Just got to wondering, after reading an article about fuel cells for the home, if they have EMFs? I mean, do they put out electro-magnetic fields like power lines? (Which is supposed to be not good).
If not, why?
Fuel cells are DC so they will not have the same sort of elctro magnetic fields that power lines have. But they do have electric fields and unless you replace all your electronic equipment somewhere in the house the DC will be converted to AC.
Also I don’t think that there is a lot of evidence that fields from power lines are harmful. There are the occasional studies that show something but further studies into them don’t really turn much up.
Also, its not that e-m fields are bad, but that is some disputed evidence that strong magnetic fields may have an effect on the human brain. Assuming the fuel cell is purely for household use it won’t be very powerful, and any magnetic fields it may generate would be far too weak to have an effect on you.
The EMF from a power line doesn’t do anyone any harm. At least according to scientists.
I’m keeping my tinfoil hat on, anyway.
This is just my semi-WAG, not a fuel-cell expert but did degree in physics…
From what I know of fuel cells, their energy is all stored chemically (i.e. as a fuel that then reacts to produce energy), so they would not have any more EMF than a lump of coal would.
The electrical current that they provide will carry an EMF though, but it wouldn’t be any appreciably different than if something else was providing the same current.
“EMF” stands for “electromotive force”. It means the same thing as “voltage”.
Or Electro Magnetic Field