Inductive charging for cell phones has been commercially viable for abut 5 years. How many phones on the market have it built in?
- Thread starter Ryan
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Inductive charging for cell phones has been commercially viable for abut 5 years. How many phones on the market have it built in?
usdemt
Well-known member
How is this considered wireless charging? To me you could put contacts on the bottom of the batter and achieve a better result. you still have the wires from the charger to the cradle. It still has to slide into the dock you just dont have to remove the battery. I would call it contactless charging. Now give me a mat that I can lay on my work area and have the drill charge while it was just laying there, that would be beneficial. I think they are pushing for technology that isnt there yet. It will come but for now this doesnt solve any real problem.
rlitman
Well-known member
It is an interesting point. I agree that it seems that they're stuck in a paradigm rut. With the cradle requirement, it's really not any better than the charging setup on my cordless phones. It is an improvement from the inconvenience of removing the battery, while still leaving you the option of easily swapping batteries, but it is far from revolutionary, at least in this use.
Qualcomm is one of the leaders in this technology since it seems they're the ones trying to bring all parties together.
The plan is that eventually you'll drive your electric vehicle into its garage space and there'll be a charging pad set beneath the vehicle for wireless charging. Same thing for your phone, plop it on the pad and let it charge, no more wasting time plugging a cord in... haha.
The plan is that eventually you'll drive your electric vehicle into its garage space and there'll be a charging pad set beneath the vehicle for wireless charging. Same thing for your phone, plop it on the pad and let it charge, no more wasting time plugging a cord in... haha.
PugetDude
ALLIANCE MEMBER
Interesting, but not really commercially viable at this point, IMO. I think it's a good start, but still has a long way to go.
You still have to return the battery to a charging station. Plugging it in isn't a big deal. The ability to leave it in the tool while charging is the only real upside that I see...
I see it as being able to make toast by throwing the bread on top of the toaster instead of having to go through the (laborious)
process of inserting it into the toaster slots. You still need the toaster either way.
You still have to return the battery to a charging station. Plugging it in isn't a big deal. The ability to leave it in the tool while charging is the only real upside that I see...
I see it as being able to make toast by throwing the bread on top of the toaster instead of having to go through the (laborious)
process of inserting it into the toaster slots. You still need the toaster either way.Bosch could also put a solar cell on top of the tool and make a cool video about how great that is and that the future is here now, but we all know how useful that would be.
This doesn't help me at all. As mentioned earlier by someone else... you could get the same thing (charging while the battery is still connected to the tool) if you put terminals on the outside of the battery or the tool.
You can call it the future, and maybe it will be adopted, but that doesn't mean it makes sense. See, for example, the widespread adoption of giant LCD touchscreen displays in the middle of the dashboard of new cars that control every vehicle system and create an expensive proprietary single point of failure.
This doesn't help me at all. As mentioned earlier by someone else... you could get the same thing (charging while the battery is still connected to the tool) if you put terminals on the outside of the battery or the tool.
You can call it the future, and maybe it will be adopted, but that doesn't mean it makes sense. See, for example, the widespread adoption of giant LCD touchscreen displays in the middle of the dashboard of new cars that control every vehicle system and create an expensive proprietary single point of failure.
Ign
Well-known member
In thinking about this further companies will try hard to make this proprietary. If you can just set any battery on any mat or surface which puts out the appropriate "charge" that's the start of universal chargers and they won't like that. I suppose it'll be easy enough to incorporate a chip that if the battery and charger can't exchange a secret handshake charging will not begin.
davetulk
Well-known member
Reading a little....you don't need to slide in the cradle you can just lay on top of the pad with the frame off. I think it would be a little more convenient for bench work. Leaving in the tool also convenient you shouldn't have to change the battery.
If/when I need a replacement battery for my 18v tools I think I would get it.
Cost wise they don't seem to be crazy over traditional
Bosch Traditional 18v Li Ion Charger $49
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00EPE7QTU/?tag=atomicindus08-20
Bosch Wireless 18v Li Ion Charger $49
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00ND4H36E/?tag=atomicindus08-20
Bosch Wireless 18v Li Ion charger with universal frame $69
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00ND4GYSC/?tag=atomicindus08-20
Bosh Wireless 18V Li Ion Charger with driver/drill frame $59
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00ND4H4P4/?tag=atomicindus08-20
If/when I need a replacement battery for my 18v tools I think I would get it.
