More solar roadway like nonsense - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: Electro-Big-Nose
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: July 01, 2015, 06:02:27 pm
content: SolarLayer - Every Surface is a Solar Panelhttps://www.indiegogo.com/projects/solarlayer-every-surface-is-a-solar-panel#/storyAnother Indigogo campaign to raise moneyDave Jones, would you care to tear a new hole with this one on a possible up coming review

author: JoeO
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 01, 2015, 08:37:44 pm
content: Supposedly they have received $160 in funding but no perks have been claimed.

author: CronusWorks
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: July 01, 2015, 09:11:06 pm
content: Is that an iPhone photoshopped as a power bank?I will give the Solar Roadways project a point over these guys, since (most of) what they wanted to do was actually possible, just stupidly wasteful and inefficient. This is just absurd. Not unlike the guy sticking his probes into the asphalt.

author: silviustro
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: July 01, 2015, 09:12:58 pm
content: Oh god...there's actually a picture of some asshole measuring the road with a multimeter on their indiegogo page....That picture sums up the entire project perfectly...

author: Halcyon
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 01, 2015, 09:13:35 pm
content: What on earth is going on here?Measuring the resistance of asphalt?! A+ for safety though. High-vis hardhat and vest (which was clearly JUST taken out of the packet before the photo).

author: silviustro
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: July 01, 2015, 09:16:52 pm
content: Quote from: Electro-Big-Nose on July 01, 2015, 06:02:27 pmThis crap isn't even worthy of being teared down by Dave... Come on, just read the project description, they're tearing themselves down...

author: void_error
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 01, 2015, 09:48:28 pm
content: Quote from: Halcyon on July 01, 2015, 09:13:35 pmI do have to admit I measured the resistance of my beer once...

author: Halcyon
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 01, 2015, 10:36:58 pm
content: Quote from: void_error on July 01, 2015, 09:48:28 pmHahah, who hasn't?! Probably worked better than the roadway!

author: Mr.B
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 01, 2015, 11:40:08 pm
content: Right… That’s it…I am going to start an IGG campaign to develop a better lemon.If we can raise just $5,000,000 we will secure a vision of free energy lining every street in the world.I need someone from a credible source, like the EEVblog to stand in a lemon grove holding a Fluke or Agilent DMM so I can take a photograph to give my campaign instant credibility. Maybe Dave will do it…If all goes well and the dumb fucks at IGG let me do it with flexible funding, I should walk away with millions to enjoy the rest of my life.

author: PTR_1275
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 01, 2015, 11:47:08 pm
content: Is it just me that thinks that the roll of special conductive crap looks like thermal exhaust wrap?Also, is the person wearing the hi-vis vest backwards? There is no opening at the front like every hi vis vest I have seen.

author: PTR_1275
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 01, 2015, 11:47:47 pm
content: Just reverse image searched their "special conductor"http://fr.dreamstime.com/images-libres-de-droits-bande-de-tissu-de-fibre-de-verre-image25337869

author: Mr.B
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 01, 2015, 11:50:23 pm
content: Quote from: PTR_1275 on July 01, 2015, 11:47:47 pm"A small roll of fiberglass cloth tape made of twisted strands of fiberglass with woven edges"

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 02, 2015, 12:29:13 am
content: Here we go again!

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 02, 2015, 12:30:14 am
content: And the "inventor" is business guy who is affiliated with one of those "idea factories" (idea.me) . Oh dear

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 02, 2015, 12:31:08 am
content: Quote from: PTR_1275 on July 01, 2015, 11:47:47 pmNice find, busted!

author: Zad
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 02, 2015, 12:41:42 am
content: It all feels like the sort of scheme I used to come up with when I was 14 !

author: schwarzrmsu
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: July 02, 2015, 02:05:23 am
content: More like Solar Player. Simply trying to "play" the general public.

author: aidan2496
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: July 02, 2015, 02:53:54 am
content: This is goldMost of the footage on there looks like it's off sutterstock or something

author: TerraHertz
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 02, 2015, 03:56:11 am
content: Quote from: Halcyon on July 01, 2015, 09:13:35 pmThat meter he's 'measuring the road' with, is almost certainly one of these pieces of crap.I seem to recall that costing me a whole $7, in a shop in Sydney. Good to know those guys are sparing no expense to get an _accurate_ measurement of the road.

