h a l f b a k e r y"Not baked goods, Professor; baked bads!" -- The Tick
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there are several problems with the
standard system of using power outlets to
energize various electric lighting and
electronic gadgetry.
power plugs used to power these items
require items to be within range of the
outlets, as well as having cords to connect
the items to the plugs. these
cords create
a trip hazard (one i know well), and
require the use of lots of excess wire.
power outlets also carry a risk of having
young children sticking metallic items in
them and getting shocked.
intead of wiring a home with individual
power outlets, a powered pad made up of
iron cored induction coils could be layered
underneath the flooring media of choice.
when an item is placed on the floor, the
current moving through the coils
underneath it induce current in the item's
coil and power the item in the same
manner as plugging the item into the wall
directly.
this method allows for universal
connections to power all over the world.
because these also work in the same
manner as transformers, a type of
autotransformer could be built into the
item with a selector that can be adjusted
for different voltages around the world.
this also remove the need for the entire
transfomer usually contained in a wall wart
that is used for your gadgetry, reducing
the weight of your item.
although this method would require for
power to continuosly be flowing through
the floor coils, a trickle current can be sent
through the coils with a controller that can
detect when induction takes place, and
can switch the coils to full power.
the design using multiple floor coils per
room has advantages over single coils,
because it can simplify the magnetic field
required to power multiple items.
depending on how large the footprint of
the item is, it can cover multiple coils, and
bepending on the controller used, even
multiple phase items could be used.
[link]
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I think this might be hugely
inefficient. If it is working
like a transformer then a lot
of the power will be turned
into heat won't it? I wouldn't
want to try and power a vacuum
cleaner like this. Please
correct me if I'm wrong in
this assumption. Also, won't a
current be induced in things
where you don't want it, e.g.
things that are just metal
objects (metal chairs ->
electric chairs)? It is a very
appealing idea though. I hate
power cables. Wireless energy
+ wireless internet would be
wonderful. |
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[oooooooo], this probably would be
slightly less efficient than the standard
wall wart type of transformer. current
might be induced in things that don't
need it, but you just need to ground
your metal furniture. that would prevent
you from being shocked, and it would
only require a grounded floor surface.
that would probably be a good idea now
anyway. i'm not sure i see the issue with
a vacuum cleaner, although i have
rotten luck with those anyway, it's likely
that my idea might have issues with
vacuums just to spite me. |
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you have to remember that the
magnetic field utilized would only
extend a couple inches off of the floor,
so in order to charge your devices you
would need to put them on a special
table that can charge them, or on the
floor. i would recommend keeping your
magnetic swipe cards away from any
surface that has a magnetic field
though. |
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