Cost wise they don't seem to be crazy over traditional
Bosch Traditional 18v Li Ion Charger $49
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00EPE7QTU/?tag=atomicindus08-20
Bosch Wireless 18v Li Ion Charger $49
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00ND4H36E/?tag=atomicindus08-20
Bosch Wireless 18v Li Ion charger with universal frame $69
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00ND4GYSC/?tag=atomicindus08-20
Bosh Wireless 18V Li Ion Charger with driver/drill frame $59
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00ND4H4P4/?tag=atomicindus08-20
My phone has Qi (wireless) charging built in.
It works OK, but it generates a lot of heat. And the pad I use is only charging at 1Ah.
So if you had a 2Ah pack, thats 2 hours of charge time. On top of the heat generated which we all know is deadly to batteries (over time anyway). They could make it charge faster, but a higher charge rate = even more heat.
I think its a cool marketing thing, but reality is its place in power tools is limited. As someone mentioned before, its not even really all that adopted in mobile devices where I think its a better fit.
I have a wireless charge pad for my Wii and Xbox controllers.....I think its a PERFECT fit there, because the packs are so low capacity that a low charge rate (to keep heat down) still allows them to be charged in full in about 30 minutes. And since the controllers are such low drain items, even a small cap. pack lasts a while.
It works OK, but it generates a lot of heat. And the pad I use is only charging at 1Ah.
So if you had a 2Ah pack, thats 2 hours of charge time. On top of the heat generated which we all know is deadly to batteries (over time anyway). They could make it charge faster, but a higher charge rate = even more heat.
I think its a cool marketing thing, but reality is its place in power tools is limited. As someone mentioned before, its not even really all that adopted in mobile devices where I think its a better fit.
I have a wireless charge pad for my Wii and Xbox controllers.....I think its a PERFECT fit there, because the packs are so low capacity that a low charge rate (to keep heat down) still allows them to be charged in full in about 30 minutes. And since the controllers are such low drain items, even a small cap. pack lasts a while.
rlitman
Well-known member
That's a good point. This would make more sense with a minimal sized battery pack to save on weight, and sacrifice runtime between charges.
Problem is to small a battery may not deliver enough current.
A super cap perhaps? Runtime might be only a minute, but it'll always be charged anyway.
Problem is to small a battery may not deliver enough current.
A super cap perhaps? Runtime might be only a minute, but it'll always be charged anyway.
Forgot to mention the battery pack in my phone is huge: 3Ah. So it would be a 3 hour charge at best.
I have the Qi pad right on my nightstand, and I basically always reach for the regular AC charger. The phone stays MUCH cooler and charges a lot faster that way.
I have the Qi pad right on my nightstand, and I basically always reach for the regular AC charger. The phone stays MUCH cooler and charges a lot faster that way.
rlitman
Well-known member
Just like my Snap On ratcheting screwdriver. Some of the best tools work that way. When will Bosch learn?
xyster101
Well-known member
Complain all you want. If people buy it, then it is a hot item. If not, then a waste of money for Bosh.
Personally I like the idea as my impact is my #1 go to tool and it sits on my bench. If the charger was right there, it would always be charge without having to remember to swap batteries out. I would not care that the induction took 8 hours, it sits most of the time and when I work it hard, i can manually change the packs.
Personally I like the idea as my impact is my #1 go to tool and it sits on my bench. If the charger was right there, it would always be charge without having to remember to swap batteries out. I would not care that the induction took 8 hours, it sits most of the time and when I work it hard, i can manually change the packs.
Yes, I read about this a few months ago. Instead of putting the battery on the charger, now I can put the whole damned tool with the battery on the charger.
Lame waste of R&D money.
As for production lines, it saves you the time it takes to pull the battery out, put it on the charger, and insert the new one. Make sure you enjoy every one of the ten seconds you just saved!
Further, how is this any better than just putting an extra set of contacts on the bottom of new batteries so that every existing charger could charge said new batteries this way? Oh, wait. It's a lot more profit to sell everyone new chargers they don't really need. Right. My bad.
Lame waste of R&D money.
As for production lines, it saves you the time it takes to pull the battery out, put it on the charger, and insert the new one. Make sure you enjoy every one of the ten seconds you just saved!
Further, how is this any better than just putting an extra set of contacts on the bottom of new batteries so that every existing charger could charge said new batteries this way? Oh, wait. It's a lot more profit to sell everyone new chargers they don't really need. Right. My bad.
