Moixa Energy’s latest innovation is one of those slap- your-forehead, why-didn’t- I-think-of-that ideas that simultaneously makes sense and makes us feel good to use: a traditional AA battery that recharges itself while plugged into a personal computer’s USB port.
But before I recite the reasons why this is a brilliant idea, let me disclose two drawbacks: The batteries are pricier than both regular AAs and other rechargeables. And because some of the physical space of the battery is taken up with a USB connector, the energy volume it packs may be a little less than others before needing a recharge.
The feel-good part of the USBCell is this: Besides the advantage of all rechargeables — you aren’t adding toxins to landfills by tossing the batteries in the trash after use — you are also taking advantage of an existing energy supply, your plugged-in personal computer, and are not wasting power.
Cripes! If I was still on the road, these would be a natural.
“you aren’t adding toxins to landfills by tossing the batteries in the trash after use”
Uh, you aren’t supposed to throw used batteries in the garbage. Ever heard of recycling?
And yeah, the “wasting power” part doesn’t make any sense. So you are going to have your PC on (maybe longer than otherwise) just to charge a battery? It would be much more efficient to use a separate charger built for that purpose.
If there is an angel investor out there looking for such I thing, I have designed and operated a kite flown windcharger. It all fits in a backback. Mine is rather large, but I am certain you could fly a smaller one with one of those radio crank generators in it.
#20 I was refering about passing wind, break wind, cutting the cheese, Mr. methane, Eve of Greenville, tugboat charlie, equalizing pressures, burning sulfur, remembering beans, air biscuit, barking spider, g force, bottom burp, raspberry tart, blowing off, choking a donkey, cutting one loose, step on a duck, popping a fluffy.
In a word…
#13 — Got a LINK? Would LOVE to get some of these to go with my 8 Port USB powered Hub.
Need AAA for my cordless mouse, cameras,and remotes!
(*previous Post correction…the last line should have been “Maybe I need A.A. also….”
Unless you only need one battery, isn’t it easier and cheaper to just buy NiMh batteries and a charger rather than buying four of these things and a powered USB hub?
And if you travel a lot, I think a bigger concern is plugging in and charging your laptop, not your AAs. AAs last for days in a digital camera, but most laptops go down after a couple of hours. You can buy a fast charger that will charge 4 AAs in the time it takes your laptop to top off.
I bought a dozen of these (http://tinyurl.com/2u9cyz) at Staples last week for .50 apiece. Reg price $9.99.
Pedro: “You need to have absolutely nothing else to be able to charge 4 of this.”
Absolutely nothing else…but a running laptop. I’d suggest a charger is smaller and more efficient. If you’re out in the middle of the woods, you may be right, but will your laptop run long enough to charge them? Better to just bring a second set of cells that can hold a decent charge.
#27 what I meant was nothing connected to your usb ports like mice or cameras or thumb drives or hard drives (that need 2 ports), etc
How is this not a waste of energy? Do the USB ports just emit radiation when not in use? This is only helpful in terms of energy use if the charging process is somehow better or cheaper than with other rechargeables. The USB port still draws power.
Wow, I bet laptop sales will go way up when the average Joe Sixpack finds out he can use one to charge the batteries for his TV remote!
BTW, what is with this “Sorry, you can only post a new comment once every 15 seconds. Slow down cowboy.” message? I haven’t posted in at least 24 hours, but I’m getting that message. The computer doing the time calculations must have an old Pentium-60 in it.
#30 My guess is that the system takes into account all posters. So, if someone just posted a reply, the next reply has to wait those 15 seconds, regardless of who’s replying and what post is he replying to.
#30 My guess is that the system takes into account all posters. So, if someone just posted a reply, the next reply has to wait those 15 seconds, regardless of who’s replying and what post is he replying to.
In the end, is like we are all posting as the same user to the server.
My cap kills my brain