Appliances With Personal 'Onboard' Power Supplies

I saw one of these cool keychains that could light up and were solar powered. This was a really cool gadget.

As far as appliances, I have seen outdoor lights powered by solar energy, but never anything meant inside the home. It might be neat to have a solar powered grill, although it probably wouldn't be considered a grill anymore.

Just as with any new technology, it should still have a back-up plug just in case the solar panel (or whatever reusable source of energy) gets broken. And that is not to say that it wouldn't render the whole gadget useless if that happens.

Hello Jaxy,

Thanks for your reply post.

I have noticed those out door light and they have reduced in cost a lot. With regard to these 'power units' breaking, which they are surely going to?..............Perhaps these units could be sold like 'light bulbs' where a broken one is replaced by a new one?............. But, hopefully the power unit will outlast the appliance!

Take care and thanks once again for your reply.

The power unit can break for a variety of reasons: malfunction, various handling not suitable for the product, etc. Solar panels don't seem to be easy to take out; at least not as easy and convenient as a battery. I haven't seen reusable sources that have that kind of functionality. Then again, I haven't been looking lately. Perhaps others have?

No problem. This could be an interesting thread discussion. Something small, portable and practical like electric razors that could be recharged just by laying out in the sun would be an asset for anyone, especially if they are traveling. The convenience of not having to find a plug while traveling or lug extra batteries would be phenomenal.

I think that reusable energy power supplies should first be used with small, personal things first, then to bigger appliances which will presumably need more power. A solar powered mp3 player would make my day and would definitely be a hit amongst the younger generation.

Hi Jaxy,

I have heard and read that there is a 'Mat' available where you can lay some small electrical stuff, which is designed to be charged by induction. I have not had time to look for it as I am pretty busy. I will search and see if I can find out if it is in production yet. The 'Mat' is big enough to lay about 6 mobile phones on and is made of rubber I think.

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If I can confirm. I am not talking about 'batteries'............... as a power supply .....

I know that it may need some sort of battery but this would be part of the thing I have in mind. That's if a battery is needed anyway. Hopefully the battery type would be very small and not used!

Thanks for getting in touch Jaxy.

I was just saying that in order for a reusable source of energy to be considered as a power supply, it would need to have the convenience and ease of use factor that batteries possess. Using a reusable source of energy may also have an added functionality of storing charge/power.

Consider when calculators first came out with solar cells on them. They were convenient when you were in the light, but forget it if you stepped into semi-darkness. Solar cells have the advantage of storing energy, but would the capacity of energy storage need to be increased before commercial use of such a power supply would be feasible?

Solar cells do not store energy. You will find in all solar-powered devices, there is generally a battery in the circuit for actually storing the energy.

Also, I do not believe one would find enough ambient light in the typical residence to boil a pot of tea in a reasonable amount of time. On the patio, with an appropriate concentrator, quite effective, I suspect.

Hello cwarner,

How you doing?

I was thinking in more general terms when I said about a power supply. I realise you cannot get enough power to kill a fly with the current state of solar cells, but I am not talking necessarily of 'solar cells' for the job............... I want the idea 'out there' and there may be something that comes along which will fit the bill?

I realise it will not be tomorrow but....................

Below is some sites with Induction charging mats of various kinds and sizes.

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http://www.google.com/search?client=safari&rls=en-gb&q=induction+charging+mat&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8

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There are also plenty of other inductive power transfer devices being developed or sold. Here is just one (an interesting area power transfer).

http://www.hazardexonthenet.net/article.aspx?AreaID=2&ArticleID=26680

Hello Jack of all trades,

Thanks for the reply post. I went to the Hazardex site and will keep it and the other sites you posts. It may not be so long then, to wait for what I ask for, a place with no cables?

Thank you so much!

