Neat and designed in the UK

[TimberWolf]

In the case of solar panels, Surallens number might be more useful, this once. Solar panel technology is pretty good now (way more efficient than photosynthesis), but still horribly expensive. It needs a price revolution.

Tzarallen

[pzz76077]

In the case of solar panels, Surallens number might be more useful, this once. Solar panel technology is pretty good now (way more efficient than photosynthesis), but still horribly expensive. It needs a price revolution.

So Alan Sugar not Richard Branston then??

PZZ

[TimberWolf]

So Alan Sugar not Richard Branston then??

PZZ

Alan Sugar would produce some cheap tat in no time, while Richard Branson would probably mess about piping solar energy in from the Sahara.

[Peoplesoft bloke]

So Alan Sugar not Richard Branston [sic]then??

PZZ

Yeah - electronics tat over pickle experience every time on this one.

[TykeMerc]

Would agree, sun tan analogy spurious. In any case I believe that we can already use energy from the sun, we just need an solar panel and we are in business.

In fact if everyone used the suns energy to power their mobiles, lawnmowers etc, it may cure global warming if we could do it on a large enough scale.
Wait a minute has anyone got Richard Branstons number?? Wheres my marketing team, lawyers.....

PZZ

Of course we use solar energy, we have done since human life evolved.

As omnivores we eat plant matter that uses sunlight to power photosynthesis and meat from animals that eat plant matter.
The fuels we burn in fires, engines and power stations all use solar power extracted by photsynthesis, trapped as hydrocarbons (sugars and starch) and trapped in wood, plants or fossil fuels.
Hydroelectric power is also solar fueled as the sun evaporates the water which then falls as rain and is collected by the dams. Wind generation is powered by atmospheric pressure differentials again created by sunlight in conjunction with geography.
Even nuclear power is arguably solar powered as the uranium used in reactors was produced in fusion reactions in super massive suns that then blew to bits.

Yes you can be prosecuted for siphoning power by induction under transmission lines and the power lost is measurable.

[Peoplesoft bloke]

......
Yes you can be prosecuted for siphoning power by induction under transmission lines and the power lost is measurable.

If that's true, then a phone that charges using electromagnetic waves from the air must be consuming power from somewhere and hence will require extra transmission power or affect reception - isn't that the case?

[pzz76077]

If that's true, then a phone that charges using electromagnetic waves from the air must be consuming power from somewhere and hence will require extra transmission power or affect reception - isn't that the case?

Good point- everything belongs to someone. If a co's WiFi doesn't reach as far as it used to and costs them money because a bunch of freeloaders are charging up their mobiles, could they be hauled up in court??

Interesting case...

PZZ

[TykeMerc]

If that's true, then a phone that charges using electromagnetic waves from the air must be consuming power from somewhere and hence will require extra transmission power or affect reception - isn't that the case?

Yes if a phone charges by induction from current electromagnetic radiation from mobile masts then it will consume power and so will require the broadcaster to consume more power to operate. There will also be a greater power requirement due to transmission losses.

[Churchill]

Yes if a phone charges by induction from current electromagnetic radiation from mobile masts then it will consume power and so will require the broadcaster to consume more power to operate. There will also be a greater power requirement due to transmission losses.

What about microwave background radiation originally created after the big bang?

Specifically tapping into the 21cm Hydrogen line?

Nobody has said that the phones will be using radiation generated by the mobile phone masts themselves.

If the designers had any sense they'd be tapping into the multi-kilowatt crap that's thrown out by the BBC, radio 1...