Awesome Power

If you’ve bought a phone in the last few years, you’re likely familiar with wireless charging. But this tech requires nearly direct contact with the device to transmit power. In this video from DIY Perks, he shows how he put together an entire computer workstation that’s powered wirelessly, thanks to ETI’s cutting-edge wireless power tech.

Perhaps inspired by Thor, engineer G.E. Leyh of LightningOnDemand created a device that directs a beam of electricity toward a target. After years of waiting for the right capacitors, he built a massive, 240,000-volt version of his Lorentz Plasma Cannon that puts on quite the light show as it blasts targets from 35 feet away.

This premium desktop charging station reduces clutter and looks cool doing it. The Moonbase helps reduce the need for charging bricks by providing four USB-C ports and 240 watts of efficient GaN power on board. It has three well-spaced AC outlets for devices that still need their own charger, each accented with a colorful ring of light.

While it can charge a variety of gadgets and appliances, Bluetti created the X20 power bank mainly for laptop users. It comes with a whopping 12 different DC adapters, making it compatible with 90% of laptop models. It has a 48,000 mAh capacity, a 160 W DC port, a 100 W USB-C port, an 18 W USB-A port, and a 10.5 W USB-A port.

Bluetti’s portable AC240 is a 2400W power pack with an IP65 rating for water and dust resistance. That protection includes its power outlets. Speaking of which, it has three AC sockets, two DC ports, and four USB charging ports. It also acts as a UPS, kicking in within 15ms of a power outage. Multiple units can be connected to store more power.

Stanley’s unique power strip is built into an industrial-strength, spring-loaded clamp with rubberized claws. The design means you can securely place outlets without worry that they will shift when moving your power tool cords. It only has three outlets though, and you may need an extension cord to reach your wall outlet.

Not long ago, Aboringday entertained us by sending too much voltage through some electromechanical toys. If that didn’t satisfy your appetite for destruction, he’s back to subject another bunch of toys to more power than they were designed to handle. We still can’t decide whether to laugh or cry for the toys.

Most electric kids’ toys run on relatively low voltages. Aboringday wanted to see what would happen to some electromechanical toys if you ramped up their power beyond their rated voltages. The experiments top out at 30 volts, so don’t expect flames to shoot out of anything. Most of the results are amusing, but we felt bad for that bee-stung dog.

We’ve all seen those giant windmills dotting the landscape. Now, you can carry a wind-powered generator to capture energy wherever the winds take you. The Shine Turbine weighs just 3 pounds, sets up in 2 minutes, and can produce up to 40 watts of power. It works in winds from 8 to 28 mph and has a 12000 mAh internal battery.

Solar energy is out there for the taking, but is it really free? Wren from Corridor Crew digs into the realities of generating power from various energy sources, and illustrates the number of solar panels and space we’d need to replace dangerous fossil fuels with clean solar energy.

Keep your campsite running with this powerful and portable battery pack. With a capacity of 288Wh, it charges gadgets quickly, and its three AC outlets can power tools and household appliances. It has three USB-A ports, including one with fast charge, one USB-C 100W port, a 12VDC port, and built-in emergency light.

A while back, we met a funny-looking robot known as Cassie. Developed by the OSU Dynamic Robotics Laboratory and Agility Robotics, the bipedal robot can walk and run ostrich-style. Her human masters have now figured out a way for Cassie to run a 5K on a single charge. The research could lead to improved efficiency for delivery robots.

Be prepared for power outages with this 1000W battery backup unit. It has three 110V AC outlets, two USB-C ports with PD 18W, one USB-A port with 5V/2.4A, one USB-A w/Quick Charge 3.0, and one 12V/10A car outlet. It’s capable of running some devices for up to seven days. Save an extra 15% through 8.4.21 with code ANNUAL15.

Home decor company Buster + Punch brings sophistication to spaces through little details. Their electrical collection includes modern light switches, dimmers, outlets, USB chargers, and wall plates in smoked bronze, brass, steel, and more. They’re not cheap, but they definitely make a statement.

Anker’s portable power stations are ready to juice up gadgets numerous times, so they’re great for extended camping trips and location shoots. They come with multiple USB-C, USB-A, and 12VDC ports, as well as one or two AC outlets. They come in 300W/388.8Wh and 500W/777Wh models that charge 8 or 11 devices, respectively.

Most homes get power from utility companies, which can be costly and negatively impact the environment. VICE Impact introduces us to Jehu Garcia, an electronics enthusiast who has built a DIY powerwall – an off-grid installation of recycled lithium-ion batteries that stores solar energy and power his home.