What's Data's power source?

[Delta1]

How long has Data been isolated from Federation-like power sources? His head was stuck underground for centuries, but I assume he used his suspend-to-disk feature. Or his head could have a small radioisotope generator that provides just enough power to keep his brain intact.

If separated from power sources for an extended period of time, Data holds his arms out and harvests wind energy.

 

[votd]

He must have power distributed throughout his body, as Riker removed his head in an episode and he was still talking and interfacing with the computer.

 

[The Laughing Vulcan]

Rick Sternbach said:

Mark_Nguyen said:
Early concept art from Rick Sternbach showed a bed for Data which recharged him sorta like a huge D-cell battery charger, with teminals for his head and feet.

'Tweren't mine. That was a drawing by Andy Probert. If you really want to know what Data runs on, it's lots and lots of old lithium cell phone batter-- well, batteries of a sort. Sarium krellide power cells have been around for about 150 years, and Data's SK cell packs have been augmented by biochemical and electroplasma micro-reactors. Boy, that Dr. Soong was nothing if not thorough.

Rick
www.spacemodelsystems.com

From God's mouth!

Thanks.

Of course that brings up questions like how long before a recharge or replacement? Do SK batteries leak if left in for a long time? Does Data's efficiency vary according to ambient temperature. Are these batteries evenly distributed through his anatomy, must be if his head is autonomous?

 

[ThankQ]

FordSVT said:
We've never seen him plug in,

You're just too young. Data went electric at the 1965 Newport Folk Festival.

 

[K-Star]

Mike Have-Not said:
What about when he was stuck for extended periods of time in places where electrical power is not readily available? Like, that planet where he had amnesia. Or on nineteenth century Earth?

There's always solar energy.

His power cells most likely hold a TON of energy, so he doesn't need to recharge that often. (Could also tie in with my "recharge during diagnostics" theory. Seriously, how often does he hook himself up to a computer? Maybe once or twice a season.) Someone mentioned sarium krellide in here... I looked it up on Memory Alpha and that stuff holds ALOT of energy. Data could most likely go a LONG time without recharging.

Also, he probably lost all power to his head when it got blown off in the 19th century, but once it was reconnected to his body (which probably contains most of his power cells) it was re-powered. As for that one time when he had his head removed by Riker, he was probably running on some extra power cells in his head and wouldn't have been able to last as long, but long enough.

 

[Cpt_Nick_Stone]

Data himself just popped round for a Cup of Tea, so I asked him about this. He says he uses Size AAA batteries, and personally prefers "Duracell" Brand, however, Starfleet cutbacks mean he usually has to settle for whatever "Store's own brand" is available.....



Only Joking...

Seriously, maybe he had some kind of self-recharging power-cells (like a type 2 phaser)Possibly needing to replicate fresh ones every so often. Or perhaps they never needed to be replaced.

In all honesty I'm not sure, it's never really mentioned in great detail so it's anyone's guess.

 

[FordSVT]

ThankQ said:

FordSVT said:
We've never seen him plug in,

You're just too young. Data went electric at the 1965 Newport Folk Festival.

"Commander Data Comes Alive!", great album!