Powermat retrofitted into plank of wood, new world of opportunies discovered

The Powermat may have slung "inductive charging" into the mainstream (at least to some minor extent), but it's still far too niche to be taken seriously by any electronics aisle in Target. Take that same technology and shove it into wood, however, and you've got something that each and every table owner on the planet could appreciate. Jason V decided to retrofit a Powermat charging pad into a slab of wood, and while it wasn't the easiest of tasks, the fact that he managed to successfully integrate it opens up all sorts of possibilities for the woodworking crowd. If you're hungry for more details, hop on down to the how-to guide at Instructables; otherwise, the demonstration vid is just past the break.

Wood Induction Charger from Jason V on Vimeo.

[va jj Posted Nov 23rd 2009 4:26AM]

what's the point of this?

[Cuervo Posted Nov 23rd 2009 4:29AM]

Point of putting it into wood? Point of the article? Point of being able to charge without plugging in?

[Charles Knight Posted Nov 23rd 2009 4:29AM]

That you can place objects on your desk and they simply charge with no cables and no fuss.

[Billy Posted Nov 23rd 2009 4:43AM]

It's to tell your neighbours, Hey Look! this part of my table can charge my electronics!

[aaronaut Posted Nov 23rd 2009 5:09AM]

it's way better looking than the plastic cover it comes with. i'd love it in my bedside table

[trinh Posted Nov 23rd 2009 5:37AM]

to point out an ipod was used in this video

[Cuervo Posted Nov 23rd 2009 4:27AM]

It's probably because it's 4:30 in the morning, but the first thing I thought when I saw the photo was, "Why would I need to charge my watch and key?"

[Ameen Posted Nov 23rd 2009 11:12AM]

Well, according to the timestamp this comment was posted at 4.27 a.m. I wish that I could post comments into the future, would you teach me master?

[GN1 Posted Nov 23rd 2009 11:41AM]

mom, what are you doing w/ my charging station? o i was looking for something to cut up the salad and some bacon, dont worry, i'll wash it -it would be good as new.

[rsxrcr Posted Nov 23rd 2009 4:27AM]

sorry to burst the bubble... but they talked about this originally when they were about to roll out with the powermat. i believe it was in one of the original interviews that someone did with the company that introduced the powermat. thats why i think just the little powermat is not too useful until we integrate it into kitchet countertops, desks, etc... like the original video that i saw said

[3Bit Posted Nov 23rd 2009 4:51AM]

So when can I order my poweroffice-table??

[3Bit Posted Nov 23rd 2009 4:55AM]

BTW, Teak plz

[trinh Posted Nov 23rd 2009 5:08AM]

ohh i get it! now you can cut, slide&dice WHATEVER YOU WANT while charging your iPod!

[Michael Scrip Posted Nov 23rd 2009 5:57AM]

I dunno... I just bought a couple of these... one for by my computer and one by my bed... $14 for 2 of them.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16875999338

If I invested in a Powermat system... I'd have to pay $100 for the mat and another $30 for this thing... just to charge my phone:
http://www.powermat.com/us/receivers/universal-powercube-receiver.html

Why not just make a wall plug with many different tips... and skip the whole "inductive charger" altogether? If you have to buy a Powemat *and* an iPod dock for it... isn't that a little redundant and expensive?

http://www.powermat.com/us/receiver-dock-for-ipod-and-iphone.html

[Michael Scrip Posted Nov 23rd 2009 6:23AM]

Here... I've simplified my point:

http://imgur.com/JanWd.jpg

[JohnPersonna Posted Nov 23rd 2009 6:43AM]

I have a KillAWatt monitor, I've tested my chargers, and so I know that the "vampire devices" campaigns have been a little bit overblown. I don't think modern small-device chargers draw much more than zero. If you want to save the world, look to your refrigerator, then your washer and dryer.

That said, I worry a bit about these new RF methods. Has anyone plugged in the KillAWatt?

[appsman Posted Nov 24th 2009 4:57AM]

@JohnPersonna The Powermat is not really RF. The transmission is at 350kHz.

[soonerLM Posted Nov 23rd 2009 8:08AM]

I'm with him, the first thing I got when I saw the Powermat was wood...

[thespacecowboy Posted Nov 23rd 2009 11:09AM]

Until manufacturers integrate these chargers into devices themselves, I think powermat will be very niche. Although they are spending $$$ on advertising around airports at the moment

[vicryixiv Posted Nov 23rd 2009 11:12AM]

So uh...i actually just saw it for the first time at target.

[DarwinianReject Posted Nov 23rd 2009 3:12PM]

So, can I dice tomatoes on this thing too?