Why am I Not Able to Pick up a Signal with Multiple Antennas and Add Them Together to Create a Large Enough Signal to Charge a 450V x 220uf Capacitor?

In our quest to harness the vast amount of electromagnetic energy emitted by television and radio transmitters, it is tempting to believe that we can simply use multiple antennas to accumulate and amplify this signal sufficiently to charge larger capacitors. However, the reality is far more nuanced and challenging. This article will explore the limitations and challenges of attempting to do so.

The Basics of Antennas and Power

Television and radio transmitters generate and emit vast amounts of power. A typical transmitter might output thousands of watts, spreading this energy over a large area. While a simple antenna can indeed convert a portion of this energy back into an electrical signal, the effectiveness of this conversion is highly dependent on the distance from the transmitter.

When you are close to the transmitter, the signal strength is sufficient to provide meaningful power. For example, in close proximity, one might capture up to a full watt of power, but this quickly diminishes with distance. At a location north of Chicago, you might only pick up a few millivolts and micro amps of signal strength, sufficient to charge a tiny capacitor, like one charged to a few volts.

Do not expect to garner any substantial power from a single antenna. Even with a large array of antennas, the total power available remains insufficient to charge a 450V x 220uf capacitor. You need to live close enough to the transmitter to be able to touch its antenna in order to achieve any meaningful power.

Mathematics and Real Measurements

Let's look at a real-world example. According to a detailed analysis, at a distance of only 5.25 miles (or 8400 meters) from the transmitter, the power captured per square meter of antenna is a mere 2 milliwatts. This is way too small to be of any significant use.

The second answer provided on the referenced page does the requisite calculations and even provides a real-world measurement to validate the theoretical predictions. The signal power captured is so minute that it falls far short of what is needed to charge a capacitor of the specified capacitance and voltage.

Conclusion and Summary

While the idea of using multiple antennas to enhance and charge a large capacitor is appealing, it is fundamentally limited by the inherent physical principles of signal attenuation and power density. High-frequency signals, like those used for television and radio communication, spread over vast distances and their strength diminishes rapidly with distance. Moreover, the power density at even close distances is typically insufficient to provide a useful amount of energy for charge storage in a capacitor of the magnitude described.

Therefore, it is not possible to pick up a signal with multiple antennas and add them together to create a large enough signal to charge a 450V x 220uf capacitor. The power levels involved are simply too low, unless you are very close to the transmitter.

Understanding these limitations is crucial for researchers and enthusiasts exploring the domain of energy harvesting from electromagnetic waves. For practical applications, other methods and technologies may need to be considered to achieve the desired power outputs.