Fiber optic?! Don't tell my DH, the name alone would sell him.

huh, that's interesting. According to Waste King, they're completely wireless. Fiber-Optic Disposal Switch

I have not seen one of the fiber optic switches. But it seems clear how they must work. The whole point, as with an air switch, is to trip a switch without having any electricity near the counter.

An air switch is just a plunger that pumps air through a tube. At the far end, the increased pressure trips a switch.

For a fiber optic switch, there will be a light beam making a round trip from the electric outlet to the button on the counter and back, through a pair of light fibers. The button will simplyh interrupt the light beam, and that will toggle the switch. For this to work, there must be light flowing through the fiber at all times. There must be a small LED for this. You can think of it much like the beam that stops your garage door from closing on you, except that it is going through a fiber rather than the air.

This should work just fine, but has more electronic parts than an air switch. But less mechanical parts. In the long term it *might* be more reliable. But air switches have been on the market for a long time, and these fiber optic switches have not. I suspect in the near term, and until they get popular, these may not be as reliable. But that is just a guess.

One other consideration is that the LED will draw a small amount of power all the time. It is probably insignificant.

And last, but least, with an air switch you can turn on your garbage disposal when the power is out. With a fiber optic switch you can't. :-)

ummm, buehl, is your GD battery operated? It isn't going to work either if there is no power. (sorry to be a smart aleck but I just couldn't resist)

oops,(looking very abashed) didn't realize you were doing the same thing

As was I. Note the smiley. :-)