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BatMax: Does It Really Work?
BatMax is a wafer-thin product that promises to dramatically extend the life of rechargeable batteries, while simultaneously decreasing the amount of time it takes to recharge them. How exactly does it do this? Well, you know, nanoceramics... patented IonXR technology... blah, blah, blah. Basically, to me it sounds like a tinfoil sticker that does nothing at all but lighten your wallet a bit. Though maybe it really does work. What do I know. However, I see that the folks over at Gizmodo and Slashdot are skeptical as well.Update: Some guy tested whether battery extenders really work, and found that they did extend the life of batteries by about 10-15%. So maybe there is something to this nanoceramics thing.
Listed in chronological order. Newest comments at the end.
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The way it works is by using 'vibrations'. Haven't I heard that one somewhere before? BatMax's explanation of how it works contains the sentence:
"The vibration wavelength released from BatMax is considered to be within almost the same range with the oscillation frequency of electrons inside the battery."
I like that: 'considered to be within almost the same range . . .'
So it isn't within the same range then; so it can't work, then.
Posted by Lord Lucan on Fri Feb 04, 2005 at 01:56 AM
"The vibration wavelength released from BatMax is considered to be within almost the same range with the oscillation frequency of electrons inside the battery."
I like that: 'considered to be within almost the same range . . .'
So it isn't within the same range then; so it can't work, then.
The theory behind this is quite obviously a bunch of nonsensical technobabble that is written to confuse readers rather than explain anything. This doesn't sound like it should work at all. For it to have any effect on the battery, you'd need to put something inside it - unless your battery works differently at different temperatures, which I suppose could be an issue.
I'd be much more impressed with the other test if, instead of a cell phone, he had set up a pair of multimeters and drained the battery through a simple resistor load, recording how long it lasted. Much easier to control your experiment that way.
Posted by Matt on Fri Feb 04, 2005 at 05:47 AM
I'd be much more impressed with the other test if, instead of a cell phone, he had set up a pair of multimeters and drained the battery through a simple resistor load, recording how long it lasted. Much easier to control your experiment that way.
Matt is right. The test would have been much more valid, or I should say, the test would have been valid, had they done it with controlled conditions. A resistive load and a volt meter are the only way to do it. I think the test they did was more a demonstration of the placebo effect. Sidarth Raja needs to take a few science classes.
The instructions for installation clearly say that it should not be placed over the terminals. How the hell could it have ANY effect? I guess it will make the BatMax company lots and lots of money. I'll bet one of their tools will be posting on here later to say "how can you be so closed minded? You probably think the earth is still flat! It really works!" It'll be in ALL CAPS, too, 'cause that's how jack asses bray.
Posted by JoeSixpack on Fri Feb 04, 2005 at 07:28 AM
The instructions for installation clearly say that it should not be placed over the terminals. How the hell could it have ANY effect? I guess it will make the BatMax company lots and lots of money. I'll bet one of their tools will be posting on here later to say "how can you be so closed minded? You probably think the earth is still flat! It really works!" It'll be in ALL CAPS, too, 'cause that's how jack asses bray.
But they've got an animation that shows the battery level on a BatMax equipped battery dropping slower than one without. I think that more than proves their point. How can you be such NARROW MINDED ASSHOLES?
Posted by Charybdis in Hell on Fri Feb 04, 2005 at 07:43 AM
I'd like to find out more about "nanoceramics". Sounds like a neat (read: made up) technology. 
Posted by Silentz in general on Fri Feb 04, 2005 at 07:54 AM
Charybdis, now you're just acting scylla
Posted by JoeSixpack on Fri Feb 04, 2005 at 08:27 AM
How can the placebo affect apply to an inanimate object? Clearly there was some actual difference - but it's impossible to tell what, since he didn't control his variables very well. He didn't state how often these phones were used beforehand, for one thing - is it possible that the very first use gives you 10% more time than second and subsequent uses? Despite using a "dummy SIM card" it may have been varying by signal strength, and if the tests were done in parallel there might have been a signal surge between the first and second tests. He should at least have repeated the tests over many days, randomly varying whether to use the plain or BatMax-equipped phone first on each day, and then looked at the average.
Posted by Joe Mason on Fri Feb 04, 2005 at 11:08 AM
The placebo affect applied to the reviewer, not the device itself. Sidarth Raja expected an increase and found it. He should have done a double blind study where he compared the lives of two separate batteries, one with the product and one without. He should not have been aware which was which until after the data had been processed. Then he should have repeated this experiment many, many times and determined if there was a meaninful statistical variance. And he should have used the proper equipment to measure and drain the devices equally.