author: Red Squirrel
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 02, 2015, 04:43:02 am
content: I'm all for green energy but this is hilarious. While they're at it they should make micro wind turbines they can mix in as well.That guy should be wearing at least cat 3 rated gloves too, dealing with an unknown amount of power and all.

author: Halcyon
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 02, 2015, 06:33:57 am
content: They also forgot to mention in the "Risks and Challenges" section that they are mostly talking out of their arse and the entire concept it bullshit. But I guess that doesn't sell?Honestly, I can't get over that photo of that guy "measuring" the road. What on earth were they thinking? "Hey you, just kneel down there, pretend you're doing something technical".

author: miguelvp
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 02, 2015, 06:39:46 am
content: Quote from: Halcyon on July 02, 2015, 06:33:57 amHe has the meter set on frequency and is looking for "TerraHertz"

author: G7PSK
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 02, 2015, 07:24:15 am
content: The special conductor is woven roving, used by the ton in boat building and other GRP industries.

author: mtdoc
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 02, 2015, 07:30:03 am
content: This is orders of magnitude worse tha solar roadways. This is just a blatant scam - at best a front for selling overpriced solar branded swag. Indiegogo really has no filter, do they?

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 02, 2015, 07:56:18 am
content: Quote from: mtdoc on July 02, 2015, 07:30:03 amNone. That is why Indiegogo is the scammers/dreamers/delusionals platform of choice.

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 02, 2015, 08:30:54 am
content: Quote from: TerraHertz on July 02, 2015, 03:56:11 amYup! And the leads are in the wrong jacks and it's turned off!

author: Halcyon
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 02, 2015, 08:35:36 am
content: Quote from: EEVblog on July 02, 2015, 08:30:54 amThere's another photo?!! Amazing! Hahahah, oh gawd. Is the damn thing switched on? Does it even have batteries installed?Oh please, Dave, you need to start a new segment on EEVblog: "Epic fails of the Electronics Kind". Name and shame just like they do on ABC's 'The Checkout'.

author: DaveG
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: July 02, 2015, 09:28:32 am
content: His Hi-Vis vest is on backwards as well.

author: nixxon
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 02, 2015, 10:02:30 am
content: I was about to comment on the campaign athttps://www.indiegogo.com/projects/solarlayer-every-surface-is-a-solar-panel#/comments, but there was an obstacle that I have no intention of overcoming:"You must contribute to this campaign to make a public comment"EDIT: On the other side, this offer seems very good:$2000USD + ShippingSOLAR LAYER PAINT BIGGER ROOFWe will send you 30 Liters of White Paint with the SolarLayer Technology. Enough to Convert your Roof in a SolarPanel with the explanations on how to install it.

author: leppie
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 02, 2015, 10:35:22 am
content: Quote from: void_error on July 01, 2015, 09:48:28 pmMy beer has zero resistance

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 02, 2015, 01:29:53 pm
content: And the crystal photo is also ripped off from here:http://www.gustate.net/tag/como-curar-la-sinusitis/

author: nixxon
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 02, 2015, 03:06:48 pm
content: Quote from: EEVblog on July 02, 2015, 01:29:53 pmAll the photos are actually grabbed from other web sites if you search onhttps://images.google.com/

author: Asmyldof
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: July 02, 2015, 03:19:06 pm
content: Quote from: EEVblog on July 02, 2015, 01:29:53 pmAt least that source website is mainly based on bullshit as well, so at least it's stolen within the same theme of phoolery.

author: LabSpokane
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 02, 2015, 03:29:03 pm
content: An energy project so pathetic that no one even had to break out a cocktail napkin and dull golf pencil to debunk it. I'd like to think the "industry" has hit rock-bottom, but I'm sure we'll see worse.

author: funfairEE
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: July 02, 2015, 06:57:36 pm
content: Am I the only person that thinks this hole project is a parody? It is like they are making fun of themselves it has to be a joke.

author: Poolkeeper
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: July 02, 2015, 08:11:09 pm
content: I am mostly reading and learning from the forums but this have made my day.There is a linked news article from the IndiGogo site under Update 1. Extract from the streetinsider.com article (read all of it if you have time, it is really hilarious):"Through a special process, each photovoltaic cell is able to use this areas to intelligently allow and stop energy flow from and to the fibre conductor avoiding a shortcut chaos. Most importantly, each cell will re-route energy coming from the fibre to the magnetic north. This is the way by which instead of thousands of possible destinations, the flow of energy always finds its way to the magnetic North where the conductor will end and the electric current will be trapped by a special copper wire."Cheers,Tom

author: Bassman59
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 02, 2015, 08:28:18 pm
content: Quote from: Poolkeeper on July 02, 2015, 08:11:09 pmStreetinsider basically publishes PR. The question: do they pay for the PR, or do they charge advertising rates for the PR?

