How Does Delta Touch 2 O® Technology Work? [Explained]

The Delta Touch 2 O® is a revolutionary technology that has moved the faucet industry forward. Whether you have dirty or slippery hands, thanks to the Touch 2 O® tech, you can turn the faucet on and off with a simple touch.

But how does Delta Touch 2 O® technology work?

Touch 2 O® technology relies on two capacitive touch sensors. When you touch any of these sensors, you make the faucet activate the solenoid valve. And this valve stops and starts the flow of water.

However, that is just the short version of how the entire mechanism works. There are more interesting things about technology that you should know about.

How Does Delta Touch 2 O® Work?

As mentioned earlier, Delta Touch 2 O® utilizes two capacitive touch sensors. One is at the handle and the second one is at the spout.

Now, what is a capacitive touch sensor?

In short, it is a sensing device that measures capacitance. When one of these sensors is integrated into a faucet, it will first set a baseline capacitance level.

Once the sensor establishes a baseline capacitance, it constantly takes the measurement and looks for an increase. That can happen when you touch the faucet.

This increase in capacitance is relayed by the touch sensor to other components, which eventually moves the solenoid valve. And through that, the water starts or stops flowing from the faucet.

How Can Your Touch Activate the Touch 2 O® Faucet?

We all have one unique characteristic, which is called capacitance. In fact, if you look a little closer, you will learn our bodies have 22 pico farads of capacitance.

Here farad is a measurement unit of capacitance.

Now, what exactly does capacitance mean?

Well, it is an electronic term that has a measurement unit. Have you heard about capacitors before? They store electric energy, right?

Their ability to store electricity depends on their measurement of capacitance.

You can get real-life examples of having capacitance in your body. Try walking on carpets in the winter and then touching a metallic object.

You will feel a static discharge, which will be due to your body having the ability to store electric energy.

Nonetheless, when you touch either of the sensor present on the Touch 2 O® faucet, you change its capacitance reading. And as you know, the sensor then activates the solenoid valve, which initiates or stops the flow of water.

Can Touch 2 O® Differentiate Between Touch and Grab?

If you own a Delta Touch2O, you might have noticed that it does not activate when you are grabbing the faucet.

No, you don’t need to reset your Delta Touch 2O faucet to make it work when you are holding it. It is meant to work like that!

Delta adjusted the sensors and made them capable of understanding whether you are touching them or holding them. The sensor differentiates the two by measuring the time you are touching it.

According to Delta, touches are defined as being less than 300 ms (milliseconds).

That means the sensor will not activate the solenoid when you keep on touching the sensor for more than 300 ms.

How Is the Entire Touch 2 O® Faucet Can Sense Touch?

As discussed earlier, there are two sensors on the faucet. One is at the handle, while the other is at the spout.

And in case you didn’t know, the handle of the models are made of brass.

Brass is conductive, meaning that it can relay the capacitance measurement to the sensor. That makes the entire handle capable of sensing touch.

What about the spout? Well, it is made of brass too! For that reason, the entire spout can tell whether you have touched it or not.

You can play with this property and customize your user experience if you want to.

How can you do that?

Make the touch sensor areas (handle or the spout) connected to anything conductive (metal bar, metal sheet, or wire).

Whatever conductive element you will attach to the touch areas will become an extension of the touch sensor. Cool, right?

However, there are some areas that do not have the ability to sense touch.

They are −

Delta has made these two parts incapable of registering touch for an apparent reason. They can make you accidentally activate or deactivate the faucet.

Final Words

So, how does Delta Touch 2 O® technology work again? In short, the technology relies on capacitive sensors that can sense your touch.

So, when you touch one of the sensors, it makes the spout start or stop the flow of water. On that note, does touch technology use electricity? What do you think?