faucet will go 8ish years without a battery change. If you get one for your house get the EAF-275-ISM IC. I got one that was just ISM (which means it has a temperature mixer) and without the IC which is a little button override that you can press to make the water run. I have a friend that has one with the button and it is much better. I have the faucet a ways from the hot water heater, and with the button the water will run until there is hot water. I also changed the aerator to a higher flow. It's a nice product.