Wireless Energy

one small step closer to an every day reality

[Visit Thailand]

US researchers have successfully tested an experimental system to deliver power to devices without the need for wires.

The setup, reported in the journal Science, made a 60W light bulb glow from a distance of 2m (7ft).

From the BBC:
[news.bbc.co.uk...]

[Lipik]

...a Nikola Tesla invention from around 1900...

[engine]

If you use a fluorescent tube close to a high voltage electricity cable, the gas in the tube will glow - it's just not very efficient, not to mention dangerous.

[LifeinAsia]

...a Nikola Tesla invention from around 1900...

It's one thing to invent something. It's often a completely different matter to take the concept and make it viable/practical.

[bcolflesh]

It's often a completely different matter to take the concept and make it viable/practical.

Yep - takes money. Tesla's ran out before he had completed his wireless power tower. I'm sure if you spoke to those guys, they would admit this is a continuation of Tesla's work with better funding.

[vinhboy]

cool

[Habtom]

>> Tesla's ran out before he had completed his wireless power tower. I'm sure if you spoke to those guys, they would admit this is a continuation of Tesla's work with better funding.

Holds true in many more things.

Habtom

[steve]

The real question is how big the electrical field needs to be and whether anyone would be prepared to live within it.

Stand under a high tension pylon with a fluorescent tube and it'll light up, but live under it for a few years and you might increase your chances of contracting cancer.

I saw a TV programme a long time ago about unexplained cancers, some were attributed to overhead power lines. But more worryingly some were though to be caused by sleeping near mains powered clock radios, and power cables embedded in walls near bed heads.

We know high frequency (cell phones, microwave, radar, etc.) electromagnetic fields might cause cancer. But not much research has been carried out on low frequency ones, although they have been shown to damage cell development.

I for one won't be buying any of this new fangled 'wireless electricity' for a long time!

[mcavic]

I agree completely, Steve. I have the same concern about cell phones and wireless networks, but the idea of cordless power is even more troubling.

I think the world is at a point where we're innovating too much, and we need to concentrate on improving the technologies that are truly necessary. Cell phones are necessary. Wireless networks may be somewhat necessary. Cordless power isn't.

[bcolflesh]

Before this gets too wacky:

[who.int...]

[steve]

Non contact charging, i.e. sitting a device on or in close proximity to a charger I have no problem with.

But wiring a building so that everything in it charges would require a very powerful field, this does concern me!

There haven't been enough studies of the effects of powerful low frequency fields to state categorically whether they are safe or not.

Unfortunately, like mobile phones, microwave, wifi these studies won't be done until the technology is widely used and someone blames it for their illness.

[Skeptic]

Sounds to me like this could be shocking!