talos Posted June 21, 2015 Posted June 21, 2015 I saw this on The Brick Fan daily email, about a Kickstarter project looking for funding. It is called 'iBrix' and it's a cool idea to use wireless power to light individual bricks. You put a power pad underneath your base plate and the power is transmitted wirelessly to the individual light bricks. Take a look at the link for how it looks and works. I would definitely be interested in this if it gets developed. https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1426110532/i-brix-wireless-lighting-system-for-lego-building Quote
Andy D Posted June 21, 2015 Posted June 21, 2015 (edited) Wow! This looks great! I just backed. This is the best, most convenient LEGO lighting system I have seen. I really hope this project succeeds. If you want to use lights in your LEGO projects check this out. Looking forward to using these in future Halloween and Christmas MOCs. Andy Edited June 21, 2015 by Andy D Quote
JopieK Posted June 21, 2015 Posted June 21, 2015 Very nice indeed!!! Unfortunately their goal is way too high. Backed them nevertheless. Quote
Andy D Posted June 21, 2015 Posted June 21, 2015 Very nice indeed!!! Unfortunately their goal is way too high. Backed them nevertheless. Yeah, their goal does look pretty high, but I hope they get enough backers. I am already planning for add-ons, or maybe I'll just do an additional backing. Andy Quote
dr_spock Posted June 21, 2015 Posted June 21, 2015 Interesting idea. Is it done by induction with electromagnetic field? Any danger to people with heart pace maker getting too close to get a good look at your MOC at an event? Quote
Andy D Posted June 21, 2015 Posted June 21, 2015 (edited) Interesting idea. Is it done by induction with electromagnetic field? Any danger to people with heart pace maker getting too close to get a good look at your MOC at an event? Looks like the lightning is only effective 8 to 12 inches, so just put up a barrier to keep people 12 inches away and it should be all good. Andy Edited June 21, 2015 by Andy D Quote
ShaydDeGrai Posted June 22, 2015 Posted June 22, 2015 Looks like the lightning is only effective 8 to 12 inches, so just put up a barrier to keep people 12 inches away and it should be all good. Andy Yeah, the inherent strength this sort of power transfer system is going to fall off exponentially with distance. It says the supply is only 5VDC with a 2W output (that's about a third of what an old analog doorbell fires off while it's ringing) which means it was only designed to drive low power over a short range in the first place. I'd guess that unless you're right on top of it, the induction field would be no worse than a cell phone and far, far less than standing next to an active, modern microwave oven (which have gotten a lot more pace-maker friendly over the years). Quote
Andy D Posted June 23, 2015 Posted June 23, 2015 I went ahead and backed it too. I hope that guy has some serious marketing plans. He's got almost $125,000 to go in 24 days. Over $5,000 per day. Best of luck to him... I really want some of those lights. Andy Quote
JopieK Posted June 23, 2015 Posted June 23, 2015 If he fails we could also thing about an open source alternative with the community (that I would happy to let him produce of course ;)). Quote
MinifigureHQ Posted June 23, 2015 Posted June 23, 2015 (edited) Interesting idea. Is it done by induction with electromagnetic field? Any danger to people with heart pace maker getting too close to get a good look at your MOC at an event? Raises a good point. They've not had the product tested yet so its not production ready as it could fail and require alterations, but also is the responsibility on i-Brix/ MOC builder/owner or event organiser to warn attendees about the possible danger as small as it may be. When you buy an induction hob, it comes with all sorts of warnings, even before you've paid for it. So I just wonder who's responsibility would it fall under? The strength isn't comparable so I understand there's less risk but would you want to chance it? Edited June 23, 2015 by MinifigureHQ Quote
Boxerlego Posted June 23, 2015 Posted June 23, 2015 Wow! That is Amazing! On YouTube there is a whole bunch of simple wireless videos to watch and learn from to see how this works... The videos are pretty simple for starers but here there is no wire need to light up the LED. I wonder if the LED is using a small closed loop antenna to function. Anyways this is pretty remarkable looks like LEGO house will be more advance then the one in real life. Who am I kidding LEGO has always had more advance house. Quote
JGW3000 Posted June 23, 2015 Posted June 23, 2015 Great idea, but I didn't support as it seems to be way overpriced, $50 for 10 1x1 light bricks and a wireless transmitter plate seems excessive to me. Clearly the market is very narrow and exclusive, and won't support the goal. Since they seem to be able to make these parts, perhaps a different distribution method would be better - diy instructions with a shopping list or instructions with just the electronics. This would allow users to install in mobile MOCs and maybe connect to PF battery box as well. Quote
