Whereas electrical energy is an integral a part of our each day lives, some fashionable applied sciences don’t require electrical energy to operate. These applied sciences depend on different vitality sources, equivalent to mechanical vitality, photo voltaic vitality, or kinetic vitality, to function. On this article, learn the way seven fashionable expertise examples work with out electrical energy.
Photo voltaic-powered calculators
One typical occasion of expertise that doesn’t require electrical energy is solar-powered calculators. These calculators are run on photo voltaic cells, which remodel sunshine into electrical energy. The calculator could be powered in low gentle because of the photo voltaic cells, that are usually built-in into the calculator’s show. Calculators powered by photo voltaic vitality are often used outside, with restricted entry to electrical energy.
Photo voltaic-powered calculators launched the general public to inexperienced vitality a few years in the past: https://t.co/W2aza1LJtt
— Nationwide Geographic (@NatGeo) February 26, 2016
Mechanical watches
Mechanical watches depend on the vitality produced by a wound spring. Due to their precision and longevity, mechanical watches have been used for hundreds of years and are nonetheless extensively used at this time.
The watch’s motion is pushed by winding the spring, which shops the vitality launched when the spring unwinds. The mechanical motion’s high quality, influenced by the watch’s design and the watchmaker’s expertise, determines how correct the timepiece can be.
Wind-up radios
One other instance of expertise that doesn’t require a connection to an electrical energy supply is a wind-up radio. These radios are powered by a hand-cranked spring mechanism that powers a tiny generator to generate electrical energy. The radio’s circuitry and audio system are powered by the electrical energy produced. Wind-up radios are sometimes employed in emergencies or places with probably restricted entry to vitality.
In Sudan, @unamidnews has distributed photo voltaic wind-up radios to weak communities, serving to them entry life-saving data.
Extra on the work of the mission in Darfur: https://t.co/YAkK3EfoTK pic.twitter.com/TnTOha7fOK
— United Nations (@UN) January 30, 2020
Water-powered clocks
Clocks working on water are a uncommon expertise that doesn’t want electrical energy. These clocks are powered by the vitality created by the motion of water. The traditional Greeks developed the primary water-powered clocks extensively utilized in medieval Europe.
The burden and float of the clock are related through a cable to function it. The burden strikes the clock, whereas the float controls the water movement to maintain the timepiece correct.
Bicycle-powered turbines
Bicycle-powered turbines are an uncommon instance of expertise that doesn’t require a connection to an electrical energy output. These turbines are powered by pedaling a bicycle, which drives a small generator to supply electrical energy.
That is the place all of it actually began: Soichiro Honda’s first bike in 1946, a bicycle powered by WW2 army generator. Referred to as the Putt Putt pic.twitter.com/KfwJfwPlMh
— Mat Oxley (@matoxley) October 14, 2016
The generated electrical energy can energy numerous gadgets, together with lights, followers and radios. Bicycle-powered turbines are often utilized in remoted places or conditions the place electrical energy entry could also be restricted.
Hand-cranked flashlights
Hand-cranked flashlights use the hand crank to supply electrical energy, which powers the flashlight. The little battery that shops the generated electrical energy powers the flashlight’s LED bulb. Hand-cranked flashlights are often utilized in emergencies or locations the place entry to electrical energy could also be scarce.
Gravity-powered lamps
One-of-a variety expertise that doesn’t require electrical energy is gravity-powered lighting. In these lights, gravity powers an LED gentle supply that may produce as much as 20 minutes of sunshine per cycle. A generator that expenses a battery is powered by the weighted twine that the lamp pulls.
1⃣ I attempt to sustain with environmentally preferable merchandise tech, however this one was new to me: gravity-powered lamps.
They’re notably fitted to off-grid places the place it might be troublesome to make use of a (less expensive!) solar-powered lamp.
Supply: https://t.co/dOziuxqzd8 pic.twitter.com/CtvWM7pfyZ
— Ronald Steenblik (@RonSteenblik) March 4, 2022
The battery’s saved vitality then powers the LED bulb. Gravity-powered lamps are helpful in locations the place entry to electrical energy could also be constrained, equivalent to in rural villages or throughout energy outages.