electronic privacy glass

[ExArmy]

has anyone seen this on grand designs? basically its frosted glass, and when an electric current is applied its almost perfectly transparent.
first thing i thought is how much power does it use. am i tight or what!
anyway i googled it and found this website, Privacy Glass Supplier | Electric Smart Glass manufacturer | SmartGlass International, but i can't find the typical power consumption figures. all i did find is it runs off 110V 60Hz, there may be a european version available i don't know.
EDIT: ah, google says it's 5 Watt/M².

anybody have any experiance of this? pretty cool i reckon!

 

[alarm man]

id be more concerned of the cost to install,do they do a portable one,might get one for the wife.:rolleyes2:

 

[Guest112]

when it was first introduced a few years back im pretty sure the cost was nearing 1k a square meter pretty cool though, not sure where id need it in my house though?

 

[Specialist]

id be more concerned of the cost to install,do they do a portable one,might get one for the wife.:rolleyes2:

Would that be for her privacy or yours ?:tounge_smile:

 

[topquark]

As it works around that way (needs power to be transparent) could easily be run from a small solar source.

 

[grantr37]

Ah mister Bond....I have been expecting you.....


erm.......I'm the sparky supposed to be wiring in that big glass window over that there evil lab of thingmybobs....

 

[Marvo]

If it's the same glass I'm thinking of it's basically LCD that goes transparant when a small voltage is applied. The power consumption would be pretty close to zero, it's just a small volt-drop polarizing the crystals in the same direction and you could probably run a fair sized sheet of it from a AA (penlight) battery or maybe even a small watch type battery. Maybe the 110v 60hz was the PSU.

I've seen this type of glass used to make shower cubicles in the middle of a bedroom. The price was astronomical.

 

[GT1]

Was this the grand designs with ex life boat station ??
They did have shed loads of money to throw at it !!!

 

[PC Electrics]

It's the same type of stuff used to make electrically dimming (or darkening) rear view mirror glass for cars. We refered to it as electrochromatic.

 

[Magic Glass]

Was this the grand designs with ex life boat station ??
They did have shed loads of money to throw at it !!!

To the contrary it is not as expensive as you might think. The system costs as little as £500/m2 depending upon the size and can be easily installed by anyone.

Check out Privacy Glass | MagicGlas | Intelligent Glass Supplier. They are the only specialist UK based company specialising in switchable glass.

 

[Marvo]

Hi Magic Glass, I've left you link standing for now as it's a relevant thread and there are technical pdf's on the site so it does add info. Other Admin may prefer it removed though and I'd request you please don't post any more affiliate links or advertising without clearing it with staff first.

The thread is nearly 2 years old so the £500/m2 you state means prices may have come down.