Is wireless power possible?

[Powermoloch]

I watched so many science crap. I know so far that it is possible to transfer electrical power through microwave signals ( from outer space to land )

 

[T3C]

Its called lightning. Now just figure out how to controll it.

 

[So]

I swear to god.

It's not 'subject to technology' -- RF power transmission (wireless in the sens you're thinking of) is used, but if you scale the amount of power transmitted out of the milliwatt range, you start frying people who get in the way. It's not a matter of technology improving efficiency, or inventing new tech. It's a matter of boiling things in the line of sight.

Maybe someday with quantum effects, but safe, general use RF power is just not possible.

 

[PowerEngineer]

Yes, wireless power transmission is possible; but it's still a long way from practical. You still need to focus the electromagnetic waves to travel from point to point (no onmidirectional options; not like radio!), and wire makes such a good wave guide that it's hard to see any new technologies that would make it obsolete. But I could be wrong...

 

[DrPizza]

Actually, holding your hand on a charging Van de Graff generator, you can point a sharp metal object at a very simple motor a few feet away and make the motor run --- Wireless transmission.

I don't think you really even want to attempt to scale it up.

And, lastly, even if it WAS possible on a large scale, what company do you think is going to decide to simply start giving away power? The electric company usually wants me to pay my bill. I think they have some costs associated with generating the power.

 

[Skunkwourk]

Originally posted by: Furyline
I remember those microwave power stations from simcity 2000... those things always blew up:Q

and I remember the Broadcast Energy Transmitter (B.E.T.) from G.I. Joe the movie, Serpentor stole it.

 

[Mik3y]

It exists, but it's terribly ineffecient. The power lost over a field of distance is tremendous vs the power recieved. In short, it's a huge waste of electricity. it's like leaving the blowdryer on for 24 hours while using it only for 10 min.

 

[The Linuxator]

Originally posted by: Titan

Originally posted by: HardcoreRobot
my sonicare charges without any wires 🙂

That was my thought. For close range, you can use magnetic induction instead.

Anyways, wikipedia is your friend. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microwave_power_transmission

Beat me to it 🙁

 

[Goosemaster]

Originally posted by: So
I swear to god.

It's not 'subject to technology' -- RF power transmission (wireless in the sens you're thinking of) is used, but if you scale the amount of power transmitted out of the milliwatt range, you start frying people who get in the way. It's not a matter of technology improving efficiency, or inventing new tech. It's a matter of boiling things in the line of sight.

Maybe someday with quantum effects, but safe, general use RF power is just not possible.

frying somebody that wrong you from 10 miles away would be SO badass...


:evil:

 

[GrantMeThePower]

Originally posted by: FoBoT
i have a teeth cleaning device that uses this technology
the appliance is waterproof/totally contained, no contacts to charge the internal battery at all
the proxity of the batter charger thingy to the base when you place it in the base passes power "wirelessly" to the device to recharge the battery.

LOL @ "teeth cleaning device". AKA tooth brush

 

[zephyrprime]

It's definitely possible but it's not practical in the form that tesla was thinking. Just stick a fluorescent light bulb in a microwave and you have wireless power transmission. Try to do the same thing out doors and you'd kill everyone. Also, it's spectacularly inefficient because most of the energy just radiates into space.

Tesla tried to do wireless power transmission through the ground once. Basically, he just use the water table as a power rail. Well guess what? He killed a bunch of animals and made it dangerous for any person to touch any metal buildings.