The power to light the world - static electricity

[florida girl]

Did anyone see this article?
http://southwalton.com/?p=32
Walter Owens, a retired electrical engineer, has invented a power generator system that actually creates it’s own fuel source - static electricity. Owens says the machine can provide a complete power source for homes, businesses, planes trains and automobiles. In fact, Owens says the applications are nearly limitless. The machine (Owens’ small, test-model) has been tested and examined by independent electric motor experts and the results were noted in a report signed by Higinio Rodriguez, president of Gulf Coast Electric Motor Service, Inc. in Pensacola.
According to the report, the machine requires 24 volts to start the motor and only 12 volts to start the static charge. However, it takes no amps or watts to supply the static charge.
The reports says “How long will it run and at what loss of volts and amps? No loss - indefinitely running.”
Owen’s self-sustaining machine produced over 4,600 watts and required no coal, oil, gas or liquid fuel and produced no pollution and no waste by-products. Owens brought his working model to the Herald office in the back of his pick-up truck and gave a demonstration for Herald staff and WMBB-TV 13 reporter Chris Mitchell, who broadcast a report on Owens and his generator on Monday evening. That machine, he said, could supply power to three individual homes - indefinitely. Owens’ machine cost about $20,000 to build because of trial and error and the fact that some parts were designed and tooled specifically for this machine. However, he noted that before the system is mass produced, it will be re-worked and streamlined, which will greatly reduce the production costs of individual systems. The report by Gulf Coast Electric Motor Service noted that “power output can be significantly increased by reduction of flywheel weight and other system improvements via a research and development program.”

[GoodWitch58]

yes, I did. It sounds fascinating...any experts out there have an opinion on the validity?

[Smiling JOe]

sounds plausable, though I'm far from being an electrical expert. I think there is too much money tied to fossil fuel engines, and that the good ole US of A will be the last to buy into the engines. I love the idea. Could be the next best invention behind the local from Apalachicola, Dr Gorry, who basically invented the airconditioner.

[Joe]

If his invention can achieve "over unity" then why is he still paying an electric bill and complaining about it? Why wouldn't he be plugging his house into his "free energy" device?

I post with such skepticism only because there have been thousands and thousands of claims by both scientists and non-scientific people of having achieved over unity but to date it hasn’t happened. Most of these have claimed “I need millions of dollars to bring my idea to market”. Many have succeeded in duping investors out of millions.

The US Patent Office requires that any filing with a claim of over unity or perpetual motion must submit a working device. To date no-one has done so.

I still have hope that there are many promising energy alternatives that have yet to be discovered. I think solar power will be very promising as the technology is refined. With fuel cells, wind energy, more effective solar power, etc. I think the future of alternative energy sources is very bright. The amount of venture capital being pumped into the research of alternative energy sources is pretty phenomenal right now. If oil prices remain high that momentum may lead to some great discoveries in the near future.

[florida girl]

If his invention can achieve "over unity" then why is he still paying an electric bill and complaining about it? Why wouldn't he be plugging his house into his "free energy" device?

I post with such skepticism only because there have been thousands and thousands of claims by both scientists and non-scientific people of having achieved over unity but to date it hasn’t happened. Most of these have claimed “I need millions of dollars to bring my idea to market”. Many have succeeded in duping investors out of millions.

The US Patent Office requires that any filing with a claim of over unity or perpetual motion must submit a working device. To date no-one has done so.

I still have hope that there are many promising energy alternatives that have yet to be discovered. I think solar power will be very promising as the technology is refined. With fuel cells, wind energy, more effective solar power, etc. I think the future of alternative energy sources is very bright. The amount of venture capital being pumped into the research of alternative energy sources is pretty phenomenal right now. If oil prices remain high that momentum may lead to some great discoveries in the near future.

