Solar panels used to be an expensive investment, used for off-grid cabins or other applications where on-grid power wasn’t available. But nowadays, solar panels can be used to power everything from floodlights to security cameras. They’re now so affordable that just about anybody can get in the game. Even better, several states also give you …
If you’ve been around long enough, you probably remember old-fashioned hearing aids. Not long ago, your hearing aid wasn’t something you just popped into your ear. Instead, you had a big blocky device in your pocket, with earbuds and wires connected. These older hearing aids usually used AA batteries, and were inconvenient to use. As …
Nowadays, we’ve managed to electrify a lot of the tools that used to be manual. Take a wheelchair, for example. Yes, many people who use a wheelchair still prefer to use the manual version. It provides a sense of autonomy, as well as an important way to get exercise. But there are also many reasons …
Battery technology has come a long way in the past century. Starting with old-school, extra-heavy lead-acid batteries, we now have a plethora of options. Nickel cadmium, lithium-ion, and lithium-polymer batteries all have their own advantages and disadvantages. But one thing they all have in common is that they weigh less than lead-acid. That said, lead-acid …
Over the past few decades, we’ve gone from just a handful of electronics to a metric ton of it. This is evident in home design. If you walk around a newer home, there are power outlets everywhere. Every few feet along the baseboard, under kitchen counters, and anywhere smart devices go. This is good news …