# Solution for thermal touch button? **URL:** \ **Category:** Devices\ **Created:** [January 3, 2022, 12:55pm UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/solution-for-thermal-touch-button/57706 "2022-01-03T12:55:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![moenieseuren](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/user_avatar/community.homey.app/moenieseuren/32/16465_2.png) [@moenieseuren](https://community.homey.app/u/moenieseuren)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2022, 12:55pm UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/solution-for-thermal-touch-button/57706/1 "2022-01-03T12:55:42Z")
My washing machine and tumble dryer are both started by a thermal touch button. I would love to auto-start the machines when my solar panels are generating power, but I cannot find any solution to simulate a human touch on the start button. Some kind of small heating element could maybe do the trick; did anyone here try anything like this, and did it go well? I’d prefer to keep both machines intact, by the way, so I really want to use a something that can be applied from the outside. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![robertklep](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/user_avatar/community.homey.app/robertklep/32/160628_2.png) [@robertklep](https://community.homey.app/u/robertklep)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2022, 1:40pm UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/solution-for-thermal-touch-button/57706/2 "2022-01-03T13:40:51Z")
Are you sure it’s thermal and not capacitive? ---
**Author:** ![moenieseuren](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/user_avatar/community.homey.app/moenieseuren/32/16465_2.png) [@moenieseuren](https://community.homey.app/u/moenieseuren)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2022, 2:46pm UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/solution-for-thermal-touch-button/57706/3 "2022-01-03T14:46:27Z")
I’m not an specialist, but the electronics inside look like this, according to the manufacturers website. ![fffff](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/uploads/athom/original/3X/b/d/bd0f6bb8351a3d0b6e62cc24ee26e0f65c10ce89.gif) The spiral-shaped parts are behind the display in the positions where one is supposed to touch. ---
**Author:** ![robertklep](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/user_avatar/community.homey.app/robertklep/32/160628_2.png) [@robertklep](https://community.homey.app/u/robertklep)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2022, 2:58pm UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/solution-for-thermal-touch-button/57706/4 "2022-01-03T14:58:00Z")
Those look like capacitive sensors. You could use a device like a Switchbot that would push a grounded metal strip against the touch-sensitive part (although it wouldn’t be very pretty). ---
**Author:** ![DirkG](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/user_avatar/community.homey.app/dirkg/32/118897_2.png) [@DirkG](https://community.homey.app/u/DirkG)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2022, 4:24pm UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/solution-for-thermal-touch-button/57706/5 "2022-01-03T16:24:10Z")
The Smart Implant from Fibaro or the Shelly Unit can be used for such purposes. However, very good electronic skills are required to install them. In addition, the electronic technical data must of course be compatible. **Edit** !! Please ask your local electrician if it works with the mentioned devices !! ---
**Author:** ![robertklep](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/user_avatar/community.homey.app/robertklep/32/160628_2.png) [@robertklep](https://community.homey.app/u/robertklep)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2022, 5:07pm UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/solution-for-thermal-touch-button/57706/6 "2022-01-03T17:07:31Z")
> [@DirkG](#): > > The Smart Implant from Fibaro or the Shelly Unit can be used for such purposes. I’m not sure, capacitive sensors don’t work by detecting a make-or-break contact, which is what both these devices offer. ---
**Author:** ![DirkG](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/user_avatar/community.homey.app/dirkg/32/118897_2.png) [@DirkG](https://community.homey.app/u/DirkG)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2022, 5:25pm UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/solution-for-thermal-touch-button/57706/7 "2022-01-03T17:25:43Z")
Okay!? I thought capacitive sensors also work somehow like switches. ---
**Author:** ![robertklep](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/user_avatar/community.homey.app/robertklep/32/160628_2.png) [@robertklep](https://community.homey.app/u/robertklep)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2022, 6:51pm UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/solution-for-thermal-touch-button/57706/8 "2022-01-03T18:51:38Z")
They work by detecting a change in capacitance (electronically), not by shorting out two contacts like with a normal switch (mechanically).