Control and automation manufacturer, RTI has announced the worldwide shipping of its water-resistant U3 Remote Control.
Ideal for outdoor use, the U3 can be used safely in areas with hot tubs, pools, patios, and decks. It is also safe to use in indoor areas where water is used such as kitchens, bathrooms, garages, gyms, and many work environments.
“Accidental contact with water – such as a drop in the pool or sing – can ruin a standard remote, but the need for intuitive control over today’s smart home systems isn’t confined to dry environments,” said Robert Lawton, RTI’s director of product management.
“The water-resistant U3 enables integrators to provide their clients with exceptional control in any environment – whether it’s cooling off in the pool, lounging on the deck, or soaking in the bathtub – without the worry of damage to the remote.”
The U3 remote is IP66-rated meaning it delivers control with two-way feedback of connected electronics in environments too harsh for standard remotes.
If dropped in something like a pool, the remote will float for easy retrieval.
With outdoor use in mind, the U3 has an electronic paper display which is easy to read in bright light and the fully programmable soft-touch buttons enable quick access to commonly used functions.
An inductive charging station and secondary dock for water areas are both included with the remote and are both wall-mountable for convenience.
Lawton added: “The inductive charging and wireless programming updates allow the U3 to be completely sealed, delivering exceptional moisture and dust protection. Our testing team even froze one in a pail of water!”
The remote uses the RTI dual-RF platform, supporting both 433 MHz RF for one-way control and 2.4 GHz ZigBee for bi-directional communication with RTI processors, which can support third-party electronics like music servers, lighting, and pool control systems.
The low power requirement of the electronic paper display delivers an exceptionally long battery life between charges, and the display can be fully customised to each project using the RTI Integration Designer programming software.