Equipment Review Suggestion - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: Skygeek
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: October 10, 2010, 02:24:20 am
content: Dave I have got a good one for you!!!http://www.fueldoctorusa.com/This claims that with a simple plug into your cigarette lighter you can filter you DC electrical system and receive up to 25% in fuel savings!!!I'm going to have to call bullshit on this one.What do you think?Skygeek

author: Mechatrommer
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 10, 2010, 03:49:33 am
content: I've seen another device that claims the same (fuel saver), but instead plugged into cigarette lighter, it is connected directly to the battery. From my unofficial study, this thing tries to create clean voltage (sort of voltage regulator), so the alternator charges smoothly without any jerky force due to up down volts, think electromagnet force, it turned out the force that actually provided from the engine to the alternator by the belting is also made smooth, so fuel usage can be done smoothly so, make it more efficient. So is this device save fuel? well, directly... no. But indirectly... maybe yes. My uncle use it and he said yes it does save fuel, but i'm not sure, maybe its just placebo effect. Even if it does save fuel, i dont think the amount saved is substancial. Looking forward to hear any extensive systematic real life test that has been done.

author: osmosis321
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: October 10, 2010, 05:31:20 am
content: A cursory examination of the claims made by Fuel Doctor reveal a total scam.Affecting a vehicle's fuel injection system by plugging something into the cigarette lighter? haha!! You'd have to be several different kinds of stupid to believe that one.

author: Zero999
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 10, 2010, 08:18:28 am
content: Scam

author: Simon
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: October 10, 2010, 08:40:45 am
content: the bottom line?: if you get duped into believing this thing you deserved to be cheated. It's so hilariously stupid as a concept that nobody should believe it.As usual pseudo science and mumbo jumbo

author: david77
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 10, 2010, 07:35:36 pm
content: That's a brilliant scam.To anybody who knows some basic things about power supplies and ripple rejection it is immediatelyobvious that this can't work. You don't even have to look at it in detail.But I'm sure lots of people will fall for it, as usual. The regular punters out there know nothing aboutelectricity.Sometimes I think one should have the criminal energy to come up with nonsense like this. Scammersmake a mint out of crap like that.

author: Simon
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: October 10, 2010, 08:25:37 pm
content: err, power socket is an output, it can't be an output as well, unless this thing is going to absorb a fair amount of energy it does not even look feasible to the biggest nutter, a regulator with an input and no output, that's funny !

author: Bored@Work
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 10, 2010, 08:33:39 pm
content: Quote from: Simon on October 10, 2010, 08:25:37 pmDespite this clearly being a scam, you want to learn about shunt regulators.

author: Simon
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: October 10, 2010, 08:45:04 pm
content: Quote from: BoredAtWork on October 10, 2010, 08:33:39 pmYes i know (which is why i said unless it can absorb a lot of power) in which case that little thing may be potentially absorbing a lot of power which would blow it apart, on the other hand your general punter will not know about shunt regs so should still find it odd

author: Unknown
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: October 10, 2010, 08:52:13 pm
content: Quote from: Simon on October 10, 2010, 08:45:04 pmIf it's just about filtering high-frequency noise, the amount of power might not be that bad. A filter / bypass cap only has two terminals. But all the inductance of the wiring to the cigarette lighter would make it worthless, plus I consider it highly unlikely that additional filtering would improve the fuel economy, since I'd expect the car manufacturer to take care of that if it would help.

author: Simon
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: October 10, 2010, 08:59:51 pm
content: yes well there is that too, what the hell will regulating the electrical system do to improve fuel economy, that's the first question that needs a stupid answer for this thing to look vaguely credible