30 USB port-powered "BBQ"

Ok, so it's really more of a hotplate than a Barbeque, but for sheer excessiveness and USB-ness this DIY project from Kaizo Aho Ichidai cannot be denied. After not surprisingly failing to get enough juice from a single 500mw USB port to fry an egg, Kaizo went all out and dropped six USB expansion cards into his PC, giving him a ridiculous total of 30 USB ports, all of which got re-wired to a modified USB cup warmer. In no time he had a hot, albeit small meal, and as far as well can tell, a still-working computer. Needless to say, this is one project we don't recommend trying at home, unless you've already managed to build a USB-powered fire extinguisher.

[Via Dottocomu]

[Jonathan Keim @ Aug 23rd 2006 2:41PM]

That is so cool

[CharlieX @ Aug 23rd 2006 2:42PM]

and some people read books when they're bored.

[Roy C @ Aug 23rd 2006 2:47PM]

OH DEAR GOD?!?

[blah @ Aug 23rd 2006 2:49PM]

CharlieX: Yes, imagine the nerve of this guy: some people read books when they're bored, but he actually has the initiative to take something he's learned - probably after reading some books - and apply it in the real world?! Innovative, free thinkers climbing outside the box in this way is simply unacceptable. Quick! Arrest him and drag him off immediately, never to be seen/heard from again!

[tekdroid @ Aug 23rd 2006 2:53PM]

great proof-of-concept!
not-so-great saleable product :)

[Jordan @ Aug 23rd 2006 3:00PM]

@ blah

relax, man.

[CharlieX @ Aug 23rd 2006 3:01PM]

dear blah,

1) relax.
2) please read up on "irony" - especially as it relates to humor.
3) chuckle.

thank you,
a concerned internet citizen

[lettcco @ Aug 23rd 2006 3:03PM]

WTFUSBBBQ

[Barklee @ Aug 23rd 2006 3:06PM]

This is a total freakshow. Completely impractical, but cool nonetheless. :)

Jordan & CharlieX: Huh, it's funny. I thought blah's comment *was* ironic, and agreeing with CharlieX. You both appear to have taken it personally, so it makes me think maybe you are the ones that need to releax? Just a suggestion, try not to overreact...

[CharlieX @ Aug 23rd 2006 3:12PM]

no... not so much. but thanks, i was getting a little *heated up* there.

[Lee @ Aug 23rd 2006 3:16PM]

Can you imagine Windows' response to this? "USB Warmer detected...please connect additional 29 usb cables, then insert driver CD." But seriously, wouldn't the power draw be a little stressful on the motherboard? Funny concept, just a little impractical (obviously, but I suppose that was the point)... don't look for this as an option on your Alienware just yet.

[Lee @ Aug 23rd 2006 3:19PM]

+1 cool point (and a thanks for some at-work entertainment) for CharlieX, i actually lol-ed about the *heated up* comment.

[IWantTouchScreen @ Aug 23rd 2006 3:20PM]

Should have used firewire Oh Snap

[Gio - NYC @ Aug 23rd 2006 3:27PM]

Dumb idea, because it will take up all your pci slots.

[blah @ Aug 23rd 2006 3:38PM]

jimmy: *You* may think it's stupid, but that's beside the point. You seem to be equating the word "innovate" with the word "good", which is a common mistake. Let's see how reference.com defines the word ( http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=innovate ):

1. to introduce something new; make changes in anything established.
–verb (used with object) 2. to introduce (something new) for or as if for the first time: to innovate a computer operating system.
3. Archaic. to alter.

So, you see, to innovate has nothing to do with making something to which a value ("good" or "bad") can be attributed. "Innovative" simply means "different". At this point I'd point-out that you are, apparently, classic sort of person that Stifles Innovation, but I wouldn't want to be accused of being too "intense" /rolleyes ...

[Richard @ Aug 23rd 2006 3:44PM]

In my OPINION, this is completely useless and a waste of time.

[Geoffe @ Aug 23rd 2006 3:59PM]

Richard: That's fine and, while your right to have an opinion must be respected, the opinion itsself remains open to judgement and, yours, my friend, is that of a hillbilly.

YOU may not think this project was worthwhile, but the guy that did it must have, or he wouldn't have done it. You have no idea what his motivations were, and to judge his work is to judge him. What gives you the right?

I make a point of calling you out, for no other reason than to remind you that YOU are responsible for what you put out there in the world. Do the human species a favor and exercise a little more responsibility in what you say and do. (BTW, my comments ARE negative, but only as a corrective measure to deal with comments that ought and must be negated).

[gman @ Aug 23rd 2006 4:20PM]

what a waste of USB PCI Cards...he's better off hooking it up to an extra diskdrive/CDROM power connector.

[LukeA @ Aug 23rd 2006 4:22PM]

If he had used FireWire, he'd have only needed 12 or 13 ports.

[Olivier @ Aug 23rd 2006 4:34PM]

Well, that amounts to ~75W (USB is max 500mA@5V)... he should have wired it directly to a PCI-Express connector: 150W max. :-)

[pp @ Aug 23rd 2006 4:34PM]

Damn, I'll guess I'll need to go with firewire for my pc powered mini-fridge.