Andy D Posted June 23, 2015 Posted June 23, 2015 Wow! That is Amazing! On YouTube there is a whole bunch of simple wireless videos to watch and learn from to see how this works... The videos are pretty simple for starers but here there is no wire need to light up the LED. I wonder if the LED is using a small closed loop antenna to function. Anyways this is pretty remarkable looks like LEGO house will be more advance then the one in real life. Who am I kidding LEGO has always had more advance house. After watching the videos I am amazed that the designer managed to get the receiver in such a small package. I really do hope he succeeds, but then again I am always cheering for the individuals and small companies who put themselves out there, put in the time and try something. AndyD Quote
drdavewatford Posted June 23, 2015 Posted June 23, 2015 I also pledged - I love the idea of illuminating my models but the thought of all those wires (and specifically accommodating/hiding them) has always put me off. I'd agree that at the current rate of progress the project will struggle to get funded, but I guess all we can do is pledge, publicise (https://goo.gl/d91wTv) and hope for the best.... Cheers, Dr. D. Quote
rodiziorobs Posted June 24, 2015 Posted June 24, 2015 (edited) I think this is a neat concept, and I think the pricing pretty fair, too, but his goals are unattainable. My biggest gripe with the product is that you have to get even amounts of each color. Personally, I have no need for most of the colored lights; I would rather buy a monochrome pack of all white and hide them behind trans-colored bricks than have reds and greens I can't use most of the time. Edited June 24, 2015 by rodiziorobs Quote
Captain Nemo Posted June 24, 2015 Posted June 24, 2015 This is too out there for me. I personally use LifeLites, and I think they're great, cheap, and best of all you can easily incorporate them into any build. Aside from the fact that I just don't think he'll reach is goal whatsoever (I don't think he'll raise that much money with 22 days left), I am concerned about the power source application--or lack there of. Is there any pictures of this power plate? I mean what's the point of wireless lights if you have to include a large metal plate under all of your builds? The wireless function becomes restricted to what you can place on, over, or near the plate, so it's not very "wireless" after all. For example, for my latest Sentinel design, I used LifeLites--and incorporated a battery pack, switchboard and lights. It was a pain to wire, but I can have the lights on any time I want--even when I'm swooshing them around in the sky. With i-Brix, the lights would only work if the Sentinel is standing on the power plate. I just don't see much of a benefit, especially when you could buy basically four times the amount of wired lights for the cost of four i-Brix. Quote
lowbike1 Posted June 24, 2015 Posted June 24, 2015 This is amazing, too bad it isn't going to happen Quote
talos Posted June 24, 2015 Author Posted June 24, 2015 They posted a story about it over on Brickset, and the amount pledged almost doubled overnight. Might be able to get to the goal, but I agree, time is running out... They really need to make it more visible, its not exactly easy to find out about it, if it weren't for sites like this one spreading the word... Quote
Andy D Posted June 24, 2015 Posted June 24, 2015 One thing I like about iBrix is that it is based on a USB power, I can plug it into a USB charger, plug that into a switched AC outlet and turn off and on from a light switch, instead of finding a hidden battery box and replacing batteries. I have some of those light sets that use wires and it looks very difficult to hide the wires without drilling the LEGO (maybe it's just me). I don't mind the different colors, I think it will be OK to add a little variety. I am getting concerned that it may not fund, I still hope it does. Andy D Quote
Deathleech Posted June 24, 2015 Posted June 24, 2015 With i-Brix, the lights would only work if the Sentinel is standing on the power plate. Just wanted to point out in the video it shows him moving the light bricks around about a foot away from the base plate and they still seem to work fine. You don't need the light brick actually be touching the power source for it to be on. Quote
talos Posted June 24, 2015 Author Posted June 24, 2015 Its over $10K pledged now, still long way to go... Quote
Andy D Posted June 24, 2015 Posted June 24, 2015 Its over $10K pledged now, still long way to go... He's got some marketing to do. With 22 days to go he needs to get over $5000 per day to get his goal. I hope he makes it... Maybe I should do another pledge... But which one? Andy D Quote
rollermonkey Posted June 25, 2015 Posted June 25, 2015 I half wonder if he didn't put an extra zero on that goal by mistake. Quote
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