This revolutionary invention is here: a wireless outlet that transmits power through a window

This revolutionary invention is here: a wireless outlet that transmits power through a window

So far, the revolutionary invention has a lot of limitations, but it looks promising.

Engineer Peter Bevelacqua, based in California, has unveiled a groundbreaking invention: the wireless Power Mole outlet designed to charge outdoor appliances using home power sources.

Operating on the principle of inductive coupling, akin to wireless smartphone charging systems, the device comprises two pucks. One puck links to a power source while the other connects to the electronics requiring a charge. Both are affixed to opposite sides of a glass surface. Remarkably, this device can transmit power up to 10 watts.

Essentially, it functions like a conventional extension cord but without the need for any drilled holes. Capable of transmitting through glass up to 30 millimeters thick, as well as wood and various non-metallic materials.

It's worth noting that the Power Mole is compatible only with devices featuring a USB port. Moreover, while theoretically capable of transmitting up to 10 watts, it currently operates at a maximum of 5 watts. Thus, it's not suitable for powering high-energy devices like electric drills.

Power Mole Kickstarter
© Kickstarter.com

According to the inventors' statement, the device seems pretty safe: "We took safety seriously with this device. Magnetic fields are used for phone wireless power because there is no risk of electric shock. Starting from there, we could have made a cheap product where the transmitter simply cranks out magnetic fields continuously. Besides being wasteful of energy, these fields can heat up metal objects in the vicinity. To account for this, we made the transmitter and receiver capable of communicating with each other. If the transmitter cannot find a receiver, the magnetic fields turn off. If the receiver is drawing too much power, the transmitter will also stop the power transfer. And in case a metal object is between the transmitter and receiver, the transmitter also monitors the input and output power levels to ensure stray power is not being significantly absorbed by nearby objects. This feature ensures nearby metallic objects are not heated up by the transmitter. Finally, we have the Power Mole tested at FCC certification labs for field exposure levels. Both the magnetic and electric fields around the device were found to be well below the FCC regulatory limits for consumer devices."

Various devices are compatible with Power Mole, including:

  • Nest Cam outdoor wired and battery (1st and 2nd generations; not Nest Cam IQ)
  • Nest Cam indoor (all generations)
  • Wyze cameras
  • Ring Stick-Up cameras (requires barrel jack to USB-A cable)
  • Blink Mini
  • Zmodo WIFI (requires micro-USB to USB-A cable)
  • Roku Outdoor camera
  • Virtually all USB lighting solutions (just check if the power level is less than 10W)

Initially introduced on Kickstarter, the Power Mole is available for $59, albeit exclusively in the US for now. However, successful fundraising may lead to international shipping in the future.