Making Automatic Faucets to Mitigate the Spread of the COVID-19 Pandemic

Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) was established with a mandate to become a national institution of science, culture, and higher education that always practices and translates the Tridharma of Higher Education in various aspects of national and state life. Universitas Gadjah Mada is determined to dedicate science and technology (IPTEK) and culture for the benefit of the nation and humanity. UGM is not only a reference for education and development of science and technology as well as changes in world culture, but also the delivery of science and technology to the community which is manifested in the Community Service (PkM) program.

In this condition of the Covid-19 pandemic, the Community Service Team of the D4 Electrical Engineering Technology Study Program (TRE) of SV UGM created an automatic faucet product as an effort to prevent the transmission of the Covid-19 virus in the community. A team consisting of several lecturers and TRE students succeeded in making automatic faucets which were then used in DIY Regional Health Centers, one of which was in the Wonosari area, Gunung Kidul.

The idea of ​​making automatic water faucet products stems from the widespread spread of the Covid-19 virus in the community. One way to prevent it is by diligently washing hands and avoiding physical contact with other people and avoiding contact with objects that have the potential to be touched by many people, such as water faucets and doorknobs. The automatic faucet is designed in such a way that it uses an infrared sensor as an object detector so that users do not need to touch the faucet while washing their hands.

The working principle of the automatic faucet is that when the infrared sensor detects an object, the sensor will send information to the relay as a control system of the solenoid valve so that the valve will open to drain water automatically from the faucet. When the sensor does not detect an object, the solenoid valve will automatically close again so that water cannot flow. The process of making the automatic faucet takes less than two weeks.

In addition to making automatic faucets, the service team also held socialization related to the use of automatic faucets to the community in Wonosari, Gunung Kidul. In the socialization there was a demonstration of the use of automatic faucets as well as an explanation of how to maintain faucets so that they are not easily damaged. With this socialization, the public will understand and be more aware of the potential transmission of the Covid-19 virus by always implementing the protocol for preventing the transmission of the Covid-19 virus, one of which is washing hands.

Types of Water Faucets According to their Functions

Getting to Know More about the Types of Water Faucets

The cleanliness of the residence and workplace cannot be separated from the role of a water faucet. Faucet is a device used to remove water from a water installation system. With its relatively small size, faucets are indispensable as one of the important elements in an activity that uses water. This water faucet works with a hose or pipe that is used to drain the water.

The water faucet has a more special function, namely to control the amount of water that is released. With its small size, the faucet becomes a very helpful tool in daily operations. Hoses and bathrooms definitely need this little tool. It turns out that the selection of water faucets can affect the beauty of the interior starting from the kitchen and toilet. Because, currently there are many water faucets circulating in the market with various designs, shapes and colors.

Water Faucet by Dcota

Well, usually in a house or residence, the function of this faucet is generally divided into three, namely a faucet for the kitchen, a faucet in the bathroom which is generally divided into two, namely for the sink and bathtub, and a water faucet that is outside the room.

Modern Kitchen Equipment for Today’s Restaurants and Cafes

In addition, what you need to pay attention to is the function of each faucet. For example, the water faucet used in the kitchen is of course placed about 30 centimeters higher, because its function is used to wash kitchen utensils which of course require more space. This is different from the way the faucet is installed in the sink, which is lower and closer to the placemat, because it only functions to wash hands.

Furthermore, there is also a hot and cold water faucet system where you only need to slide the faucet left or right. Usually, this faucet has a sign that is red for hot water and blue for cold water. And the middle one for room temperature temperature.

In this modern era, the faucet model continues to develop. The earliest model was the threaded mode, with the system going up and down in a closed and openable hole. The second mode is a swivel system using the ball in it as a cover. There is also a faucet system that opens by pressing, as well as an automatic faucet that uses a motion sensor.

Currently, there are many types of faucets available in various shapes, colors, and sizes. In general, faucets are divided into four types, namely:

Ball faucet

This type of faucet is the most abundant and the easiest to find. The characteristics of this faucet is located on the handle which is single. How to turn off or turn on the water flow is fairly easy, you just need to move the rotary lever at the top of the faucet. Then the ball located in the faucet will open so that water can come out or slide down.

Tube faucet (cartridge faucet)

This type of faucet also has a tube but its function is clearly different. The tube contained in this faucet cartridge can be moved down and up by pressing it. Its function is to adjust the volume of water to be removed from the pipe or hose.

Disc faucet

This faucet is the result of technological advances and new discoveries. With single shaped handle. Now for the body and the body is a cylinder. This dish faucet has the specialty of being equipped with a fairly wide tube size. This tube has the function of serving as a shade for a disc of which there are two. This plate can be shifted from one direction to another. The function of this shift is to get the required water temperature, either hot, cold or warm. This type of faucet has good resistance so that it is less likely to damage or leak.

Compression faucet

This faucet is an old type of faucet. In general, it has two handles or handles that are used to dispense hot or cold water. The way it works is to use a compression rod that consists of a rock or screw and a seal or washer. When turned off, this tool will press the shutoff valve so that water does not come out again. Unfortunately, after the discovery of more sophisticated faucet technology such as disc faucets, this type of compression faucet is rarely used. Because it often causes leakage problems in the insulation and ring parts.