So after searching the archives I found a piezoelectric remote and belt buckle battery gizmo, but no one seems to have mentioned a simple replacement for the standard battery. Using modern technology we could probably couple a piezoelectric generator with a rechargable battery in a similar sized package. For any object that gets moved alot, this type of battery would be ideal, and never need replacing, just a few shakes and your on your way.

Now I'm not saying they're for all applications, I wouldn't want to put one in my alarm clock or my portable defibrillator, but there are a lot of uses. You could put them in cameras, remotes, RC vehicles (drastically increase the time it takes to drain the batts on your rc car), flashlights, jump start kits for your car (for us wintery folks who need such things), your electric razor, etc. Basically anything that needs short bursts of power, or that you wear on your person (mp3 players and cell phones). For the brave: pacemaker.

Just having a piezoelectric recharge system coupled with a rechargable battery could extend the battery life of your cell phone by days at the least.
-- Reverend_Cobol, Nov 04 2003

You are vastly overestimating the strength of piezoelectricity. Nevertheless, this is actually Baked for some applications, mostly involving very low power devices. I posted a link for just such a device to IBD a couple of weeks ago, but now I can't find it, of course.
-- DrCurry, Nov 04 2003


Piezoelectrics are passive devices, meaning they only give an output while there is an input. Furthermore, they are a differential passive device, meaning the output is only present when the input is changing. Also, since they do convert one form of energy to another, and they cannot do so with perfect efficiency, they act as a motion damper. The amount of energy output by a piezo device, while voltage may be high, is extremely small, and it is doubtful that the output could be used to provide any significant power. There are flashlights available that convert motion to power via a magnet sliding inside the handle, and watches that can auto-rewind themselves by the motion of the wearer, but for all except the most power-thrifty devices, piezo is not an option.
-- Freefall, Nov 04 2003


Boy, what a bunch of killjoys! Imagine a piezo device attatched to a string on a tower. An aeolian generator. String vibrates, piezo generates. Low, yes, but many creeks form a river!
-- stringstretcher, Nov 04 2003


I have been searching the internet for two days now. Freefall, I think you answered my question. I thought the piezo effect created electron movement all the time. Are you saying I HAVE to smack a crystal to get a brief charge? And that applying crushing pressure constantly will not produce a significantly lower charge, because the pressure is constant?
-- CMartin, Apr 07 2004


//many creeks form a river//

Oh come on, I'm not that old!
-- ye_river_xiv, Mar 23 2007


If may be possible to make batteries with evaporates of Rochelle Salt that use a galvanic potential using carbon and magnesium.
-- travbm, Nov 01 2015


Yes, dear, we know. You said that some time ago. Saying it again will just make people adjust your medication.
-- MaxwellBuchanan, Nov 03 2015


Seems like people here don't understand conservation of energy. And [stringstretcher], that's called a windbelt.
-- notexactly, Feb 08 2016



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