Norton Introduces 679 Touch Less Wall Switch

Sometimes things just work out for the better. The installation of the Norton Touch Less Wall Switch happens to be one of them. I was able to obtain an early production 679 Touch Less Wall Switch to do an installation article. This new Norton product is designed to replace the mechanical type wall switch used to control an automatic door operator (ADO) or a switch operated mechanism where the situation requires hands-free operation.
Arrangements were made to install the Norton 679 Touch Less Wall Switch at a large facility. While walking towards a potential installation location, a senior official was contacted. He became quite interested in the Norton 679, especially the lack of contact in order to activate the ADO. He suggested a different location where the mechanical push pad was causing problems for the individual whose office shared the same wall.

It could be surmised that persons pressing the wall switch to open a pair of high-volume doors might become a tad bit excited. The resulting sound/vibration could affect the office worker’s work habit. A sign was placed onto the face of the wall switch as an attempt at encouraging less exuberant behavior.

The Norton 679 Touch Less Wall Switch operates with an active microwave motion sensor using the Doppler Effect principle. The sensor sends out a microwave signal which reflects off of the moving target. The reflected signal is compared to the original signal. Because the target is moving, the reflected signal is different. This difference is processed and sends a signal to open the door. A hand moving near the microwave motion sensor or a person entering the sensing field is sufficient to activate the relay. The microwave motion sensor is immune to electrical and radio frequency interference.

The 679 has two output modes: Toggle Mode and Pulse Mode. Toggle Mode requires two motion sensors; one to activate the relay and a second sensor to deactivate the relay. The Toggle Mode is used for switch applications requiring a set period of time (distance) in order to complete the task. The Pulse Mode is recommended for automatic door applications. In the Pulse Mode, the detection activates the relay for sufficient time to operate an ADO. To set the Norton 679, there is a switch on the face of the sensor. Toggle Mode is up and Pulse Mode is down.

The sensing field of the 679 Touch Less Wall Switch is adjustable from 4 inches to 24 inches in an elliptical pattern (stretched circle) extending outward from the sensor. The potentiometer is also located on the face of the sensor. Adjusting the potentiometer clockwise increases the sensing field.

Twelve to 24 volts AC or DC power is required to operate the Norton Touch Less Wall Switch. The draw is minimal, less than 1.5 watts. The relay is rated at up to 60VDC or 125VAC at one Amp. The maximum switching power is 30W DC/60VA AC.

The Norton 679 Touch Less Wall Switch comes with a single gang faceplate, a double gang faceplate, an adapter ring and a length of four conductor cable. There is an adapter ring for installing the double gang faceplate onto a double gang box.

For the purpose of this installation, the Norton 679 Touch Less Wall Switch was retrofit onto a single gang box that previously contained the electrical connections for a mechanical wall switch. Power had been provided to the single gang box for this installation.

Installation requires four wires to be connected to the microwave motion sensor: two wires for power (12 to 24 VDC/VAC) and two wires from the automatic door operator. The two wires from the automatic door operator are normally in the gang box.

NOTE: If the mechanical wall switch is equipped with an operational battery powered Radio Frequency (RF) transmitter, attach the two wires to the RF transmitter to the Normally Open (NO) and the Common (COM) connectors in the microwave sensor. The unit will power the RF transmitter.

Unscrew and remove the screws from the mechanical wall switch, permitting removal of the plate and the switch mechanism. Disconnect the two wires from the back of the switch. Remove the switch.

Connect the two power and two switch wires to the Touch Less Wall Switch. Molded letters are on the housing of the sensor. If you are using the included 4-conductor cable, recommended wiring is to use the red and black wires are power. The green wire is attached to the Normally Open (NO) contact and the white wire is connected to the common (COM). The cable connector uses small straight slot screws to secure the wires.

The single-gang faceplate snaps onto the face of the microwave motion sensor. Black Phillips Head screws are included. However, for this installation, longer screws were required as the gang box was mounted beneath the wall board.

Once the installation was completed, power was provided to the Norton 679 Touch Less Wall Switch.

Waving a hand in front of the faceplate would open the door. The black color of the faceplate slowed people down from just pressing on the Touch Less Wall Switch. After a short period of time, people began to just pass by and the double doors would open.

No longer would the wall switch make noise. I bet the person in the office behind the new Norton Touch Less Wall Switch is happy.
Although the 679 is not designed for exterior applications, Norton includes weather resistant foam with each Touch Less Wall Switch.

For more information, contact your local locksmith distributor or Norton Door Controls, 3000 Highway 74 East, Monroe, NC 28112. Telephone: 877-974-2255. Fax: 800-338-0965. Web Site: www.nortondoorcontrols.com.