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Inductive Power on the Cheap – Philips Imageo Teatlight Teardown

18 points by luu 11y ago

joosters 11y ago
Are the inductive parts that cheap? You can buy a pair of similar LED candles without the charging (but with changeable batteries) for about £1 in the UK. So that's roughly a difference of $75 for a set of six with the recharging equipment... As a comparison, inductively charged electric toothbrushes start at around $25, and the charging equipment must be a relatively small part of their BOM.
- x5n1 11y ago
  $5.99 without the recharge. http://www.ledtealights.net/LED-Tea-Light-With-Flickering-Short-Flame-Set-Of-6_p_11.html http://www.ledtealights.net/LED-Tea-Light-With-Flickering-Sh... 25 batteries for $10 http://www.aliexpress.com/item/dollarneer-20pcs-CR2032-DL2032-CR-2032-Lithium-Cell-Coin-Button-Battery-3V-Worldwide-free-shipping/1895614662.html?ws_ab_test=201407_3,201444_6,201409_2 http://www.aliexpress.com/item/dollarneer-20pcs-CR2032-DL203... 4x rechargeable batteries + charger for $20 http://www.aliexpress.com/item/AC110-250V-Wall-Charger-Plug-Adapter-with-4x-3-6V-LIR-2032-CR2032-Lithium-Coin-Battery/32223192734.html?ws_ab_test=201407_3,201444_6,201409_2 http://www.aliexpress.com/item/AC110-250V-Wall-Charger-Plug-...
toothbrush 11y ago
It's a "tealight", not a "teatlight".
- joncp 11y ago
  I was expecting to read about some sort of dairy equipment, which would have been an interesting change of pace for HN
  - eru 11y ago
    Please post.
- deleted 11y ago
  [deleted]
monochromatic 11y ago
> How can Philips sell a set of 6 inductively rechargeable LED lamps with charger and glass holders for less than $80 retail? Who in the world thinks $80 is cheap for a few tiny little lights?
- joezydeco 11y ago
  The BOM for the charging base is probably more than the 6 lights combined.
  - monochromatic 11y ago
    It probably is. But I wouldn't expect them to have more than $20 in the base, and that seems like a high estimate.
KingMob 11y ago
"The only disappointment I have in this otherwise lovely board is that it uses 56 ohm resistors to limit current though the LEDs…" I know the author is geeking out, but his only disappointment should be wasting energy with less efficient wireless charging in a world where power is still created by burning hydrocarbons.

18 points by luu 11y ago

Are the inductive parts that cheap? You can buy a pair of similar LED candles without the charging (but with changeable batteries) for about £1 in the UK. So that's roughly a difference of $75 for a set of six with the recharging equipment... As a comparison, inductively charged electric toothbrushes start at around $25, and the charging equipment must be a relatively small part of their BOM.

x5n1 11y ago
$5.99 without the recharge. http://www.ledtealights.net/LED-Tea-Light-With-Flickering-Short-Flame-Set-Of-6_p_11.html http://www.ledtealights.net/LED-Tea-Light-With-Flickering-Sh... 25 batteries for $10 http://www.aliexpress.com/item/dollarneer-20pcs-CR2032-DL2032-CR-2032-Lithium-Cell-Coin-Button-Battery-3V-Worldwide-free-shipping/1895614662.html?ws_ab_test=201407_3,201444_6,201409_2 http://www.aliexpress.com/item/dollarneer-20pcs-CR2032-DL203... 4x rechargeable batteries + charger for $20 http://www.aliexpress.com/item/AC110-250V-Wall-Charger-Plug-Adapter-with-4x-3-6V-LIR-2032-CR2032-Lithium-Coin-Battery/32223192734.html?ws_ab_test=201407_3,201444_6,201409_2 http://www.aliexpress.com/item/AC110-250V-Wall-Charger-Plug-...

toothbrush 11y ago

It's a "tealight", not a "teatlight".

joncp 11y ago
I was expecting to read about some sort of dairy equipment, which would have been an interesting change of pace for HN
- eru 11y ago
  Please post.
deleted 11y ago
[deleted]

monochromatic 11y ago

> How can Philips sell a set of 6 inductively rechargeable LED lamps with charger and glass holders for less than $80 retail? Who in the world thinks $80 is cheap for a few tiny little lights?

joezydeco 11y ago
The BOM for the charging base is probably more than the 6 lights combined.
- monochromatic 11y ago
  It probably is. But I wouldn't expect them to have more than $20 in the base, and that seems like a high estimate.

KingMob 11y ago

"The only disappointment I have in this otherwise lovely board is that it uses 56 ohm resistors to limit current though the LEDs…" I know the author is geeking out, but his only disappointment should be wasting energy with less efficient wireless charging in a world where power is still created by burning hydrocarbons.