Wednesday, June 24, 2009

Who's Winning the HHO Pissing Contest?

We've all done it knowing full well it's a fruitless effort, but for some reason, we just can't stop ourselves from responding to comments or videos from HHO critics and cynics. Maybe it's the tired, and oftentimes, debunked arguments they apply, or the rude and unflattering manner in which they present their case that causes our blood to boil. Or possibly, it's just a reaction to having our integrity challenged by those who have yet to test theories for themselves. In any event, being called "liars, scam artists and snake oil salesmen," is due cause for righteous indignation, but is it really worth the time and energy to respond to these naysayers, creating pages of circular dialogue that go nowhere? Let's consider the source:

Condemners of HHO generally fall into two categories - failed experimenters and junior scientists. With the former, their desire to wreak havoc on the HHO movement comes from spending a lot of time and money installing a system in their vehicle, to limited or non-existent results. Their inner Ralph Nader emerges with a vengeance to shut down this "scheme." These people could be assisted by the generous nature of HHO-ers, but their egos refuse to let them ask for help.

The latter is brave in his anonymity. Safely tucked away in his parent's basement, this social loser is still hoping the teacher will call on him, proving his superior scientific abilities. To him, HHO experimenters are "morons," wasting their time with "junk science." He beats up on anyone who holds a contrary view, lambasting proven results with blanket statements of "impossibilities." He's the "ding-dong ditcher" of the internet and seriously need to grow up.

So why do we engage these misanthropes? How much accumulated time has been wasted typing out comments and creating video responses? Hours, days, possibly weeks? To what end? Missing valuable family and research time, not to mention the toll it takes on our health in elevated heart rate and blood pressure.

More than likely your well thought out, well-intentioned responses will not succeed in changing minds or one-upping the competition, rather, you'll probably be hit with a barrage of insults. So is it really worth it? I'm finally conceding that, no, it's not.

From here on out, unless constructive and respectful, I vow not to respond to inflammatory comments and videos. The HHO experimenter's path is tough enough without engaging negativity. I'd rather focus on our positive accomplishments and let those who criticize revel in their "superior" intelligence while they idle away fossil fuel in their 19th Century jalopies. Will you join me?

Thursday, March 12, 2009

HHO: The Inconvenient Truth

EPAMAN2009 writes in response to one of my YouTube videos:

"Did you know that under Title 42, section 203b of the Clean Air Act it is illegal:
for any person to manufacture or sell, or offer to sell, or install, any part or component intended for use with, or as part of, any motor vehicle or motor vehicle engine, where a principal effect of the part or component is to bypass, defeat, or render inoperative any device...."

He continues to site the code in four subsequent posts, apparently in an attempt to dissuade myself and others from pursuing our HHO goals. Which led me to wonder: Why would someone concern themselves to this extent? What is the motivation?

Maybe EPAMAN is actually with the Environmental Protection Agency and he's just doing his job. Perhaps he's being paid by an interest group, or worse, he's had a bad HHO experience. In any event, EPAMAN brings up a good point: Installing an HHO generator on your vehicle is, according to the EPA, illegal for road use. A fact that is certainly inconvenient to those of us experimenting and researching the development and uses of HHO fuel.

It seems counter-intuitive for an agency like the EPA to limit progress on a readily available gas that could potentially relieve our dependence on foreign fuel imports and reduce vehicle emissions. Just as it seems counter-productive for those of us involved with HHO to make a lot of baseless claims about its efficacy.

Sadly, there are HHO enthusiasts out there who are unwittingly contributing to the notion that HHO is an improbable and unsafe fuel. These are the guys who continue to promote dangerous glass jar set-ups, or make generalized fuel-efficiency claims that have not endured the test of time - especially on newer vehicles with smart computers that automatically adjust to HHO's interference. Each time an uninformed consumer tries and fails to get the same results, HHO is condemned as a fraud. And, we who research and develop HHO products, who believe in the possible benefits, are equated to snake oil salesman, unconcerned about safety, only looking to make a buck, etc.