Syntax_Error
Well-known member
They are never going to put charging contacts on the outside of the body of the battery. Especially not the bottom. To much possibility of shorting the battery and causing a fire.
Ign
Well-known member
Stop making sense. Some want to hate the concept no matter what. I think this will unquestionably be the standard in 20 years. Right now some are hung up on the (admittedly dumb) design of having to dock the whole tool, but once manufacturers figure out to just have you set the battery itself on the charger it'll lower production time, costs, and possibility of contaminants. Like building a touch screen vs a real QWERTY keyboard.
I disagree pretty highly. The battery already has to have a connector, for power delivery to the tool. There's no reason not to use that connector to charge- it has to be there, it is already arranged correctly with the discharge/charge controller, and it doesn't add any cost.
The inductive loop adds cost, size, weight, and heat to the battery, for very little benefit.
truckdriver
Well-known member
Your phone probably has a 3 mAH battery. Big difference in capacity.
truckdriver
Well-known member
When your actual tools don't excite anyone, you have to resort to gimmicks. All the manufacturers do this, but they usually incorporate actual improvements along with it. This is all fluff and no substance. Everyone says it would be great for bench work or production line. That's such a small percentage that it's a stupid reason to spend so much effort on it.
How many people need an 18V for bench work? I can do 99% of my work with my M12, including drilling holes in the heat treated frame of my semi. For production work simply swapping batteries at lunch break would make much more sense than this. For the rest of us that would use our tools on the jobsite it's useless. All fluff, no substance.
How many people need an 18V for bench work? I can do 99% of my work with my M12, including drilling holes in the heat treated frame of my semi. For production work simply swapping batteries at lunch break would make much more sense than this. For the rest of us that would use our tools on the jobsite it's useless. All fluff, no substance.
Yeah... no. Most smartphones are now in the 1500-3000 mAH range. 1000 mAH=1 AH.
Some chinese company is producing a phone with a 5500 mAH battery, supposedly.
There are non-tool products that do it. All it takes is a 5 cent rubber piece on a hinge over the contacts.
Or nothing at all. There's about 10,000 products that use open contacts without problems. The charging contacts connect to a board that controls charge/discharge- they aren't a direct line to the battery terminals. Just because the charging terminals are exposed doesn't mean they will short on anything.
-Hey_Now-
Well-known member
It's an interesting concept but I won't buy into it. Technology makes us pretty lazy if we cannot simply dock a battery into a charger and use a secondary in the meantime.
No. 3mah would last maybe a couple hours?
Its definitely 3000mah, aka 3ah
Actually pretty interesting story behind it, LG developed some new battery technology to fit such a large capacity in a small space. Google should turn up stories on it.
Yes I agree Dave. That cradle thing they show is only optional, presumably to help stop the drill from toppling over while it's sitting there. I think they could do a bit more work on that aspect of it, perhaps something like a magnetic "latch" to retain it somewhat securely without the need of the cradle.
For those saying that external contacts would function just as well, you need to realise that the exact position and orientation on the charging pad is NOT important with the inductive charger. This is the big advantage. External contacts can be a nuisance even on things that operate in a relatively clean environment. They need exact orientation in a cradle and still sometimes need a bit of jiggling around before they charge correctly. Personally I wouldn't want external charging pins on my cordless tools.
I see an inductive charging pad like this as being a really useful accessory more than a primary charging unit. I'd like to have a conventional charger for when faster charging is required and an inductive charging pad that is perhaps a bit slower (and cooler) for just top up charging or keeping the battery fresh throughout the day.
For many people working near a bench much of the time I could see this as useful for keeping the battery fresh all day without ever needing to swap it out. It's not so much the inconvenience of swapping out the battery (which I agree is only minor), but by keeping the battery topped off you could potentially reduce the cycling stress (charge/discharge cycles) on the packs and operate with fewer packs that last (survive) longer.
I wouldn't write this idea off just yet.
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cgv69
Well-known member
I tend to agree. The concept is brilliant and I would be shocked if this is not the direction that all cordless tools move towards.
That said, I would have no interest in spending my money on the first couple of generations of this technology. Look how long it took cordless tool technology to get where it is at today? At first they were little more then novelty items. It took years before they could legitimately compare to corded tools and only recently did they get to the point of seriously competing with some air powered tools.
This wireless technology will go though the same curve. It will take a little while but I'd be surprised if it doesn't get to a point where changing a battery when it looses it's charge will seem as old fashioned as manually rolling up your cars windows. Just my $.02