Consumer Reports call Ionic Breeze "Unhealthy"

[EdipisReks]

I got it. Only the obtuse, intentionally or otherwise, would not, IMHO

i thought so, too, but it's cool.

P.S. Attemps to "scrobble" your audio fail.

audioscrobbler gets a lot of traffic, and can only handle so many connections. try back in an hour if you want to see what the great EdipisReks listens to

 

[Vitnir]

Ionic air purifiers are not "air ionizers." They are "particulate ionizers." They ionize the dirt particles and then use potential fields to catch them on a plate.

There will be very little ion emission from these things. The mean free path of ions at atmospheric pressure is exceedingly short, and ion/molecule reactions are fast. Neutralization will occur fairly quickly.

The health problems come from the emission of ozone, O3. However, even with that you have to be pretty close to the source to get any before it reacts away.

Now you are talking about electrostatic dust filters instead.

 

[pgwenthold]

Now you are talking about electrostatic dust filters instead.

Is that like a definition or something?

Because what I am talking about is how "ionic air purifiers" like Ionic Breeze work.

Just blowing ions into the air can't "purify" anything.

 

[Vitnir]

The air ions are supposed to charge the particles in the air and cause them to migrate to surfaces in the room, not necessarily surfaces in or on the device.
Simple corona discharge devices as Ionic Breeze produce ions with very short half-life (a few seconds) so if they meet a particle the closest surface might be the device though.
If someone knows more about how Ionic Breeze work I'm willing to be corrected naturally.

 

[pgwenthold]

The air ions are supposed to charge the particles in the air and cause them to migrate to surfaces in the room, not necessarily surfaces in or on the device.
Simple corona discharge devices as Ionic Breeze produce ions with very short half-life (a few seconds) so if they meet a particle the closest surface might be the device though.
If someone knows more about how Ionic Breeze work I'm willing to be corrected naturally.

It's exactly what I told you it was.

http://www.sharperimage.com/us/en/catalog/productfaqs.jhtml?sku=SI637SNX#1

How do the Ionic Breeze Quadra clean the air? (back to top)
The Ionic Breeze cleans the air by trapping airborne particles as they circulate past an array of electrically charged stainless steel blades. Contaminated air from the room is drawn in through the vents at the back of the unit. As the particles enter, they are electrically charged and are attracted to the oppositely charged collection blades inside. These charged particles will stick to the blades until wiped off by the user.

 

[Vitnir]

Well that would explain why it doesn't work. You need a big surface area of metal where you can trap the particles and a big fan to blow air through the filter to get an effect. This device seem to have neither.

 

[Rob Lister]

It's exactly what I told you it was.

http://www.sharperimage.com/us/en/catalog/productfaqs.jhtml?sku=SI637SNX#1

How do the Ionic Breeze Quadra clean the air? (back to top)
The Ionic Breeze cleans the air by trapping airborne particles as they circulate past an array of electrically charged stainless steel blades. Contaminated air from the room is drawn in through the vents at the back of the unit. As the particles enter, they are electrically charged and are attracted to the oppositely charged collection blades inside. These charged particles will stick to the blades until wiped off by the user.

Oddly, or not so oddly, all of my TV's and computer monitors work exactly the same way.

I've really got to invest in a few flat-screen plasmas. The air around here is far too clean.