Linux Duracell CPU Load Monitor

Nixon8Pie writes "Know those little self-testing batteries? How would you like to monitor your computers load with them? Well, now ya can. 'These throwaway testers are quite clever: they use a layer of conductive ink that heats up when an electrical current runs through it, in combination with a layer of thermally-activated dye that turns transparent when heated up, revealing a third layer of colored ink underneath. Because the layers are printed with varying thickness from "0%" to "100%", parts of them become yellow before others, creating a bargraph effect that varies with the current applied, the battery's body itself sinking the heat produced by the conductive ink.' Pretty cool stuff."

Comments

Useless on a quickly varying load.

[stephenisu]

I find this to be amusing and all, however pretty pointless. These strips take almost a full two seconds to register a full change. Spikes in usage (good to know sometimes) will be completely missed. Plus I am willing to bet you need to recalibrate it often if your room temp changes by more than a few degrees.

I would have RTFA, however it seemed to be down at the moment.

Neat. But WHY?

[wowbagger]

OK, this is neat, but WHY?

This same circuit could be adapted to:

Vary the brightness of a small light bulb.
Vary the speed of a small motor.
Drive an old-style swing needle meter.
(Variant of above) Drive a tachometer.

Heck, why not interface to a slot-car and have it go faster the higher your load average is?

Re:A pity...

[KUHurdler]

I think its a pity for them too. Theres no quicker way to drain a battery than to use one of those little testers. Those little things would have you buying more new batteries in no time. Duracell should know that too.