[PSP-PM @ Aug 23rd 2006 4:39PM]

If he had used MicroWave; he'd have only needed, um, salt?

[Lee Gibson @ Aug 23rd 2006 4:49PM]

"You have no idea what his motivations were, and to judge his work is to judge him. What gives you the right?

I make a point of calling you out, for no other reason than to remind you that YOU are responsible for what you put out there in the world."

Um, Geoffe, these two statements are contradictory. If Richard cannot judge this device as stupid and a waste of time, what gives you the authority to "call him out"?

Oh, I forgot, you're just being a tool. My bad.

[KiFe @ Aug 23rd 2006 4:53PM]

Who would have thought this would turn into such a heated debate?

[Qweltol @ Aug 23rd 2006 5:10PM]

Oh, that's nothing. I'm currently working on a USB-powered MRI machine. Just you wait...

[djscott @ Aug 23rd 2006 5:12PM]

Not sure why readers are getting bent out of shape over this lark. Certainly Kaizo "Aho" Ichidai wasn't taking it too seriously: His nickname, "Aho," means "idiot" so at least he has a sense of humor.

[Zandriff @ Aug 23rd 2006 5:18PM]

He should've just used a laptop battery

[roflcopter4sale @ Aug 23rd 2006 5:26PM]

should've just bought a dell laptop.

[b0ngm@n @ Aug 23rd 2006 5:35PM]

Lee Gibson: Geoffe has the right, if he's correcting a wrong. He even said in his comment that's what he was doing. Unless you are suggesting correcting a wrong is, itself, wrong, the you may want to ask yourself exactly what it is you're standing for.

If it's wrong to criticize the umlawful, and/or immoral, and/or illogical words and deeds of others, then it'd be total fucking anarchy.

[I'mBatman @ Aug 23rd 2006 5:50PM]

b0ngM@n: Don't you find it ironic that Lee uses the very method he's criticizing - that's it's wrong to judge others - to judge Geoffe? Makes you wonder where some people's heads are at, and goes a long way to explain why the world is the way it is, and how people can justify some of the messed-up shit they do. :-/

[Philip Spicer @ Aug 23rd 2006 6:03PM]

should've just bought a dell laptop.

Posted at 5:26PM on Aug 23rd 2006 by roflcopter4sale

Now that's funny

[lukar @ Aug 23rd 2006 6:26PM]

At the very least... HE did something cool with usb ports... what have you guys done?

[silarius @ Aug 23rd 2006 8:10PM]

Re: blah, CharlieX, Jordan, Barklee; on irony: blah's first post is sarcastic, not ironic, because for something to be ironic it must be subtle enough that a reasonable person could misconstrue the message as sincere. Irony is not a synonym for sarcasm.

Apparently blah did misconstrue the ironic message as sincere, and responded with a sarcastic reply. There's a lot of this on the internet-- watch for it-- someone is ironic, someone else doesn't "get it", and responds sarcastically.

[blah @ Aug 23rd 2006 8:44PM]

Wow, are you guys still talking about this? How amusing. :p Seeing as how I've read it, I must respond to that last comment though:

silarius: Man, I *was* being sarcastic, but not because I misunderstood what CharlieX said, but because I understood what he said perfectly. *You* are the one that doesn't get. Really. :)

Try going back and rereading what I said, but imagine, this time, that I'm smiling and winking at CharlieX, and nudging him knowingly in the ribs. Sorry if you misconstrued what I said but, as *you* said, that sort of thing happens a lot online, and you just proved it. ;)

[Zorque @ Aug 23rd 2006 10:43PM]

Actually, sarcasm is a form of irony. You should all stop geeking this page up and move on. Honestly, who cares about why the guy built the thing or if it was a good idea? It was probably just something he did for fun.

[bwad @ Aug 24th 2006 12:17AM]

Why people insist on using USB ports as over glorified power sockets is beyond me. Almost all of these useless USB devices never acutally use the "Serial Bus" part of USB and transmit/receive data... as others have said it would be much more efficient tapping directly to the 12/5v rails of the PSU.

The appeal of useless USB devices (what little there is) is the convenience and abundance of USB ports on most computers... good luck plugging this into your shiny new Macbook.

[n1ce_hat @ Aug 24th 2006 1:22AM]

wow with all that USB power you can almost power another computer :)

why not? daisy chain them till your house burns down.

[shadowrg @ Aug 26th 2006 10:52AM]

its a good idea... i dont know how many times i've wanted to cook some noodles while playing my computer. but would mean actually getting up lol.

good on him for thinking outside the box,

"if everyone thought outside the box, the world would be a better place, and we would live on other planets" - ShadowRG. thoughts of a techie

[spanks @ Aug 26th 2006 9:28PM]

lol .. who cares if it's stupid or pointless, kudos to him for doing it and it actually working without setting fire to anything!

[Richard @ Aug 28th 2006 9:18AM]

I don't know what made me come back and check the comments, but the fact that I seemed to have pissed off Geoffe made me glad I did.