In other words, all he did was to make most people think that the product actually works as advertised and the few people who measure this sort of thing for a living beat their heads on the sidewalk until they bleed.
I also don't think the question is "Does this work?", rather I think the question is "Is this a scam or a hoax?"
Posted by Charybdis in Hell on Fri Feb 04, 2005 at 12:36 PM
In other words, all he did was to make most people think that the product actually works as advertised and the few people who measure this sort of thing for a living beat their heads on the sidewalk until they bleed.
I also don't think the question is "Does this work?", rather I think the question is "Is this a scam or a hoax?"
Joe Mason said "How can the placebo affect apply to an inanimate object?"
Actually, the proper term is "Confirmation Bias", but it's the same general principle.
Posted by JoeSixpack on Fri Feb 04, 2005 at 12:57 PM
Actually, the proper term is "Confirmation Bias", but it's the same general principle.
Does this have anything to do with the low frequency in which this very website vibrates ?
Posted by Lothar Ignatius on Fri Feb 04, 2005 at 01:29 PM
I always try to use my cell phone upside down so the batteries don't have to work so hard against gravity! Now, once I convince you of that amazing bit of science than I can sell you an old pair of "gravity boots" and a suspension rod as cell phone battery extender!!
Posted by Floormaster Squeeze on Fri Feb 04, 2005 at 02:06 PM
James Randi has some . . . colorful things to say on the subject in this week's rant at http://www.randi.org/jr/020405will.html
Points out that this is nothing new. A few years back there were stickers to protect your head from Evil Cell Phone Radiation, and $300 each stickers to put on the bottom of your gas tank to improve your gas mileage and reduce emissions.
He refrains from pointing out the similiarity to the stickers grade school kids put on each others' backs saying "KICK ME."
Posted by Terry Austin in California on Fri Feb 04, 2005 at 03:27 PM
Points out that this is nothing new. A few years back there were stickers to protect your head from Evil Cell Phone Radiation, and $300 each stickers to put on the bottom of your gas tank to improve your gas mileage and reduce emissions.
He refrains from pointing out the similiarity to the stickers grade school kids put on each others' backs saying "KICK ME."
You should also remember that rechargable batteries have a hysteresis. Depending upon how old the batteries are, the recent dischareges, the length of the charge, etc. A reviewer would have to ensure that the batteries had similar histories.
Also, there is some natural variation amongst batteries, you can't judge based on 1 test of 2 batteries. Trust me, I would know, I work at a startup battery company and there's a running joke that decisions here are often based on only one test.
Posted by brian on Fri Feb 04, 2005 at 03:48 PM
Also, there is some natural variation amongst batteries, you can't judge based on 1 test of 2 batteries. Trust me, I would know, I work at a startup battery company and there's a running joke that decisions here are often based on only one test.
Calm down, Houdini. I think the comment was made in reference to the "snake flossing" guy rather than you.
Posted by Laura on Sat Feb 05, 2005 at 03:35 AM
.. buggered if I know why I wrote that comment here!
Posted by Laura on Sat Feb 05, 2005 at 03:50 AM
umm... relevance
Posted by Hairy Houdini on Sat Feb 05, 2005 at 11:29 AM
To recharge a battery you must put electrons into the battery, how does this product perform that small function? To extend battery life either you must take out fewer electrons or take out a larger percentage of the electrons in the battery. Again, how does this product do this? Vibating at almost the frequency of an electron (which orbit?)does what exactly?
Posted by Christopher Cole in Tucson, AZ on Sat Feb 05, 2005 at 12:44 PM
Hey! Random Guy (TM) on Shashdot says that it works, so it must! Come ON Museum of Hoaxes. Been drinking too much lately??
Posted by Drunk Stepdad on Sat Feb 05, 2005 at 01:43 PM
Maybe that guy has been licking too many 9-volts batteries. That is where the vibration is coming from.
Posted by Maegan in Tampa, FL - USA on Sun Feb 06, 2005 at 04:11 AM
This reminds me of a product currently being touted in aquarium publications. If I understand the publicity, the miracle invention is a tube-shaped magnet. You set it up so the aquarium water runs through the magnet and somehow or other it ionizes the water or does something to its atoms or electrons or something so that it stays amazingly clean and fresh forever. The gadget has no moving parts and supposedly works equally well in fresh or salt water.
This strikes me as just plain snake oil, but if any of you more technically proficient people know some way this thing could actually do something, please let me know.
Posted by Big Gary C in Dallas, Texas on Mon Feb 07, 2005 at 04:21 PM
This strikes me as just plain snake oil, but if any of you more technically proficient people know some way this thing could actually do something, please let me know.
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