Real Engineering: The truth about wireless charging

[NO ONE]

[video=youtube;iOVg62_DUYU]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iOVg62_DUYU[/video]

So I guess it still really boils down to needing much cleaner and efficient methods of producing electricity. The projections, at least in the video, say that significant expansion needs to happen in order to accommodate all the new potential smartphone and EV users.

It is an interesting point that for smartphones, wireless charging doesn't currently offer a big jump in convenience. It's almost like a gimmick, because most pads have such limited range. But for an electric car, it could be pretty useful. It would be the equivalent to having a gas pump at your work or in your garage. But then, like mentioned, the electrical demand will skyrocket.

[Mattk50]

I find the phone charging problem fairly absurd. Just have a phone with a removable battery and charger and swap them out as needed, its way more convenient.

[ithon]

[QUOTE=Mattk50;53156727]I find the phone charging problem fairly absurd. Just have a phone with a removable battery and charger and swap them out as needed, its way more convenient.[/QUOTE]

this toughbook tablet has two batteries so you can remove one battery to swap it with a new one while allowing the other being charged all while allowing it to run windows.

[img]https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51xmrpzZLfL._SX355_.jpg[/img]

[Swilly]

I mean, my samsung will quickcharge from 0 to 100% in 2 hours at most.

[Majr]

[QUOTE=NO ONE;53156612]But for an electric car, it could be pretty useful. It would be the equivalent to having a gas pump at your work or in your garage. But then, like mentioned, the electrical demand will skyrocket.[/QUOTE]

Not really. In the really long term, maybe it will be common to have induction charging everywhere so you just never have to think about charging at all. For now though, spending 5 seconds to plug your car in when you get home at night is really not an issue that needs solving.
As far as electrical demand goes, it will not rise anywhere near as much as it seems, thanks to cars primarily being charged overnight when energy demand is very low to start with. Charging cars can therefore actually help balance the grid, improving its health and efficiency. Especially when you factor in smart grids, which can charge and discharge cars in order to help balance peak demand.

[nagachief]

[QUOTE=Mattk50;53156727]I find the phone charging problem fairly absurd. Just have a phone with a removable battery and charger and swap them out as needed, its way more convenient.[/QUOTE]

This. It's why I didn't go for the LG v30 and instead went with the v20. For example, I keep accidently letting it discharge so much it's not even a year and I need a new battery. If I did that with a v30, I'd basically need a new phone if I didn't want to pay some kind of bill to get it serviced. Is it even possible to waterproof a phone with a removable battery though?

[LoneWolf_Recon]

[QUOTE=Vodkavia;53157695]but then we'd lose out on the two most import design aspects of phone design for which everything else is sacrificed for;

Thinness, and lack of user serviceability.[/QUOTE]

Its of note that these aren't engineering hurdles, its completely possible and feasible to have decent sized phones that are completely serviceable. Its the unsustainable consumerist drive that these companies perpetuate to keep planned obsolescence a thing along with replace-don't-repair.

Apple is by far the biggest offender.

[Seris]

[QUOTE=nagachief;53158420]Is it even possible to waterproof a phone with a removable battery though?[/QUOTE]

Louis Rossmann did a video on this topic recently on his channel. The Samsung S5 had a removable battery and was IP67 rated

[Gook Nukem]

[QUOTE=nagachief;53158420]This. It's why I didn't go for the LG v30 and instead went with the v20. For example, I keep accidently letting it discharge so much it's not even a year and I need a new battery. If I did that with a v30, I'd basically need a new phone if I didn't want to pay some kind of bill to get it serviced. Is it even possible to waterproof a phone with a removable battery though?[/QUOTE]

put your phone into a ziplock bag to 100% waterproof it :eng101s:

[LoneWolf_Recon]

[QUOTE=nagachief;53158420]This. It's why I didn't go for the LG v30 and instead went with the v20. For example, I keep accidently letting it discharge so much it's not even a year and I need a new battery. If I did that with a v30, I'd basically need a new phone if I didn't want to pay some kind of bill to get it serviced. Is it even possible to waterproof a phone with a removable battery though?[/QUOTE]

Yes it completely possible, the aforementioned Galaxy S5 was able too and it really boils down to compartmentalizing your battery away from the main logic board along with smart useage of O-rings/gaskets.

[arlygoodbrownie]

[QUOTE=Mattk50;53156727]I find the phone charging problem fairly absurd. Just have a phone with a removable battery and charger and swap them out as needed, its way more convenient.[/QUOTE]

For you, but people don't want to have to worry about a second battery. The problem isn't the design, it's people's habits. Introducing a second battery won't solve it, it'll just result in two batteries being empty instead of one.

[editline]25th February 2018[/editline]

You're smart enough to be able to manage it, but not the person who walks in and says "I just want a phone that can call and have Facebook."

[NO ONE]

[QUOTE=LegndNikko;53159157]For you, but people don't want to have to worry about a second battery. The problem isn't the design, it's people's habits. Introducing a second battery won't solve it, it'll just result in two batteries being empty instead of one.

[editline]25th February 2018[/editline]

You're smart enough to be able to manage it, but not the person who walks in and says "I just want a phone that can call and have Facebook."[/QUOTE]

This is sort of what I was thinking. In the grand scale of smartphone users, I'm pretty sure it's a more common habit to use a charger, rather than pay for another battery (however cheap or expensive they may be), keep it charged, and have it on hand. I mean is there not a solid market for all sorts of different chargers; for you office, car, etc.

Another aspect I think about is how reasonable would it really be for the majority of phones to have 2 batteries sold with them? Is doubling battery production economical? Is it significantly worse for the environment? I suppose replacement batteries are going to be manufactured anyway, so there will always be a surplus, but I just have to wonder if the amount shifted a bit, how would it affect things?

I don't have all the answers, but I at least try to think of things in a large scale, since even small changes can sometimes have a sizable impact.

I think one reason this channel bothered to go over this topic is because there is potential for things to change in the coming years. How we take care of keeping our devices charged may change, and with change comes certain engineering problems to over come.