Energy harvesting PMIC technology can now be used to extract energy from AC electrical cables using a magnetic core as a harvester. This innovative method enables contactless energy capture for powering low-power devices in industrial and building environments.
In a recent demonstration, e-peas and TCT showcased how magnetic induction can be leveraged to power wireless sensor nodes using an energy harvesting PMIC.
Watch our Field Application Engineer, Sarah Houtain, explain and demonstrate the setup:
Watch the full demo above.
How It Works
The demonstration system includes:
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A TCT compact current generator with a magnetic core
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Integrated rectifier circuitry
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A range of wireless sensor devices
The current generator attaches to an AC power cable and uses inductive coupling to extract energy from the surrounding electromagnetic field. This harvested AC energy is converted to DC by the rectifier and managed by the AEM30940 energy harvesting PMIC.
The result is a steady, usable power source that supports:
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Humidity sensors
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Temperature sensors
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Light sensors
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A wireless transceiver for communication
Benefits of Using a Magnetic Core and Energy Harvesting PMIC
Combining a magnetic core with an energy harvesting PMIC offers several key advantages:
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No power cables
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Long-term, maintenance-free performance in hard-to-access locations
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Reliable operation of IoT systems
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Scalable power output capable of supporting multiple sensors from a single source
This solution is ideal for applications such as industrial monitoring, smart building systems, and retrofitting existing infrastructure with IoT capabilities.
