Inventor powers Christmas tree with eel

[underpants]

Source: MSNBC

updated 2 hours, 18 minutes ago
TOKYO - Not even a blackout could put a damper on festivities at one Japanese aquarium where an electric eel is being used to light up its Christmas tree.

Two aluminum panels inside the eel's tank work as electrodes to catch its power. Cables attached to the panels supply the lights on the nearby tree with electricity.

The tree, which will stay illuminated until Christmas, is proving a popular attraction, drawing tourists from all over the country.

"I would love to have an eel like this at home. This is very nature-friendly," said visitor Harumi Yayoi.



Read more: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22242648//wid/11915829?GT1=10736

[tridim]

1. I call HOAX.

I need proof, but my gut is telling me this is 100% BS. Eels don't put out 60hz AC at 120v.

[nebenaube]

2. yeah but LED's are DC .... n/t

[tridim]

3. Maybe he's charging batteries?

But I still doubt one eel could power a string of xmas lights.

Their output is high voltage and low amperage and that only comes in brief pulses when they are going after prey. It just doesn't add up.

[B3Nut]

4. A capacitor bank, most likely.

Along with a DC-DC inverter along the chain someplace. If he can collect enough high-voltage pulses per hour to charge a cap bank a relatively simple DC-DC inverter circuit can convert the high voltage/low current energy to a low voltage high current source, and frankly not much current is needed to fire LEDs.

Rather clever bit of engineering, I think. :)

Todd in Cheesecurdistan

[Javaman]

8. maybe he has someone poking it with a stick?

:rofl:

[underpants]

9. Maybe it's riding a bicycle

it's a win win with the feminists!!!

[tridim]

10. The Mythbusters tried that and the eel didn't react.

They were trying to test if an eel could erase a credit card's magnetic strip.

Maybe this guy has some kind of super eel?

[Javaman]

11. maybe he killed it, stuffed it and turned it into a lightening rod...

:rofl:

[rasputin1952]

5. Well, most of the rest of the world goes at ...

220/240V 50Hz AC

An Electric Eel can put out 600vdc, ampage is low, but I saw a piece just this last week that said the eel gets a jolt too, and apparently, they don't like it either, even though it is far less than what they prey/predator can get.

But in any case, plenty of things are DC, and it works just fine if you need not traverse long distances or need a transformer...:)

[ret5hd]

6. and light bulbs dont care if it's ac or dc as long as there is enough current.

a light bulb is just a short circuit thru a resistor.

[LiberalEsto]

7. THE SOLUTION: giant eels

Time to start messing with DNA to create monster electric eels.
Global energy problem solved.

:evilgrin:

[Javaman]

12. If they are going to do that, I'm putting my dibs in for Mothra. nt

[Turbineguy]

13. Wife of Inventor uses eel to...

never mind.:evilgrin:

[tridim]

14. The same eel?

Ouch!

[Turbineguy]

15. I think I was having

a "Lord Flashheart Moment".

"She's got a tongue like an electric eel and she likes the taste of a man's tonsils!"

Commenting on Edmund Blackadder's fiancee.

[trof]

16. And here's the video:

http://video.msn.com/?mkt=en-us&brand=msnbc&tab=m5&rf=http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/19599749/&fg=&from=00&vid=34038279-d92b-4c25-a2ff-5fc3093da18c&playlist=videoByTag:mk:us:vs:0:tag:News_Comment%20-%20Analysis:ns:MSNVideo_Top_Cat:ps:10:sd:-1:ind:1:ff:8A