Comments on: LED lamp lit by gravity http://www.dvorak.org/blog/2008/02/19/led-lamp-lit-by-gravity/ General interest observations and true web-log. Sun, 12 Feb 2012 17:43:18 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Kintaar http://www.dvorak.org/blog/2008/02/19/led-lamp-lit-by-gravity/comment-page-1/#comment-1009363 Kintaar Sat, 23 Feb 2008 09:19:20 +0000 http://www.dvorak.org/blog/?p=16157#comment-1009363 If the white LEDs are perfectly efficient (250 lumens / watt), and the generator is perfectly efficient, and the light fixture is one meter tall... The weight has to be 3526.5 kilos. That's a heavy desk lamp!!! If the white LEDs are perfectly efficient (250 lumens / watt), and the generator is perfectly efficient, and the light fixture is one meter tall…

The weight has to be 3526.5 kilos. That’s a heavy desk lamp!!!

]]> By: Bob http://www.dvorak.org/blog/2008/02/19/led-lamp-lit-by-gravity/comment-page-1/#comment-1004556 Bob Tue, 19 Feb 2008 19:24:46 +0000 http://www.dvorak.org/blog/?p=16157#comment-1004556 That would be the Atmos Clock -- not sure they're still around, but they were in the 50's. As for the light, I like the idea of a wind up mechanism. Some competent engineer could easily figure how to wind it for 8 days of power.... That would be the Atmos Clock — not sure they’re still around, but they were in the 50′s. As for the light, I like the idea of a wind up mechanism. Some competent engineer could easily figure how to wind it for 8 days of power….

]]> By: Peter Rodwell http://www.dvorak.org/blog/2008/02/19/led-lamp-lit-by-gravity/comment-page-1/#comment-1004502 Peter Rodwell Tue, 19 Feb 2008 18:14:11 +0000 http://www.dvorak.org/blog/?p=16157#comment-1004502 <i>When researching perpetual motion some time back, I read about a clock made in 1760 by James Cox (Cox’s timepiece) which was powered by changing atmospheric pressure.</i> I believe these are still made by somebody somewhere (although I just did a quick Google search and couldn't find one). When researching perpetual motion some time back, I read about a clock made in 1760 by James Cox (Cox’s timepiece) which was powered by changing atmospheric pressure.

I believe these are still made by somebody somewhere (although I just did a quick Google search and couldn’t find one).

]]> By: Les http://www.dvorak.org/blog/2008/02/19/led-lamp-lit-by-gravity/comment-page-1/#comment-1004418 Les Tue, 19 Feb 2008 17:00:05 +0000 http://www.dvorak.org/blog/?p=16157#comment-1004418 So really it’s powered not by gravity but by the user’s muscle power. When researching perpetual motion some time back, I read about a clock made in 1760 by James Cox (Cox's timepiece) which was powered by changing atmospheric pressure. One of his clocks ran for hundreds of years until recently moved. So really it’s powered not by gravity but by the user’s muscle power.

When researching perpetual motion some time back, I read about a clock made in 1760 by James Cox (Cox’s timepiece) which was powered by changing atmospheric pressure. One of his clocks ran for hundreds of years until recently moved.

]]> By: Les http://www.dvorak.org/blog/2008/02/19/led-lamp-lit-by-gravity/comment-page-1/#comment-1004358 Les Tue, 19 Feb 2008 15:47:59 +0000 http://www.dvorak.org/blog/?p=16157#comment-1004358 This thing has 50 pounds of weight. Turning it upside down is no small feat. This thing has 50 pounds of weight. Turning it upside down is no small feat.

]]> By: Calin http://www.dvorak.org/blog/2008/02/19/led-lamp-lit-by-gravity/comment-page-1/#comment-1004336 Calin Tue, 19 Feb 2008 15:21:48 +0000 http://www.dvorak.org/blog/?p=16157#comment-1004336 This is only useful on the small scale. If you want more time of output, you need a higher tower. Eventually for more output or more time you will spend too much energy moving the device back to the top of the tower than it's worth. However, I do like the bedside lamp idea...or lights for power outages. I live in the country and have rechargeable lanterns for outages and storms. This would be much nicer. And 600-800 lumens is great for night time reading. This is only useful on the small scale. If you want more time of output, you need a higher tower. Eventually for more output or more time you will spend too much energy moving the device back to the top of the tower than it’s worth.

However, I do like the bedside lamp idea…or lights for power outages. I live in the country and have rechargeable lanterns for outages and storms. This would be much nicer. And 600-800 lumens is great for night time reading.

]]> By: bobbo http://www.dvorak.org/blog/2008/02/19/led-lamp-lit-by-gravity/comment-page-1/#comment-1004194 bobbo Tue, 19 Feb 2008 13:40:50 +0000 http://www.dvorak.org/blog/?p=16157#comment-1004194 I want one. It will look nice next to my Galileo thermometer. You know though, this could replace a lot of battery driven devices with a smaller tower? I'm thinking of my "life time" weight scales that go out every 2 years with a non-replaceable battery. Why not just flip it upside down and get it powered for 3 minutes to get weighted?==No, maybe a wind-up mechanism would be better for that. A little retro technology would be good for our future? I want one. It will look nice next to my Galileo thermometer.

You know though, this could replace a lot of battery driven devices with a smaller tower? I’m thinking of my “life time” weight scales that go out every 2 years with a non-replaceable battery. Why not just flip it upside down and get it powered for 3 minutes to get weighted?==No, maybe a wind-up mechanism would be better for that.

A little retro technology would be good for our future?

]]> By: Dallas http://www.dvorak.org/blog/2008/02/19/led-lamp-lit-by-gravity/comment-page-1/#comment-1004103 Dallas Tue, 19 Feb 2008 12:41:37 +0000 http://www.dvorak.org/blog/?p=16157#comment-1004103 Very clever and 4hours of continuous light output is surprisingly long for this many lumen. Wow. This would make a great desk, chair or bedside reading lamp - not to mention one for power outage! Very clever and 4hours of continuous light output is surprisingly long for this many lumen. Wow.

This would make a great desk, chair or bedside reading lamp – not to mention one for power outage!

]]> By: OmegaMan http://www.dvorak.org/blog/2008/02/19/led-lamp-lit-by-gravity/comment-page-1/#comment-1004029 OmegaMan Tue, 19 Feb 2008 11:35:44 +0000 http://www.dvorak.org/blog/?p=16157#comment-1004029 The next winner is the plug the electrodes in the lemon to power your lamp idea.... The next winner is the plug the electrodes in the lemon to power your lamp idea….

]]> By: Peter Rodwell http://www.dvorak.org/blog/2008/02/19/led-lamp-lit-by-gravity/comment-page-1/#comment-1003916 Peter Rodwell Tue, 19 Feb 2008 10:08:45 +0000 http://www.dvorak.org/blog/?p=16157#comment-1003916 <i>To “turn on” the lamp, the user moves weights from the bottom to the top of the lamp</i> So really it's powered not by gravity but by the user's muscle power. To “turn on” the lamp, the user moves weights from the bottom to the top of the lamp

So really it’s powered not by gravity but by the user’s muscle power.

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