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Shabbos alarm switch

For members of the Jewish religion, Elvey Security Technologies has launched the Johannesburg Beth Din-endorsed Gramma Switch for activating home-alarm systems on Shabbat.

The Gramma Switch is based on well-established Jewish law, which permits indirect labour on Shabbat in specific cases of great need. Pushing the button on the Gramma Switch does not draw power from the battery. Unlike a normal remote, this gramma switch is always on. A microprocessor inside the switch constantly sends out a pulse every 10 seconds to detect if the button has been pressed. Once the microprocessor detects that the button has been pressed, it waits for the next pulse in order to confirm the change. Once that happens, the microprocessor sends out a signal to change the state of the alarm in order to activate or deactivate it.

The button is a click-button switch and does not create a circuit. “Our aim was to give the community a device they could rely on, that was easy to use, and at prices similar to other remotes and receivers in the market,” says Jack Edery CEO of Elvey Security Technologies.

While other similar products may exist, none are ICASA (Independent Communication Authority of South Africa) compliant and of the high quality that the community needed.

The Gramma Switch is manufactured by Sherlotronics and distributed by Elvey Security Technologies. It is approved for use on Shabbat and Festivals by the Zomet Institute in Israel and endorsed by the Beth Din of Johannesburg.

According to the Johannesburg Beth Din, the Gramma Switch may be used to operate a home security alarm system on Shabbat and festivals if the person doing so would normally activate the alarm system during the week and is anxious regarding their safety if the alarm system was not activated. The Gramma Switch should not be used indiscriminately and may only be used in the above-mentioned circumstances relating to personal safety.

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