author: jippie
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 02, 2015, 08:54:34 pm
content: Quote from: Poolkeeper on July 02, 2015, 08:11:09 pmThese sort of people make me go depressed for spending many hours on an honest job, earning too little money in my opinion

author: edy
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 02, 2015, 08:55:57 pm
content: Hey guys, I have a GREAT IDEA! What we basically need is a DEBUNKING site for crowd-sourced projects, something like:IndieNoNo-and-KickScammerBasically these 2 sites would DUPLICATE the URL of the legitimate IndieGogo and KickStarter sites and essentially show a screenshot of the REAL campaign page and then allow full unfettered access to post comments below for each project. People would need to login to post, but otherwise the purpose of the debunking sites would be to try and increase the RANKING in Google to present another landing page for the campaign and offer a place for comments by engineers, scientists and any skeptics.So....https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/solarlayer-every-surface-is-a-solar-panel...would be....https://www.indienono.com/projects/solarlayer-every-surface-is-a-solar-panelThe site would allow people to create a DEBUNK page to essentially MIRROR the actual campaign and hence the almost identical URL. It would be easy and avoid duplications of people submitting or creating "threads" so to speak.So? Anyone want to start something like this? How would it be funded? Probably ad revenue.

author: ataradov
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 02, 2015, 09:05:19 pm
content: Both URLs are taken by squatters. And also, there is no need to do this. There always be people who believe in this sort of junk. Let them be burned.

author: edy
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 02, 2015, 09:31:08 pm
content: Quote from: ataradov on July 02, 2015, 09:05:19 pmYes, you are right. People will learn... maybe the hard way. A few bucks to get burned and then you never do it again. Still, those domains (if they are cheap to buy) and some simple back-end programming for commenting/blog posting may actually not be a bad business idea for someone.I do enjoy the EEVBlog forums for this kind of stuff!

author: nixxon
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 02, 2015, 10:26:18 pm
content: Now all of the silly photos have been removed from the indiegogo campaign.The guy responsible calls himself Lucas Cervigni and a portrait photo is included. He is supposed to have 123 facebook friends. When I visit his profile at facebook, I cannot find any friends at all. There are only 2 photos; the same portrait photo as on indiegogo and a picture of the interior of a big & fancy white room at 30 Park Place in NY.Even the picture of the big, fancy room is grabbed from the internet:http://www.thepinkwaterreport.com/the-union-of-art-real-estate-in-nyc/Picture text: "30 Park Place, showing Penthouse Interior"orhttp://www.thirtyparkplace.com/

author: edy
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 02, 2015, 10:51:14 pm
content: The campaign only raised $215 so far, possibly from acquaintances of the "Creator". I don't see them reaching anywhere close to $100,000. They have FLEXIBLE FUNDING which means they will keep whatever they get, even if they never reach anywhere close to $100,000.The only perks claimed are a centimeter of road in London and New York, which is just "fluff". Not even any of their gimmicky corporate-branded promo garbage is being requested... like mugs, T-shirts, pens, power chargers, wrist-bands and other crap. They would need a minimum order to buy these items from a promotional items catalog and get their logo printed on them, so if only 2 people order a phone case or slim power bank, there is no way they are going to send you a "branded" one (maybe they will print some stickers on their inkjet and stick it on).So at best, you may get some branded (or plain) swag, and at worst you will get nothing and they will be off with your money. However, this campaign seems relatively harmless as far as money-skimming so far. Let's hope it stays that way.

author: Ian.M
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 02, 2015, 10:59:27 pm
content: Better yet, *IF* the nanotechnology to actually build the particles in this solar paint actually existed, it still wouldn't work if implemented as described, because if any significant current was drawn it would distort the local geomagnetic field, rearranging the interconnections. If you didn't let it adapt by rearranging the interconnections, I believe it wouldn't cope well with micro scale physical damage so its output would rapidly degrade due to weathering and ordinary wear.

