4 ms·
Such a system would need a box in the basement and lots of seperate wires to outlets, which would be expensive. Or it would need to put more smarts in wall soc
by 7952 5y ago
Such a system would need a box in the basement and lots of seperate wires to outlets, which would be expensive. Or it would need to put more smarts in wall sockets, similar to adding USB. This is more of a safety risk than just plugging in a usb charger. It requires more skill to install, reduces seperation between high and low voltage parts, could become obselete and has components that might wear out. Also, any system that encourages the use of extension cables is a safety risk. The last thing we want is someone plugging a 5kw heater into an extension cord bought on Ebay.
The current system is nice and flexible and simple enough to be safe. Extension cords work well when you are plugging in a bunch of usb devices and tv/laptop/console. But you can also use the same outlet for a hair dryer or a mixer. Higher current devices like ovens, showers, and cars need to be treated seperately to prevent unsuitable parts adding a fire risk. Lack of compatability to domestic appliances is a feature.
- londons_explore 5y ago> The current system is [...] safe. Well, it kills 1000+ people per year in electrical fires in the USA alone. We would never allow electricity in homes like this if it were invented today. > Such a system would need a box in the basement and lots of seperate wires to outlets. Yes. But if high voltages can safely be used, and the system is safe in case a cable gets chafed, then the wires become super thin like headphone wires, and overall, the whole system could be produced cheaper than existing systems which use a lot of copper and plastic. Fire is eliminated too, because a high tech solution measures power losses at every connection, and as soon as enough is unaccounted for to possibly be heating something up to the point of a fire, it switches off. The main disadvantage is that every appliance or device needs circuitry to measure power flows. This is mitigated by the fact that voltage is variable - low power devices could simply run off 5 to 20 volts at sub-1-amp and not bother with any fancy measurement. Only high power stuff would need the high voltages and all the safety circuitry.
- robocat 5y ago10’s of milliamps can kill you, and powerboard RCDs are set at 30mA trip. The extra insulation is mostly to protect you from shock. I suspect the risk of fire very thin wires and AC voltage is fairly low - the wires will burn out before there is much of a fire risk.