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!
nuclear battery
Started by ●January 14, 2024
Reply by ●January 14, 20242024-01-14
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
Reply by ●January 14, 20242024-01-14
On 14/01/2024 14:20, 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!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 ●January 14, 20242024-01-14
On 1/14/24 11:02, Martin Brown wrote:> On 14/01/2024 14:20, 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! > > 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 > >Thank both of you. I suspected it was bs, but coming from Tomshardware, I wasn't sure.
Reply by ●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 BellemanOne 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.
Reply by ●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
