KOCHI: A device which can save power in a cost effective and practical manner. A device which will save 20 per cent of electricity and hence prove effective in saving 30 per cent of the electricity bill, this every person’s dream! An innovation in this regard has been developed by two students, Varghese Libin and Mebin Joseph, of Rajagiri School Of Engineering and Technology here.
“Households are the major consumers of electricity. In fact, at present to use one unit of electricity, two units of energy has to be produced. These facts persuaded us to think about developing a device which is both cost effective and practical. The device, I-Socket, has two advanced features like self learning routine method and phantom power detection,” said Varghese Libin.
Briefing about the device, Varghese said that, the device they developed works more like a switchboard. But it comes with much advanced features and intelligence. The innovators claims that the system they developed will automatically study the users’ manner of using the electrical equipments for a period of one week and then it will automatically turn them off when the user forgets to do so. “In addition to monitoring the total power usage it will remind the user about consumption by means of a beep and display. The advantage of phantom power detection is that it will detect the active power equipments which are in standby mode and if they were remaining on for a long time it will switch them off automatically,” said Varghese.
Meanwhile, Mebin said that, the device they have developed is of low-cost and will be modified in a time bound manner. According to him, the device which was developed sometime ago was modified after obtaining suggestions from experts. “In fact this is the phase II of the device,” said him. The innovators got a major boost when they were presented with the Young Innovators Challenge Award 2015, instituted by 3M India in association with CII. According to company representatives, the innovators, who were picked from 170 applicants, were selected for their encouraging as well as inspiring idea and were presented with a cash award of `2 lakh.
When asked about, what they will do with the prize money, the innovators said that the amount will be used to develop the device further, so that it can be developed into a market model. “We are also planning to start a startup with our friends. The prize money is sure to help us in giving wings to our dreams,” said the youngsters.