Rain-powered LED umbrella

[PhotonBoy]

"Anyone who has been caught in a torrential downpour knows that rain can be pretty powerful stuff. That's why the Lightdrops umbrella prototype is so ingenious. The polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) umbrella features a "collective membrane" that powers its LED lights with energy from the rain."

http://cleantechnica.com/2008/12/16/lightdrops-umbrella-is-powered-by-rain/

This would obviously have limited use in drier climates. - PB

 

[gillestugan]

Seems very useful!
Almost as useful as those DX "solar powered flashlights" lol, who needs a flashlight in sunlight?

(Unfortunately it's only the title, as it has a small rechargable battery inside.)

 

[qwertyydude]

The first reply hit it on the head, you can't generate enough electricity to light up an umbrella like that. If something like that could generate that kind of power then I'm sure the technology would find it's way into other more useful areas.

Besides I'd much rather have a Blade Runner umbrella.
http://www.thinkgeek.com/gadgets/travelpower/9260/?cpg=froogle

 

[Lynx_Arc]

I sort of find it kind of silly when the crank lights were $15 you could buy an LED light and $10 worth of batteries and not have to crank it for a long time. If you are running 5mm LEDs just buy batteries for them.

 

[defloyd77]

For some reason this makes me think of the sidewalk that's in Michael Jacksons Billie Jean music video lol. I know not much on physics, but if it works like they show it, it could lead to greater things.