Reply by Jeroen Belleman●January 15, 20242024-01-15
On 1/15/24 16:42, John Larkin wrote:
> On Sun, 14 Jan 2024 16:48:54 +0100, Jeroen Belleman
> <jeroen@nospam.please> wrote:
>
>> On 1/14/24 15:20, jim whitby wrote:
>>> From Tomshardware site
>>>
>>> <https://www.tomshardware.com/pc-components/power-supplies/chinese-developed-nuclear-battery-has-a-50-year-lifespan>
>>>
>>> IF this isn't BS...
>>>
>>> Somebody in the free world needs to get off their asses!
>>
>> Beta batteries are nothing new, but they find only few applications.
>> If you have a device that needs very little power but needs to run
>> for many years untended, it may be a good option.
>>
>> The Ni63 that powers it probably doesn't come cheap, so you need a
>> really good reason to use one.
>>
>> Jeroen Belleman
>
> One problem with beta batteries is that they make a small current at
> hundreds of kilovolts. There have been various exotic dc/dc converters
> for them, but none have been practical so far.
>
> A lithium primary cell is usually a better deal. The Tadiran parts
> claim over 35 year lifetime.
I gather the usual way to convert betas into usable voltage and
current is to let them pass through a stack of large bandgap
photo diodes. Still, you are correct that a lithium primary cell
is easier.
Jeroen Belleman
Reply by John Larkin●January 15, 20242024-01-15
On Sun, 14 Jan 2024 16:48:54 +0100, Jeroen Belleman
<jeroen@nospam.please> wrote:
>On 1/14/24 15:20, jim whitby wrote:
>> From Tomshardware site
>>
>> <https://www.tomshardware.com/pc-components/power-supplies/chinese-developed-nuclear-battery-has-a-50-year-lifespan>
>>
>> IF this isn't BS...
>>
>> Somebody in the free world needs to get off their asses!
>
>Beta batteries are nothing new, but they find only few applications.
>If you have a device that needs very little power but needs to run
>for many years untended, it may be a good option.
>
>The Ni63 that powers it probably doesn't come cheap, so you need a
>really good reason to use one.
>
>Jeroen Belleman
One problem with beta batteries is that they make a small current at
hundreds of kilovolts. There have been various exotic dc/dc converters
for them, but none have been practical so far.
A lithium primary cell is usually a better deal. The Tadiran parts
claim over 35 year lifetime.
It is largely clueless marketing hype. Whilst the thing can generate a
miniscule current for an incredibly long time it is a toy - and nothing
more. Zamboni piles do much the same thing without any radioactivity.
There has been one ringing a bell in Oxford for nearly 200 years.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zamboni_pile
--
Martin Brown
Reply by Jeroen Belleman●January 14, 20242024-01-14
Beta batteries are nothing new, but they find only few applications.
If you have a device that needs very little power but needs to run
for many years untended, it may be a good option.
The Ni63 that powers it probably doesn't come cheap, so you need a
really good reason to use one.
Jeroen Belleman