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A 48-hour experiment in borrowed power

Built over a weekend: a Qi receiver feeding an ESP32, so a phone laid down to charge quietly powers the LEDs underneath it. No batteries, no wall plug — the visitor brings the power source.

For installations this solves a real maintenance problem, and there is something pleasing about the phone being both guest and generator. Laser-cut case, charging status in light.

A smartphone rests on a laser-cut wooden charging base with a display and small LEDs on top.

Project: Parasitic Power: When Your Phone Charges Your Artwork