I wanted to share this opinion on Hackaday about a topic that is the usefulness of a something that has become ubiquitous relatively fast.

This techonolgyy has a lot of potential, what do you think?

  • lud@lemm.ee
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    6 months ago

    It would also solve the North America 60Hz and EU 50Hz issue

    Since when is it an issue?

    A lot of stuff accepts both and the plugs are different anyways so why does it matter?

    Btw most of the world uses 50hz not just the EU.

      • lud@lemm.ee
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        6 months ago

        Yeah, but they would be simpler but you would instead have to put powerful DC-DC converters in pretty much everything.

        It sounds like a solution to a problem which isn’t a big deal. In theory it might be nice but it works fine as it is. We know very well how home AC grids work and charging that would be a mess.

        • ShadowRam@kbin.social
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          6 months ago

          powerful DC-DC

          No, are you not aware how these work?

          A step down DC-DC is nothing compared to a transformer rectifier or PD electronics with communication with a USB-C.

          • lud@lemm.ee
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            6 months ago

            Maybe, DC wiring at home will never happen though (except in the form of POE).

    • barsoap@lemm.ee
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      6 months ago

      It was once upon a time, in the age of olde, where switched-mode power supplies were not the norm and GaN semiconductors weren’t in the process of taking over the whole power IC market. Taking in any mains voltage/frequency and spitting out any reasonable DC voltage is no issue for those things, they simply don’t care.

      It’s still going to be an issue in the future but pretty much only for resistive heaters (well, at least the voltage part) and motors with oomph.

      Speaking of DC though: The EU is looking into applying HVDC not just to point-to-point connections but at a network level. Don’t expect that to hit your home in your lifetime, but if you’re an aluminium smelter it would make a lot of sense to have a direct connection to tons of DC.