Sure, but they are radiation sources and beyond microwaves, “nuclear” material exists in several consumer products, so that isn’t really a reason we haven’t had consumer nuclear batteries.
deranger@sh.itjust.works
on 05 Apr 2025 00:22
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“Drinking hot tea is safe so drinking boiling water, which is also hot, should also be safe”
The quantity of radioactive material and what form of radiation it emits is extremely relevant to this discussion.
We have seen nuclear batteries - it’s decades old technology at this point. They were used in pacemakers. They stopped in the 80s because it’s too expensive and dangerous. You have to track radiation sources like this.
deranger@sh.itjust.works
on 05 Apr 2025 00:20
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In smoke detectors and tritium watches the quantity of radioactive material is minuscule compared to the beta emitter in the battery, as in multiple orders of magnitude less. None of the things you mentioned have radioactive material in any significant quantity. If you swallowed or inhaled this battery you’d be exposed to significant amounts of radiation.
A microwave is not an ionizing radiation source.
Xavienth@lemmygrad.ml
on 05 Apr 2025 15:00
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“If you swallowed or inhaled this battery you’d be exposed to significant amounts of radiation.”
It’s beta radiation, which can be stopped by a layer of tin foil, I think. So yeah if you ate the source itself that would be bad, but if you eat the battery with the casing, probably much less bad?
queermunist@lemmy.ml
on 05 Apr 2025 15:11
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I think you’re in trouble if you swallow or inhale any batteries.
humanspiral@lemmy.ca
on 04 Apr 2025 21:54
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They use a more efficient process. Something about a diamond semiconductor that turns beta particles into electricity instead of relying on heat.
i_am_not_a_robot@discuss.tchncs.de
on 04 Apr 2025 20:06
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3V at 100 microwatts significantly limits its usefulness.
They say they’re planning to make a 1W version, which I assume will be either be much larger or have a much shorter lifespan. How does it work? Does it have a way to stop the reaction or does the 1W battery generate 1W of heat when there’s no load attached?
BlueEther@no.lastname.nz
on 04 Apr 2025 20:34
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I think for embedded iot type apps it could be great, pair it with some caps for peak loads (read/transmit).
i_am_not_a_robot@discuss.tchncs.de
on 04 Apr 2025 22:10
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Some microprocessors in deep sleep mode can consume less than 100 microwatts, so I guess it could be possible with this version, but you’d need to charge for a long time. The power consumption of an active ESP32 can reach 700,000 microwatts.
BlueEther@no.lastname.nz
on 04 Apr 2025 22:23
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I have some environment monitoring units that run on cr32 that last around 12 months (not ESP’s ;) )
humanspiral@lemmy.ca
on 04 Apr 2025 22:10
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I agree that’s low. claim of 3300mWh per gram, also has decay over 50 years. 100 microwatts over 24 hours is 2.4mWh. 600 microW solar for 4 hours is the same. 1 cm^2^ solar is 25mW, and so more daily power with just 6 minutes of sun per day.
Kit@lemmy.blahaj.zone
on 04 Apr 2025 21:33
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How long until they make a vibrator that fits these?
threaded - newest
Fallout vibes
I always wondered why there weren’t any nuke batteries available. We have had the technology for decades.
I imagine large part of it is that it’s at odds with capitalist drive to increase consumption.
Planned obsolescence? Now in upgraded, more flashy version!
Can’t imagine why we don’t put nuclear material in consumer products, seems practical.
You mean like Microwaves? Or Smoke detectors? Granite countertops etc. Or watches, and Energy Efficient CFLs?
There is nothing nuclear about microwaves.
Sure, but they are radiation sources and beyond microwaves, “nuclear” material exists in several consumer products, so that isn’t really a reason we haven’t had consumer nuclear batteries.
“Drinking hot tea is safe so drinking boiling water, which is also hot, should also be safe”
The quantity of radioactive material and what form of radiation it emits is extremely relevant to this discussion.
We have seen nuclear batteries - it’s decades old technology at this point. They were used in pacemakers. They stopped in the 80s because it’s too expensive and dangerous. You have to track radiation sources like this.
In smoke detectors and tritium watches the quantity of radioactive material is minuscule compared to the beta emitter in the battery, as in multiple orders of magnitude less. None of the things you mentioned have radioactive material in any significant quantity. If you swallowed or inhaled this battery you’d be exposed to significant amounts of radiation.
A microwave is not an ionizing radiation source.
“If you swallowed or inhaled this battery you’d be exposed to significant amounts of radiation.”
It’s beta radiation, which can be stopped by a layer of tin foil, I think. So yeah if you ate the source itself that would be bad, but if you eat the battery with the casing, probably much less bad?
I think you’re in trouble if you swallow or inhale any batteries.
They use a more efficient process. Something about a diamond semiconductor that turns beta particles into electricity instead of relying on heat.
3V at 100 microwatts significantly limits its usefulness.
They say they’re planning to make a 1W version, which I assume will be either be much larger or have a much shorter lifespan. How does it work? Does it have a way to stop the reaction or does the 1W battery generate 1W of heat when there’s no load attached?
I think for embedded iot type apps it could be great, pair it with some caps for peak loads (read/transmit).
Some microprocessors in deep sleep mode can consume less than 100 microwatts, so I guess it could be possible with this version, but you’d need to charge for a long time. The power consumption of an active ESP32 can reach 700,000 microwatts.
I have some environment monitoring units that run on cr32 that last around 12 months (not ESP’s ;) )
I agree that’s low. claim of 3300mWh per gram, also has decay over 50 years. 100 microwatts over 24 hours is 2.4mWh. 600 microW solar for 4 hours is the same. 1 cm^2^ solar is 25mW, and so more daily power with just 6 minutes of sun per day.
How long until they make a vibrator that fits these?