Inventor Knut Karlsen has designed batteries that recharge themselves when they are exposed to sunlight; no electric power source is required!
Karlsen’s SunCat batteries circumvent chargers completely by integrating solar cells within the batteries themselves. To make these prototypes he attached 1.8V flexible photovoltaic cells onto 1.5V NiMH rechargeable batteries and connected them with a conductive silver pen and a few flat wires. The effect is similar to a trickle charger, which slowly charges a battery and can be left attached indefinitely without overcharging.
From the Upcoming ueue, submitted by Minnesotastan.
- Teh hee!
Wink wink nudge nudge...
Rechargeable batteries life is horrible. They would never replace a good battery that will last 3 or 4 times longer. Those batteries would go good in remotes or small devices that do not demand alot of power.