Hacker News Reader

_qsobon An open competition to build a smaller power inverter, with a $1M prize

No, I certainly can't imagine doing that. However, a person doesn't typically cook 12 hours a day. Instead, they cook in bursts, so it makes sense to put a bank of batteries in or near the stove (firewalled of course), and trickle-charge them with normal cables.

_qsobon An open competition to build a smaller power inverter, with a $1M prize

Big appliances are already big, justifying putting an inverter on them if they can't be converted to DC. An inverter of appropriate size and power, of course, rather than a single mega one.

My argument is that this contest is a bandaid on an outdated way of thinking about power. Yes, safety is important. However, in your example we don't have to use physical-contact plugs. There are plenty of devices that can be powered or charged via induction.

_qsobon An open competition to build a smaller power inverter, with a $1M prize

No, I get it. Tri-phase is name of the game in the old transmission model. But that model is long overdue for a rebuild. Remember the 2003 blackout? Managing and synchronizing grids is more than a full time job, and this contest seems to promote a bandaid.

Anyhow, my point is that in the localized-power game (say solar cells, fuel cells, etc) it's all DC already, and it's all right near where it needs to go. Fuel cells are near cars, and solar panels are right next to what they need to power: TVs, etc.

Complications are airconditioners and big appliances, except those things are already massive enough that it makes sense to install an inverter next to each one.

_qsobon An open competition to build a smaller power inverter, with a $1M prize

The simplest solution (just give me the $1mil now) is to cut out the middle man. I mean, there is a needless conversion here from DC to A/C, and then back to DC. Not that many devices need A/C these days - maybe just your alarm clock, if it's cheap enough (since cheap alarm clocks use the alternating current frequency for keeping time, instead of a precise resonating crystal.)

Example of what they have now: [solar-dc] -> [inverter] -> [ac/dc transformer] -> [device].

Cut out the inverter, the ac/dc transformer and you have:

[solar-dc] -> [device]

Required materials: wire cutters, cheap voltage regulator IC, some wire. Done. I'll take a cashier's check please.