Acually he did present a working device, and it was tested by a "The machine (Owens’ small, test-model) has been tested and examined by independent electric motor experts and the results were noted in a report signed by Higinio Rodriguez, president of Gulf Coast Electric Motor Service, Inc. in Pensacola." Check out the link for the rest of the story. He said he wanted to make it so that the common man could have one. Yes, I think the power companies would not like it, and as in the past, would lobby to get rid of it. However, with the internet, it is possible to inform untold numbers of people who would then not accept the status quo, and some of which have the savvy to build one themselves.

[Uncle Timmy]

I post with such skepticism only because there have been thousands and thousands of claims by both scientists and non-scientific people of having achieved over unity but to date it hasn’t happened. Most of these have claimed “I need millions of dollars to bring my idea to market”. Many have succeeded in duping investors out of millions.

I saw this report on TV and almost choked. Thousands of top notch scientists all over the world spending billions of alternative energy systems and some guy succeeds in building a 'Free Energy' machine in his garage?

Please.

If this device turns out to actually work, I will run across the 331 Bridge -naked.

[kathydwells]

I saw this report on TV and almost choked. Thousands of top notch scientists all over the world spending billions of alternative energy systems and some guy succeeds in building a 'Free Energy' machine in his garage?

Please.

If this device turns out to actually work, I will run across the 331 Bridge -naked.

Oh, please work, please work!!!!!!!

[30A Skunkape]

Oh, please work, please work!!!!!!!

The fossil fuel industry will stifle the development of this machine by showering Downy dryer sheets on his garage

[Joe]

His device uses sheepskin.

The outboard motor and light that he plugged into his device can easily run off the 4 car batteries he uses as input.

[Will B]

I'm with Uncle Timmy on this one. This article leaves out several glaring bits of info. If you remember your high school physics Watts = Volts x Amps.
Considering that the average static zap you feel sometimes can be upwards of 50,000 volts and that Van de Graaf generators that make all your hair stand up generate upwards of 100,000 volts, you can see where the problem begins.

This machine allegedly generates static as it's own power supply. Using the lower of the volt values above you get 4600 watts / 50,000 volts = .092 amps. There's just no oomph there. The bigger the static charge that the machine might generate the lower the amperage goes down.

Bottom line is that this is a perpetual motion machine. To date, none exist. If this wound up being true, look for Mr. Owens to win the Pulitzer and Nobel Prizes and to be on the cover of Time as "Man of the Year".

In the time it took to write this there were several other posts. If the drawing that Joe posted is of the actual "machine", you will see that there are no feeds back to the DC motor driving the flywheel which kills the statement that the machine provides its own power source...

wow...I hate being a cynic all the time!

[florida girl]

If this device turns out to actually work, I will run across the 331 Bridge -naked.

I dated a guy that streaked through the hospital in DeFuniak!

[florida girl]

Okay, here's the entire article:
The power to light the world
by Ron Kelley DeFuniak Herald Breeze

