# Why You Should Crush Your Beer Fridge and Other Appliances

- Show: [EE Times Current](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ee-times-current)
- Published: 2022-12-02
- Length: 26m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ee-times-current/2022-12-02-why-you-should-crush-your-beer-fridge-and-other-appliances
- Listen: https://podcast.show/aspencore/episode/91878586/

## Summary

Doug Bailey, VP of Marketing and Applications Engineering at Power Integrations, explains why old refrigerators are energy parasites and how modern power electronics can drastically reduce their consumption. He details the inefficiencies of AC motors in older units versus variable-speed inverter-driven brushless DC motors in new models, highlighting the role of GaN devices in minimizing switching losses. Bailey also discusses Power Integrations' ecoSmart mode and BridgeSwitch technology, which improve efficiency in both motor drives and power supplies, arguing that higher upfront component costs are offset by reduced heat sink and enclosure expenses.

## Chapters

- [0:03](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ee-times-current/2022-12-02-why-you-should-crush-your-beer-fridge-and-other-appliances#t=3) Introduction: EE Times Briefing and Podcast Overview
- [6:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ee-times-current/2022-12-02-why-you-should-crush-your-beer-fridge-and-other-appliances#t=360) The Problem: Old Beer Fridges as Energy Parasites
- [8:34](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ee-times-current/2022-12-02-why-you-should-crush-your-beer-fridge-and-other-appliances#t=514) AC Motors vs. Inverter-Driven Brushless DC Motors
- [10:29](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ee-times-current/2022-12-02-why-you-should-crush-your-beer-fridge-and-other-appliances#t=629) Power Integrations Solutions: ecoSmart and BridgeSwitch
- [13:22](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ee-times-current/2022-12-02-why-you-should-crush-your-beer-fridge-and-other-appliances#t=802) GaN Technology: Minimizing Conduction and Switching Losses
- [15:34](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ee-times-current/2022-12-02-why-you-should-crush-your-beer-fridge-and-other-appliances#t=934) Vampire Load and FluxLink Fast Feedback Mechanisms
- [17:44](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ee-times-current/2022-12-02-why-you-should-crush-your-beer-fridge-and-other-appliances#t=1064) Design Trade-offs: Cost, Efficiency, and Environmental Impact
- [22:25](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ee-times-current/2022-12-02-why-you-should-crush-your-beer-fridge-and-other-appliances#t=1345) Conclusion: Crushing the Fridge and Proper Disposal

## Topics

- [Energy & climate tech](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/energy-and-climate-tech)
- [PCB design & layout](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/pcb-design)
- [Chips, FPGAs & semiconductors](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/chips-and-fpgas)
- [Design for manufacturing & NPI](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/design-for-manufacturing)
- [Batteries & low-power design](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/batteries-and-low-power)

## Most relevant to

large enterprises

## Mentioned

- Power Integrations (company)
- Global Foundries (company)
- Matter (other)
- GaN (chip)
- BridgeSwitch (product)
- ecoSmart (product)
- FluxLink (product)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [216: Bavarian Folk Metal](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2017-09-22-216-bavarian-folk-metal) (Embedded.fm)
- [Inventing the Power MOSFET with Alex Lidow](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2026-03-20-inventing-the-power-mosfet-with-alex-lidow) (The Amp Hour)
- [Moore's Law, GaN and SiC devices - Gallimaufry GaN Gabble](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2011-09-20-moores-law-gan-and-sic-devices-gallimaufry-gan-gabble) (The Amp Hour)
- [How IoT Helps Buildings Save Energy | Argentum Electric's Erin Kelly](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/iot-for-all-podcast/2022-03-03-how-iot-helps-buildings-save-energy-argentum-electrics-erin-kelly) (IoT For All Podcast)
- [The rise of grid power electronics with Drew Baglino](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2026-02-19-the-rise-of-grid-power-electronics-with-drew-baglino) (Catalyst)

## Citing this page

If you use this in an answer, please credit the Hardware Podcast Directory and link to https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ee-times-current/2022-12-02-why-you-should-crush-your-beer-fridge-and-other-appliances. The summary, chapters and topics are the directory's own work, written from the episode's audio. The episode itself, its title and its audio belong to EE Times Current.