NEC develops devices to draw power from fluorescent lights
By Evan Blass 
posted February 17th 2006 12:13PM
posted February 17th 2006 12:13PM
NEC has just announced two new devices that
should eliminate the need for some of the sub-ceiling wiring in new and existing industrial structures by drawing power
from regular fluorescent lighting. The first device, shaped like a ring and designed to fit around a fluorescent bulb,
coverts faint pulses of radiated electromagnetic energy into usable electric current. Unlike the ring-shaped gadget,
which produces electricity from energy that would normally go to waste, the second NEC device simply slips between the
bulb and metal connector in its housing to siphon power from the existing electrical infrastructure. NEC developed
these solutions mainly to provide juice for the growing number of data transmitting devices that need to be ceiling
mounted in commercial spaces.
That's great - untill someone shuts off the light and takes down the wireless network. Still a neat idea.
LOL, I think you're right. Doesnt flipping the switch cut off the electricity to the light?
Simple idea, but I guess it doesnt exactly work in every situation.
Very interesting...could it perpetually power itself?
Hint to Engadget writers: Stop relying on spell check instead of proof-reading.
About that second "device" -- What about the ballast? If it connects right at the lamp end, whatever the device is that you want to power will get the juice from the output of the ballast. Not so good for most applications.
If these lights were solar powered and there were solar collectors on the floor and ceiling ... couldn't you potentially have zero cost lighting?
Rus: That would violate the law of conservation of energy.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Law_of_conservation_of_energy