You mean integrating 'flexible solar panels' into products.

http://images.google.co.nz/images?hl=en&q=flexible+solar+panel&um=1&ie=UTF-8&ei=fatwSsreEYL6sQPpu7z5CA&sa=X&oi=image_result_group&ct=title&resnum=4

The problem is they don't produce a lot of power (only a few watts) so their use is possible but limited to low power usage appliances (and potentially larger power usage appliances along with a battery that are only used intermittently).

As for a solar powered kettle, the panels would need to produce about 1kW to 2.4kW. That's quite a few of these (the big ones).

http://www.bp.com/sectiongenericarticle.do?categoryId=9020472&contentId=7038098

Same thing for other high power appliances such as cookers, irons, vacuum cleaners, washing machines, etc. Not very practical.

Hello jack,

Thanks for the reply post.

I realise as it is at the moment, the solar or any kind of power unit cannot produce enough power for things like kettles, toasters etc. But this is about R-&-D and inventing and making these types of products and materials. It is a big ASK

But, who ever would have thought a CD player not much larger than the disk, would have been invented?

Even if a solar panel could be made to produce it's theoretical maximum output it would still require a large solar panel, far larger than the appliance itself in most cases (and that is completely ignoring the location of the appliance to the sun which will cause solar panel output to vary greatly). It just isn't practical for large power requirement consumer goods like toasters, kettles and washing machines.

But, who ever would have thought a CD player not much larger than the disk, would have been invented?

Most engineers I would think (also see computers). This type of miniaturisation is common and has been going on since the dawn of industrialisation. The trick is to know what can be miniaturised and what cannot (due to limitations in the physical laws which cannot be broken, although some can be bent a bit).

Hello JOAT,

If you read an earlier post of mine, you will see I am not necessarily talking about the use of solar power. It could be an induced power from solar and or some other means yet to be decided. But it would be cool to use perhaps even the small items like shavers and phones using the "induction mats'' I think I copied a link to?

If using solar power to boil a kettle, why is there a perceived need to use a solar panel and electricity? Why not use a parabolic array of mirrors instead?

Hello PSA,

how are you?

I like what you say. As has been said in other current threads you are thinking 'out of the box'. It is what it needed for such an ambitious idea of each appliance having its own power supply. It was perhaps difficult for some to grasp? I know it is not going to be 'on' yet, but when there is a 'goal' to aim for, all concerned can concentrate their efforts?

Thanks for the reply post.............

Hello PSW,

Please forgive my spelling as I typed PSA on post 14 I think it was. Sorry.

The op wants to use solar power to heat in the shade

Hello PWS,

I did not have only 'solar' power, or solar power gathered energy in mind. Anything in the ball court will do if it has enough power to use, and or produces enough power to do what is required.

It could easily be power gained from the means you mention then, saved and eventually supplied to the appliance whatever it be.

It really can be any kind of power at all initially but, the final power to the appliance would likely be electricity of some kind.

Batteries are becoming more efficient year on year and who knows, it may be not so long that a 'button' battery could provide enough power to boil a kettle or whatever? It need not be flat but could actually be part of the shaped item being used, where the 'battery' or power supply may be small enough to be the flat moulded structure or perhaps part of a handle?

I put the idea out there with the hope that others with more applicable skills might take it on to the next stage where maybe they had found or invented a means to transfer power to the item? I know it is possible to charge items like phones, ipods etc from a distance, and surely it will not be long before the larger more 'useful' items in the home and garden will be powered by 'charging through the air'?

Take care...........

Check out this companys product.

http://www.capstoneturbine.com/prodsol/products/index.asp

Check the AIR BEARING NASA is testing for them.

http://www.capstoneturbine.com/prodsol/techtour/index.asp

If they can get it small enough you could have a manual power supply for almost any use. They have already tested them in cars.

Hello dad,

I really appreciate your reply post and all the links, thank you so much!

I will answer you again later as I have a whole lot of emails to answer.

I have saved your post address and will look at the links shortly, thank you!

You are very kind, thank again.