Truth be known, we still don't have a clear picture of just how beneficial HHO will be as a fuel supplement, and to what products the fuel can be applied. Research and experimentation by mechanics, entrepreneurs and groups such as EBN (Energy Builder's Network), have led to advances in HHO's development. Advances that one day could lead to HHO gas being substituted in products that depend on other combustible fuels, like: vehicles, torches (welding, glass blowing, jewelry, etc.), stoves and portable home heaters. But, any advances must come from serious testing and long-term documentation in order to receive the government's blessing.

There are those who have pled the case to government - and won. In recent litigation between the FTC (Federal Trade Commission) v. Dutchman Enterprises LLC., the United Community Services of America, Inc. and Dennis Lee, the court ruled against the FTC after it was revealed that their witness, a physicist, had not bought and tested the defendant's "Hydrogen Assist Fuel Cell" kit. It probably wasn't helpful either that the physicist, Dr. Halperin, didn't actually possess a Ph.D in engine technology.

The FTC can still appeal this verdict, possibly at the insistence of people like EPAMAN2009. And, while the defense enjoyed the weakness of the government's case, you can bet litigation will follow those that make baseless claims or provide faulty data. That's why it's critical that claims are based on factual, long-term results and that HHO products are safe, reliable and adhere to the standards of The International HHO Institute (IHHOI).

The IHHOI is a developing organization that is currently in talks with the best and brightest of the HHO movement to organize membership, and to create strict operating and safety standards. Once the IHHOI is in full operation, it will be the voice of the HHO industry, providing private and public entities with information based on a body of knowledge. Stay tuned for details regarding membership and certification.

Whether you're a garage tinkerer or a fully operating HHO provider, you must know and understand your limitations under our current, inconvenient laws. Maybe people like EPAMAN2009 should be thanked for pointing these laws out - regardless of motivation. Because until HHO developers unite and organize to implement procedural and safety standards, our cause will not appear legitimate and we risk facing the end of HHO entirely.

Wednesday, December 31, 2008

HHO - Where Do We Go From Here?

Every Saturday, I load the car up with my HHO dry cell set-up and head to a local LA park where a group of HHO enthusiasts congregate. We pop our hoods and trunks, set-up tables and even tents to showcase our HHO gizmos and gadgets.

Some days will offer a tremendous turn-out of the curious public, engineers and mechanics who often ask, "how do I get involved?" Other days, it's just us HHO junkies out there, sharing stories and ideas and wondering, "where do we go from here?"

For as many answers as we have regarding HHO technology, we have even more questions regarding its future as a clean fuel resource. We've all learned how to make generators that create large amounts of HHO, but few have figured out a viable and consistent method of applying it to an engine.

While the world is full of skeptics, the few true-believers hold on to the notion that HHO's time will come. But, for now I'm afraid we've hit a stagnant point where HHO will go no further than a garage hobby for tinkerers. We're hearing too often from those who say HHO "does not work," either because of what they know about science or they have tried it with no success. We're accused of being a bunch of snake oil salesmen who are only in it for the money.

These comments are painfully frustrating for us HHO enthusiasts to hear. We know how much time, effort, research and experimentation has goes into this fledging technology. We know there are those who are successfully running their vehicles on HHO. We know, with maybe one or two exceptions, that no one involved has made a dime. Those who are trying to sell products have a lot more money invested than what they've made from sales.

Nearly every HHO enthusiast I've met has the same story; they believe that this technology can assist in cleaning up our environment and alleviate America's dependence on oil. While some may be hoping to one day make a decent living with HHO, no one is seeing this as "get rich quick" scheme. A common dilemma I hear from those who have installed HHO systems is that initially they're getting great results, only to have their mileage return to normal after a couple of weeks. Understandably this is a huge discouragement and either they give up, or become bitter and attack HHO technology as in-plausible.

In almost every case this has been caused by the OBD2 computer on their cars. The OBD2 computers will eventually adjust for the HHO wiping out any previous mileage gains. Until we figure out how to consistently make permanent adjustments to the OBD2 computer, newer cars will never be able to accept or run on HHO.