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 02, 2015, 11:13:48 pm
content: Quote from: funfairEE on July 02, 2015, 06:57:36 pmThe thing is though, at least the concept is based on a real thing, Solar paint is not new, it's a branch of nano organic photovoltaics, and a lot of research has been done in this area.But of course it's obvious this mad haven't clue. You without having worked on it for 4 years and not have any real prototype or demonstration to show.

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 02, 2015, 11:16:13 pm
content: Quote from: nixxon on July 02, 2015, 10:26:18 pmThey are indeed gone!Lucky I kept the one with the multimeter

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 02, 2015, 11:21:06 pm
content: Quote from: edy on July 02, 2015, 08:55:57 pmBrilliant idea!Not sure how chuffed they will be to have their sites scrapped like that though.Would probably only need a $5/month shared server, traffic would not be huge.

author: TerraHertz
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 03, 2015, 01:15:12 am
content: Quote from: EEVblog on July 02, 2015, 08:30:54 amOh my god! Such stupidity in one photo. Expecting anyone to take 'road measurement' seriously, massive meter fail, vest on backwards, the vest and shiny new hardhat both just out of the box...The only thing they seem to have succeeded at, is someone knows how to tie a bow knot.I didn't think there was a level of technical illiteracy high enough to plug the leads in the "10A" and "V-ohms-mA" jacks, and neglect to turn it on. Maybe they reasoned that if it was on it would be reading "0.00" and someone might notice.For those who wisely don't own that model, here's a closeup. Yes, the leads break like that.I didn't look through the rest of the site. Did anyone notice if the guy holding the meter appears in any other shots? If not, did they actually pay for an actor? Ha ha as if. Or just wheedle someone they knew to play in the photoshoot?If that guy isn't involved in the scam, it's faintly possible he deliberately set the meter leads wrong to make fun of them. Faiintly... but no, the vest on backwards, and the cameraman noticing nothing wrong surely indicate imbeciles all round.This is all so disappointing. You'd expect scammers to at least be fairly cunning and spin an interesting yarn. Like that guy with the vortex coils. That was fun. These guys don't even seem to have a pretty girlfriend.

author: sysmatt
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: July 03, 2015, 01:49:37 am
content: The hokey pokey multimeter in street sooo reminds me of this little chestnut...

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 03, 2015, 02:30:43 am
content: Quote from: TerraHertz on July 03, 2015, 01:15:12 amI thought it looked like the inventor himself?

author: PTR_1275
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 03, 2015, 04:18:21 am
content: https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/solarlayer-every-surface-is-a-solar-panel#/updates500 visits in 2 days, how many of those were from us here?They are upto $215, hopefully that is a sign that people aren't stupid.

author: PTR_1275
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 03, 2015, 04:22:31 am
content: QuoteThe above is from their press release.So if the flow of energy always flows north, how does it work on a vertical north facing window? All the power is flowing to the face of the panel that you can't access.My head hurst from the amount of stupid on their page

author: bitwelder
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 03, 2015, 05:53:53 am
content: The "inventor" seems to fart a few more websites (or at least register them) every year.Courtesy of whoisology.com, his email is currently referred by these registered websites:luccepress.com, bricksave.com, nuevasobras.com, cervigni.net, clickbricks.org, clickbricks.info, clickbricks.usAbout a year ago it listed 13 domains, mostly variations of clickbricks and southram.org/.info/.biz and 2 years ago a few more surely brilliant ideas (most of URLs returns now empty page).

author: Macbeth
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 03, 2015, 07:32:48 am
content: Quote from: EEVblog on July 02, 2015, 08:30:54 amWhy, i'm pretty sure that meter isn't evenCAT IratedSurely that would be essential whenmeowteringparts of the carriageway

author: Macbeth
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 03, 2015, 07:40:08 am
content: Quote from: DaveG on July 02, 2015, 09:28:32 amThat's because it's actually a Hi-Visbib

author: DaveG
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: July 03, 2015, 08:32:03 am
content: Quote from: Macbeth on July 03, 2015, 07:40:08 amA "bib"? <checks google, amazon> oh, you're right, but it's still on arse-wards!

author: amyk
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 03, 2015, 01:46:19 pm
content: Quote from: EEVblog on July 02, 2015, 11:16:13 pmThe one linked above appears to still be on IGG's servers and link is valid, but who knows how long it'll stay valid...I've attached a copy here for future reference and hilarity.Oddly enough I remember an ad (Australian too) for solar panel installation showing someone poking randomly at a solar panel with multimeter probes and the meter was, like this one, also turned off. It might've been posted here before, or another EE site.

