Dubb

Platinum Member
Mar 25, 2003
2,495
0
0
you can see his hand go under the table everytime he lights the second candle....

as for the end, I think they're thin copper leads that blend into the table at that low res.
 

Minerva

Platinum Member
Nov 18, 1999
2,118
14
81
Notice how they never show under the table?

Guys he just wired the candles through the bottom and has a battery pack and knife switch.
 

DrPizza

Administrator Elite Member Goat Whisperer
Mar 5, 2001
49,601
166
111
www.slatebrookfarm.com
Alternate solution (without looking at the video) - a thermocouple produces a very small current. I don't know what size motor you're talking about. However, there's enough energy there to operate the controls on your hot water tank.
 

irishScott

Lifer
Oct 10, 2006
21,562
3
0
Yeah, and he just figured out wireless electricity transfer. RIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIGHT.... :disgust:
 

homercles337

Diamond Member
Dec 29, 2004
6,340
3
71
Dont know, i only made it about 10 seconds in before i was distracted to click the Sexy Jessica Simpson Video. :(
 

ItTheCow

Senior member
Apr 7, 2002
365
0
0
Nikola Tesla called. He wants his electricity back.

It's very possible to transmit energy over the air through electromagnetic fields, but it's not very efficient. If I were to take a guess, that's what the guy's doing (provided he's actually not cheating using a secondary power source under the table). However, I'm not sure how two candle flames can act as a catalyst for the system.
 

irishScott

Lifer
Oct 10, 2006
21,562
3
0
Originally posted by: ItTheCow
Nikola Tesla called. He wants his electricity back.

It's very possible to transmit energy over the air through electromagnetic fields, but it's not very efficient. If I were to take a guess, that's what the guy's doing (provided he's actually not cheating using a secondary power source under the table). However, I'm not sure how two candle flames can act as a catalyst for the system.

One of his hands goes to the SAME PLACE under the table each time he lights the second candle. Total BS.
 

Minerva

Platinum Member
Nov 18, 1999
2,118
14
81
Originally posted by: DrPizza
Alternate solution (without looking at the video) - a thermocouple produces a very small current. I don't know what size motor you're talking about. However, there's enough energy there to operate the controls on your hot water tank.

First let me describe what's happening in the video.

The demonstrator is taking two large nails (probably 60 penny) and pressing them into the side of large (drinking glass size) candles. Making the notation of NOT going all the way through. Then they magnetize each nail (using a very bad technique I may add).

Alligator clips are connected to each nail and then connected to a small incandescent bulb at first. When the second candle is light, the bulb glows brightly as if it were wired to a lantern battery. (because it is!)

Second part of the demonstration uses a small permanent magnet motor one might find in a toy car. Again when the second candle is lit, the motor runs. (and again it does this because the person is reaching under the table and closing a knife switch)

Anyone that's been taught science at a sixth grade level should understand that this is total bullsh!t. :|

Second, yes the Seebeck Effect observed in thermocouples can generate feeble amounts of electricity, but never enough to power an incandescent bulb or a small motor. At least not with a single junction thermocouple used in an appliance safeguard flame control.

Many years ago they did have thermoelectric generators that could power a transistor radio from the heat of a kerosene lamp. And if you know what you're doing you can actually listen to radio with no power at all. Google crystal radio set once. :)

 

Greg04

Golden Member
Jun 11, 2004
1,224
1
76
Originally posted by: DrPizza
Dial-up, so I'm not watching the video. But, you can power a motor with a candle. Look up Sterling Engine.

Dial up? Yikes, with 16,000 posts? I'll hope that you are not at your regular computer?
 

dighn

Lifer
Aug 12, 2001
22,820
4
81
Originally posted by: DrPizza
Oh, and my 3rd solution: it's a bunch of bs :p
Still haven't watched the video yet.

you should watch it then you'll see it is obviously BS and not waste any time thinking about this.

thermal couple has nothing to do with it. the metal parts are not even close to the flame, and they are attached to the wax which is not even semiconductive.

gawd I hate it when people do crap like this to confuse others.
 

Tiamat

Lifer
Nov 25, 2003
14,068
5
71
not sure if this helps, but back in undergrad, I used several Thermoelectric generators to get enough power to run a shoebox sized car. I used liquid nitrogen on the cold side, and a very exothermic chemical reaction on the hot side (within aluminum boxes). This was basically a reverse peltier effect.

Even with a 200C temperature gradient, the process was horribly inefficient. I was getting about 7V @ 11 Watts.

Video wasn't working for me so i havent watched it.
 

Minerva

Platinum Member
Nov 18, 1999
2,118
14
81
Originally posted by: Tiamat
not sure if this helps, but back in undergrad, I used several Thermoelectric generators to get enough power to run a shoebox sized car. I used liquid nitrogen on the cold side, and a very exothermic chemical reaction on the hot side (within aluminum boxes). This was basically a reverse peltier effect.

Video wasn't working for me so i havent watched it.


Yes the effect is greatly augmented by increasing the temperature differential between opposing ends. This is why RTG's work so well in space. There's plenty of cold available!
 

Tiamat

Lifer
Nov 25, 2003
14,068
5
71
Originally posted by: Minerva
Originally posted by: Tiamat
not sure if this helps, but back in undergrad, I used several Thermoelectric generators to get enough power to run a shoebox sized car. I used liquid nitrogen on the cold side, and a very exothermic chemical reaction on the hot side (within aluminum boxes). This was basically a reverse peltier effect.

Video wasn't working for me so i havent watched it.


Yes the effect is greatly augmented by increasing the temperature differential between opposing ends. This is why RTG's work so well in space. There's plenty of cold available!


Well, there is lack of heat available ;p
 

IronWing

No Lifer
Jul 20, 2001
70,284
29,037
136
I had a clock once that ran off two potatos - just plug the leads into the potatos and a cross link between the potatos. It drew a lot less power than a light buld though. It ran even better off beer.



The secret there was that it wasn't really running off the potatos (or beer) which were simple salt bridges. It was runnning off the corrosion of the copper and zinc leads.

And here's one now:

http://www.hobbytron.com/Two-Potato-Clock.html
 

Minerva

Platinum Member
Nov 18, 1999
2,118
14
81
Originally posted by: Tiamat
Originally posted by: Minerva
Originally posted by: Tiamat
not sure if this helps, but back in undergrad, I used several Thermoelectric generators to get enough power to run a shoebox sized car. I used liquid nitrogen on the cold side, and a very exothermic chemical reaction on the hot side (within aluminum boxes). This was basically a reverse peltier effect.

Video wasn't working for me so i havent watched it.


Yes the effect is greatly augmented by increasing the temperature differential between opposing ends. This is why RTG's work so well in space. There's plenty of cold available!


Well, there is lack of heat available ;p


The heat comes from radioisotopic decay.

A clock uses far less power than a bulb or motor. This is why a digital clock (or watch) can run for YEARS off a tiny battery. The draw is in the microamp range thanks to CMOS.
 

TheChort

Diamond Member
May 20, 2003
4,203
0
76
Originally posted by: Tiamat

Well, there is lack of heat available ;p

you can wink AND stick your tongue out
that just makes you look retarded ;)

go ahead, try it, you'll see what i mean :p

oh, and to be on topic, that video was a load of crap
but it's tough to say where the trick starts, because the beginning is all one shot