Power is not energy: why the difference matters

Thinking is fun, actually!

Links 'n stuff:
HVAC system sizing:

Technology Connextras (the second channel where I put stuff sometimes)

Technology Connections on Bluesky:

Technology Connections on Mastodon:

Have you ever noticed that I've never done that whole influencer thing? That's all thanks to people like you! Viewer support through Patreon keeps this channel independent and possible. It's how I can express my true thoughts on what YouTube's business daddy (and Silicon Valley at large) are up to. If you'd like to join the amazing folks who fund my work, check out the link below. And thank you!

00:00 intro
01:05 Propane and propane accessories
04:14 Power
09:38 Watts vs. Watt-hours
16:37 How power figures can mislead you
21:49 An Energy-focused Mindset
28:25 When power matters: Speed
32:17 Power Limits
37:03 Demand charges
39:46 Energy efficiency
47:48 Conclusion

[Rabid-Bunny]

I used my subscriptions tab to find this video.

[PKWeaver]

I can't believe you got to 44 minutes in without mentioning heat pumps! Bravo. That must have been difficult 😂

[ksss]

“This may sound like one of those over pedantic fixations, but it’s not.”

But that’s why we are here!

[WackoMcGoose]

"It doesn't even cost the two cents an opinion is worth" is a phrase I need to steal.

[BillPickle]

"Vegeta, what does the scouter say about his power level?"
"It's over 3.7g

[michaeldufresne]

OMG! As a former Science teacher (20 years) I think you did an absolutely amazing job of explaining this. There were points where you took it down to the most basic/simplest part of the topic that I wouldn't have even thought to go and still made the simple interesting. You dumbed things down without it sounding "dumbed" down. Is it any wonder that there are over 2.75 million subscribers? Keep up the EXCELLENT work!!

[jeffreypage]

EE here.
I thought to myself: "52 minutes to explain such a mundane topic?"
And then I remembered all of the conversations, over my entire career, about this exact subject!
A very well done video! I have no notes and I see no fat to trim.
Leave it up to Technology Connections to find 52 minutes of cogent material on this subject!

[KafeinBE]

Dude just casually drops a whole brick of butter in the pan.

[SamTornado]

"overly pedantic fixations" I think was the second choice name for this channel

Kidding, I love Technology Connections

[DarkMultiBigTrees]

This guy explained to me how a damn stovetop works like I've never seen a valve, then glossed over what a joule is! Love it.

[hrjdjffjjrjrxraeshe]

Ahh. 52 minutes explaining E = Pt. and of course we sat through all of it.
Loved the renewable rant.

[robotsy]

Power vs energy is like speed vs distance. If you need to drive 5 km to get to work, it doesn't matter if you drive at 100km/h or 40km/h, you still had to drive 5km.

[Neon_Streets]

Alec’s dedication to educating people about heat pumps is admirable. I swear one of these day I’m gonna see “I turned my air conditioner into a heat pump to prove a point” and I wouldn’t be surprised in the slightest

[marcokrueger]

As an engineer, absolutely THANK YOU for this video!
It's so frustrating to discuss with people who don't understand the difference between power and energy, and it's absolutely crucial in so many circumstances.
Now I can just send them this video.

What I love about electricity is that it was detected so late that no Englishman had to come up with some random unit that nobody uses anymore apart from the US. That's great!

[joelclifton]

That was a GREAT hidden joke at 44:35. No light was shined on the joke, and it's easy to miss. "That's no glitch in the matrix" twice. Perfect joke.

[emlun]

I recently bought an electric kettle, and was morbidly amused to find some of them claiming they could "save 75% energy!" or so with a special "turbo mode". I think the revolutionary idea was that you're instructed to fill the kettle with only the one cup (200 ml) you need rather than filling it all the way up (>1000 ml). So you "save 75% energy" by... not wasting almost a whole kettle of hot water when you only need one cup, not by the kettle being any more efficient (which indeed it cannot). Fascinating sleight-of-hand marketing.

[mad]

So how long before the inevitable "can we cook with a heatpump using the refrigeration cycle and latent heat" video?

[bcornels]

Brilliantly explained. Have tried to understand this for years and this is what I needed.

[georgabenthung]

It is pretty impressive, how you understand stuff.
But what really impresses me about your thinking is, that you figure out what others might not (or mis-)understand and your ability to make it clear to them.
I really enjoy watching your videos!

[wyro.]

the compressed audio for the "You've got fire!" at 2:31 is a lovely touch