So, how do we get involved? Where do we go from here? A good place to start is getting these HHO generators in the hands of mechanics, tuners, chip makers, dealerships - anyone with testing equipment that can do proper installations and adjustments with details and documentation to back up the results. The days of setting up an EFIE and reporting mileage based on an onboard computer are over. In order for the public to accept and endorse this technology we must configure a permanent, easy to maintain (if not completely hands-off) solution.

I propose that anyone out there selling HHO systems lend one for testing purposes to interested mechanics or tuners in your area. Let them tinker with it, test it, install it and make yourself available to answer questions and be of assistance. Try to document their tests on video and get printouts from dyno runs, smog tests, etc.

Engines CAN be tuned to run with HHO, but it needs to be done right. Rob, D3, and Scarecrow have been doing a great job of figuring this stuff out, but we need to get a lot more people involved. If we can convice more serious tuners or chip makers to give it a shot, I'm confident they'll see the potential of HHO and enthusiastically spread the word.

For now, I'll be heading out to "HHO day" this Saturday and many more to come, hoping to meet that one enthusiast who makes the difference. Hope to see YOU there.

Monday, December 29, 2008

The basics of HHO

HHO, Water4Gas, Run your Car on Water! It's all over the Internet, but what's it all about?

HHO Gas, otherwise known as Brown's Gas, is a combination of hydrogen and oxygen that is produced by the process of electrolysis. In its simplest form, electrolysis consists of two pieces of conductive material, in this case, stainless steel submerged in water. An electrical current is added to the conductors, positive on one and negative on the other. This causes the hydrogen and oxygen atoms that make up the water molecules to split. The separated hydrogen and oxygen atoms float to the top in the form of bubbles. There are two hydrogen atoms to one oxygen atom, hence the name HHO.

This HHO gas is very combustible and makes an excellent fuel. When HHO is burned the only by-product is water. For cars and other internal combustion engines, HHO fuel is added to the air that is already being fed into the engine and acts as a fuel supplement.

The average internal combustion engine burns about 30% of its fuel at best. The rest is wasted and is left behind in the form of carbon deposits in the engine or it goes out of the exhaust and into our air as carbon emissions. The HHO gas helps to burn the gasoline more efficiently, resulting in almost 100% of the fuel actually being burned. That means better power and much cleaner emissions. And, since the gasoline is being burned more efficiently, less gas is needed, resulting in better mileage.

Another advantage of HHO helping to burn more of the gas, is that less carbon will form on your engine which means longer engine life and fewer oil changes.

One of the fears that people have when they hear the word "hydrogen" is that they don't want to be driving around with a so-called hydrogen bomb in their car. HHO gas is generated on-demand, which means the HHO gas is only being produced when the engine is running. The gas is never stored and there is no danger of an explosion.

HHO gas is an exciting fuel and people are just starting to realize its potential. It can be used right now as a clean fuel supplement to reduce our dependence on oil and to help clean up our air.

Only time will tell what other applications we can find for this amazing, abundant fuel. Do the world a favor and help spread the word about HHO.

Saturday, August 16, 2008

Confessions of an HHO-aholic

Let me start by saying that I am not an engineer or a car guy at all. My venture into HHO began with a ride back to work with a friend who told me that he just put a hydrogen generator in his older mini van. Of course I was completely skeptical as this friend was always telling me about conspiracy theories and new gadgets. So, when he popped his hood and showed me this mason jar with wires actually making HHO gas, I decided I had to try this for myself. Later that next day I managed to get a piece of stainless steel and cut a few plates. I had a battery trickle charger that I used for a power source. The first time I hooked it up, made bubbles, and lit them with a lighter I WAS HOOKED! Three or four months later, while having too much time off of work, and surfing way more hours on the internet than I would like to admit, I have aquired quite a bit of knowledge about HHO.

I started HHO Connection mainly to assist others who want information about HHO. I pooled all my bookmarks and YouTube videos about HHO into one easy to navigate web site. I plan on adding much more to it like product reviews and information on emerging HHO technologies. Please email me if you know of new products, designs, or anything related to HHO that you think the public should know about. I do want to thank Zero Fossil Fuel, D3, and the other members of the Energy Builders Network for all their hard work in HHO research and development, and for putting all their work on YouTube so that HHO junkies like me can get their fix.