author: TerraHertz
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 04, 2015, 11:01:39 am
content: Here's another candidate for the bullshit register, or ridicule ranks.http://www.keshefoundation.org/broadcast/Disclaimer: I couldn't bear to watch even the first video, but merely skimmed bits. There are some not bad comedy highlights, like the guy who duplicated Tesla's bifilar wound coil, but with plastic tubing. Plus some classic whiteboard gibberish.But overall, I give it a thumbs down on the grounds of being boring. Nutty free energy scams are only fun if they are funny, or there's a pretty girl involved. None of those here either.

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 04, 2015, 11:37:10 am
content: Quote from: mojo-chan on July 03, 2015, 09:19:45 amI already get this, kinda.A friend of mine has an awesome browser plugin called rbutr pops up with rebuttals to web pages.http://rbutr.com/I've now added this, so anyone with the plugin will get a popup and see this thread

author: edy
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 04, 2015, 02:11:40 pm
content: I was thinking it would work like this... We would get a main site calledwww.crowdscammers.com. It would share same servers aswww.indienono.comandwww.kickscammer.com.If you find a campaign you want to begin a public comment page on, you would go to any of these sites and paste the URL in a "submit" box and if it is new it will create the same page URL on our site, maybe grab a screen shot of the original page and link to the original campaign. And then create a commenting area below for everyone to start posting and talking.If the campaign already exists in our site, the user would jump you to the existing comment page. So users submit URL in question, site automatically figures out whether it belongs on indienono or kickscammer, makes the appropriate landing page with screen shots and commenting section.Hey we could even crowd-fund this Web site on those very same sites!!! :-)

author: Jay_Diddy_B
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 04, 2015, 03:39:55 pm
content: Hi,A little searching of the phone number listed here:http://solarlayer.com/reveals:http://192.169.231.237/~lucce/A search of the address 124 Baker St.reveals that 1286 companies are registered at this address:http://www.endole.co.uk/explorer/postcode/w1u-6tyincluding:This is interesting reading:http://www.endole.co.uk/company/09300332/lucce-and-partners-ltdMr Lucas Sergio Cervigni is a 33 year Argentinian.He is also listed as being associated with a bunch of other companies:http://www.endole.co.uk/profile/932382/lucas-sergio-cervigniYou can make your own mind up about this individual....Jay_Diddy_B

author: miguelvp
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 04, 2015, 04:05:24 pm
content: Seems the solarlayer facebook has been removed. Too bad since Stephen Hawking was following it.

author: LabSpokane
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 04, 2015, 07:20:15 pm
content: Quote from: Jay_Diddy_B on July 04, 2015, 03:39:55 pmIn the U.S., we have registered agents that are the primary address for a corporation. Essentially they function as a blind Post Office box that forwards on mail to company's actual location. They are used by many small companies that operate out of a home address. There also is no shortage of scam artists using this system as well (including publicly traded ones).It's always a red flag.I'm assuming that there is a similar system in the UK.What would be interesting would be a background check in Argentina on these in-duh-viduals. A lot of these characters change countries for a reason.

author: TerraHertz
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 07, 2015, 11:57:50 am
content: Nowthisis how to do a kickstarter based on nothing but imagination and story telling. There are even 'lab notes' (they say) and yet, it's totally legitimate and worthy. Because they are up front about it being a fiction. And people will pay for fiction, but not for lies. Really quite cool.https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/jkapalka/the-mysterious-package-company-presents-the-centur1,072 backers$350,308 CAD pledged of $20,000 goal26 hours to goHa ha ha, I hope Mr Measures the Road has a heart attack and dies.

author: ataradov
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 08, 2015, 12:47:06 am
content: This is actually what Kickstarter was made for. I don't see anything wrong with the project.This is basically the same thing as Loot Crate and other "box with unknown crap" mailing services, but at least here you get something cool, not Chinese factory rejects.

author: tom66
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 08, 2015, 10:51:00 am
content: I think we should take thanks that he's only got $240. Look how much guys like Solar Roadways walked away with. Although, they did have had an actual product, however impractical it was.

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 08, 2015, 12:34:40 pm
content: Quote from: tom66 on July 08, 2015, 10:51:00 amI was tempted to do a video on this, but I don't think they are worth the oxygen, better to just let them wither and die.