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Italian designer Alberto is a good friend of Gadget Master - he was the inventor behind the Surveillance Camera System and the PC Thermometer. He has now completed a new proof of concept - the greenbox. One of my bug-bears is power prodigality with the whole plug-your-phone-into-the-wall charging process. I genuinely don't want to waste power but I also genuinely forget to unplug the charger. This is where the greenbox could come in.
It's a device that magically disconnects the charger from the mains when not in use.
The design cues of the box and its lid are centrally important. Alberto writes:
A greenbox works like a fridge light: it powers the charger only when you open it. Close the box, and its hidden switch disconnects the charger from the mains.!! NOTE - this is a conceptual prototype only !!. As Alberto warns:
* I placed the charger inside the box. To charge the phone, just open the box to reveal the charge plug, and attach it to the phone. Then leave the phone in the box until charged.
* When charge is complete, unplug the phone and close the box to get it off the mains. To make action more instinctive, greenbox lid opens on top and it's hinged - actually you can't forget it open.
Please note: I built my greenbox as a proof-of-concept prototype. Greenbox is not a finished product or design, by no means. Real products must be safe and pass code, while my prototype doesn't, e.g.:
o it can be easily dismantled by a child, exposing lethal parts inside;
o it can easily electrocute people and put your house in fire;
o it is built from unsuitable materials (eg sponge can get wet and conductive).
Comments (4)
Cool idea...
How about a small platform so the weight of the phone turns the charger on?
Same idea, slightly more automatic in usage.
But then if your going to have it on a platform (or in a box) why not have it inductively coupled?
Just my 5p's worth.
Posted by Ian Winter | July 8, 2009 11:58 AM
Posted on July 8, 2009 11:58
Personally:
I just use a plugin electronic timer and a multiboard to switch on my chargers for 2 hours overnight and make sure phones/etc are plugged in. The leads are all on a convenient shelf where stuff gets put while I'm in the house/asleep
It's less of a fancy gadget but it uses even less power than the setup above (the charger is drawing power when the lid is open, even if that's 12 hours/day)
Posted by Alan Brown | July 8, 2009 12:16 PM
Posted on July 8, 2009 12:16
> How about a small platform so the weight of the phone turns the charger on?
That sounds a good idea to me Ian. One to take before Dragons Den, maybe!
I think you are right, too Alan - that is the best possible setup, but not so many people are so organised or discplined. It's really good to have, like your shelf, a regular charging station. Otherwise you are asking to leave it plugged in unnoticed...
Posted by Alun Williams | July 9, 2009 12:46 PM
Posted on July 9, 2009 12:46
We have a simple method of avoiding leaving phones on charge.
The chargers are plugged into sockets over a kitchen work surface.
They are in the way!
After charging we have to unplug and put them away.
Posted by D Valentine | July 14, 2009 4:39 PM
Posted on July 14, 2009 16:39