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Gordon says Grohe Dawn Watertech has equipped the Durban
beachfront as well as the high-security sections of Pollsmoor
Prison with touch-controlled Piezo taps, because they are so
vandal resistant.
Don’t faucet
Still, vandalism is a significant problem. Durban beachgoers
have come to know that there are battery boxes, so they break
them open at the back and steal them. Or, proper maintenance
isn’t performed, the batteries run flat, the taps stop working, and
vandalism ensues.
However, a solution is on the cards: electronic taps fitted with
photovoltaic panels on their handles. This means sunlight can
charge up a battery or supercapacitor, which then operates the
electronics on the tap.
He says Grohe has sent a photovoltaic sample down to the Durban
coast. “They've got an L-shaped pole with two buttons; one for
the overhead shower and one for a foot wash. The wire will drop
directly into the stainless steel pole, so people won't know there’s
a solar panel up there.”
He concedes there is a problem with batteries, especially in
regions with high humidity, like KwaZulu-Natal. Also, many of the
batteries you buy are almost flat by the time you get them. “With
ours, you can go to any corner cafe and get batteries. Several
competitors use pricier camera-type batteries that you can only
get from certain shops.”
Gordon believes a perfectly charged battery should be good
for around 250 000 (open and closed) cycles. “It really
depends on the quality of battery and how busy the area
is. They could last anything from two months to two years,
depending on the installation.”
Flood of questions
A question that frequently arises pertains to who exactly does the
installations of these systems, since electricians are not allowed to
do plumbing and plumbers are not allowed to do electrical work.
He says prices have reduced to the point where they are about
the same price as luxury, single-lever mixer taps. And contrary to
popular belief, children are the least problematic of users because
they are born into a world of electronics.
“In the beginning, it’s a gimmick to them. But, they soon tire
of playing with it. These days most people know how to use
electronic taps because, somewhere along the line, they have
come into contact with them.”
Overall, he says the biggest problem with electronic taps in South
Africa is the maintenance thereof.
“At some one-stop shops the taps aren’t chrome anymore
because people have used Scotchguard to clean them. People
also use coarse materials to clean the infrared lenses, which leave
them matte or opaque and, therefore, useless.
Maintenance is something that you’ve got to train the guys on,”
he insists. PA
September 2017 Volume 23 I Number 7