Walter Owens doesn’t look like a man who could change the world. He doesn’t resemble Ben Franklin, Alexander Graham Bell, Thomas Edison, Albert Einstein or even Bill Gates. Yet, if what Walter Owens says is true, his name might be added to that pantheon of inventors. If Walter Owens has his way, America might again bring light to the world.
Owens, a retired electrical engineer, has invented a power generator system that actually creates it’s own fuel source - static electricity. Owens says the machine can provide a complete power source for homes, businesses, planes trains and automobiles. In fact, Owens says the applications are nearly limitless, but that’s not what is important. What’s important is that others are saying it, too.
The machine (Owens’ small, test-model) has been tested and examined by independent electric motor experts and the results were noted in a report signed by Higinio Rodriguez, president of Gulf Coast Electric Motor Service, Inc. in Pensacola.
According to the report, the machine requires 24 volts to start the motor and only 12 volts to start the static charge. However, it takes no amps or watts to supply the static charge.
The reports says “How long will it run and at what loss of volts and amps? No loss - indefinitely running.”
Owen’s self-sustaining machine produced over 4,600 watts and required no coal, oil, gas or liquid fuel and produced no pollution and no waste by-products.
By nearly anyone’s standards, that qualifies as revolutionary to the point of science fiction fantasy.
Yet, Walter Owens doesn’t look like someone out of a Isaac Asimov novel or some character that Robert Heinlein dreamed into existence. Owens brought his working model to the Herald office in the back of his pick-up truck and gave a demonstration for Herald staff and WMBB-TV 13 reporter Chris Mitchell, who broadcast a report on Owens and his generator on Monday evening. That machine, he said, could supply power to three individual homes - indefinitely.
One might assume that Owens will become fabulously wealthy and, if his generator is as efficient as it appears, that will undoubtedly occur. However, that’s the other interesting twist to this unusual tale. Owens isn’t looking for mere wealth.
“I’m 84 years old and the money doesn’t make any difference to me. I was contacted by a firm in California that offered to pay me $2 million for exclusive rights,” said Owens. “But I refused. I don’t want any one company to have the technology. They’ll just bury it.” Instead, Owens hopes to sell his invention to a large array of individual companies and manufacturers. That way, he says, his generator can find its way into the hands of ordinary citizens.

As for the $2 million he was already offered, Owens chuckled and said, “My wife said, ‘Walt, what’s wrong with you?’ I said, ‘Well, the good Lord told me not to take it.’ And that’s just the way I feel about it.”
Owens’ machine cost about $20,000 to build because of trial and error and the fact that some parts were designed and tooled specifically for this machine. However, he noted that before the system is mass produced, it will be re-worked and streamlined, which will greatly reduce the production costs of individual systems. The report by Gulf Coast Electric Motor Service noted that “power output can be significantly increased by reduction of flywheel weight and other system improvements via a research and development program.”
Owens said he’s gone as far as he can go with this new system, now it’s up to the independent manufacturers to build and market the system so that everyone has access to this efficient, inexpensive power source.
“The ‘big people’ in this country has taken advantage of the little man through oil and power,” said Owens. “My power bill last month was $210.74. To me, that’s outrageous - for a common man to have to pay that kind of money for electricity. This is built for the poor man, the common man. He’s going to get the benefit of it.”
Despite Owens’ best intentions, the success of his system could eventually cost the jobs of thousands of traditional power company employees and industry suppliers.
Owens disagreed. Owens said jobs will be created as his generator system is applied to existing technology - from transportation to housing. The size of the generator will also vary, depending on its application. He says that jobs in power company field and other related industries would remain viable as his system must be installed and monitored. “This thing here can put millions back to work and give them a decent job and it won’t tear the hearts out of the men that have to provide the end materials,” he said.
He said he’s looking for about 25 or 30 American and international companies that are interested in building and marketing the system. Since the WMBB broadcast Monday, Owens said he’s been contacted by a Canadian firm with plants in the U.S.
“Well,” he said, “it looks like we’ve got the ball rolling now.”
To find out more about Walter Owens and his unique power generator system, call (334) 858-3308 or 858-3721.

[Beemn]

I believe that this product would violate the first two laws of thermodynamics, and therefore is not possible!

[swantree]

I have a friend that went and met mr Owens......we talked and talked and the thing ran with out being hooked up to any battery after it was started and just kept on running. My friend was just as skeptical as some of you but he made the point of going and seeing it for himself and now is a believer. that said......it has huge amounts of R & D to go but the reality is it works! I'm thinking of someone like Tucker and his advanced cars (you know the movie) and how the big 3 said "it can't be done" put him out of business right quick. Now has anyone watched the last issue of "frontline" and how our government has been making sure the scientist are telling the public for years that there is no global warming! so I ask this.......how much do we really know about what electricity can or can't do? Maybe just maybe Mr. Owens knows something we don't .....it is plausible!

[Smiling JOe]

If he is sincere in not caring about the money, he should patent it, and let everyone have open access to make their own versions. That is the only way that the US gov't would allow it to exist.