An open competition to build a smaller power inverter, with a $1M prize
The simplest solution (just give me the $1mil now) is to cut out the middle man. I mean, there is a needless conversion here from DC to A/C, and then back to DC. Not that many devices need A/C these days - maybe just your alarm clock, if it's cheap enough (since cheap alarm clocks use the alternating current frequency for keeping time, instead of a precise resonating crystal.)<p>Example of what they have now: [solar-dc] -> [inverter] -> [ac/dc transformer] -> [device].<p>Cut out the inverter, the ac/dc transformer and you have:<p>[solar-dc] -> [device]<p>Required materials: wire cutters, cheap voltage regulator IC, some wire. Done. I'll take a cashier's check please.