In case you didn't get a chance to see it yet, the TV show EXTRA did a
test on the gullibility of people when presented with an 'impossible'
claim and were given an 'opportunity' to buy the product.
In one way, it is frustrating to watch something like this but it does
show how con artists can fluorish in the alternative science arenas
because basically 'people want to believe'.
In Dallas, the segment was shown on Channel 27 at 7:45PM 12/06/98 on
EXTRA and entitled 'Run your car on water?'
The female narrator introduced the segment saying, this was a con that
dates back nearly a century. Even Henry Ford paid a conman $10,000 for
a formula that was supposed to make comubustible water.
The scam used props that were simply plastic enclosed MAPP sensors which
were billed as 'Hydrogen Converter modules' that required no fuel, just
water.
The narrator said though there was no such thing as a hydro processor as
they claimed the show wanted to see how many people would invest in such
a scam.
The show was setup outdoors in the parking lot of a shop in Tempe,
Arizona.
The system sold for $250, which consisted of the plastic enclosed MAPP
sensors and connection instructions.
A truck that looked like a Ford Explorer was used as the demonstration
vehicle and had a sign on the windows saying water powered car, hand
written with shoe polish.
A handful of these MAPP sensors, a TV with a promotional video
explaining the system and including fake testimonials raving about the
product.
The actual demonstration showed a gallon of water being poured into the
gas tank of the truck, the truck was then started up and supposed to be
running on the water. In fact, a secret hidden hose shunted the water
away from the gas tank so that the vehicle was actually burning
gasoline.
The promoter rambled on with various octane ratings and claimed that
high octane gasoline had an octane rating of 92 while this system burned
water with an octane rating of 106. The narrator admitted he had no
idea what he was talking about but the people did not question what he
said.
One guy gave a deposit of $100 and was to bring the rest of the money
later. The narrator said on his drive from California to Arizona he
routinely filled his car up on water, not gasoline and it didn't cost
him a penny.
He said hydrogen didn't blow up with this system and that there was a
100% guarantee. One guy who saw the system even wanted to become a
dealer for this product.
They showed 3 men who had fallen for the pitch and actually bought the
units, however, not a single woman fell for it.
All the money was refunded when the scam was revealed.
==================
What to make of this? Ask P.T. Barnum and have your wife, girlfriend or
lady friend check out your potential investments.....<g>....
To my understanding;
1) There is no question hydrogen burns.
2) There is no question hydrogen can be generated from water.
3) There is no question that hydrogen burning in an engine can
provide sufficient thrust to push a piston.
If burning pure hydrogen, the problem lies with embrittlement of the
metal of the engine, making the engine subject to damage from mechanical
shocks, or from weakening of the cylinder walls from the excess heat
from hydrogen combustion.
If burning hydrogen with oxygen, the problem lies in the production of
water when the two gases recombine in the presence of a spark, thereby
rusting the engine.
The closest solution I've seen was that of Dad Garrett as laid out in
the file;
http://www.keelynet.com/energy/garrett.htm
where hydrogen, oxygen and outside air are burned in the engine as was
done in the 1930's.
-- Jerry Wayne Decker / jdecker@keelynet.com http://keelynet.com / "From an Art to a Science" Voice : (214) 324-8741 / FAX : (214) 324-3501 KeelyNet - PO BOX 870716 - Mesquite - Republic of Texas - 75187