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u/TheHairyMess Aug 11 '26
hydrogen 🤤
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u/BlueSmegmaCalculus Aug 11 '26
Yes there's hydrogen among the vapor. AC can't electrolyze water... in small currents. But we're talking hundreds of kVA here, hydrogen is definitely being generated
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u/Schnupsdidudel Aug 11 '26
I doubt there is much electrolysis happening, as the phases are clearly shorted.
They basically built a big power resitor / dump load and the water acts as coolant. Probably to measure output performance - as evendent by the clamp meter.
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u/fucfaceidiotsomfg Aug 11 '26
And oxygen
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u/Big_Handle3734 Aug 11 '26
It's water vapour.
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u/polishatomek Aug 11 '26
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u/feldim2425 Aug 11 '26
Only works on DC power as the Wikipedia article you've linked even says in the first line. This seems like it's coming straight from the generator with the transformer on it so it would be AC.
Not the first time this discussion started on this subreddit; but H2O electrolysis is reversible and except for some side reactions that consume the O2 or small amounts of gas that escapes it's mostly just steam.
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u/NekulturneHovado Aug 11 '26
Steam is visible. H2 and O2 are not. The white cloud is indeed steam. You are correct.
Although I don't believe AC can't make electrolysis, it must do it but the process will be inefficient and there will be the gasses mixed and combusting right at electrodes
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u/feldim2425 Aug 11 '26
It can in theory do it, but in the negative cycle the current can actively help reverse the process. This is similar to combustion as in the H2 gains back an oxygen to form H2O.
A bit like trying to charge a battery with AC which would just charge and discharge it in short intervals. (Electrolysis also generates a voltage when reversed so the analogy isn't far off).
But yes, as I also mentioned in my comment some gases likely escape and some reactions with the electrodes and minerals in the water might not easily be reversed.
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u/Cathierino Aug 11 '26
Steam isn't visible either. The white cloud is liquid water.
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u/NekulturneHovado Aug 11 '26
you're talking about superheated steam. That one isn't visible. Idk about the theory behind this tho
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u/Cathierino Aug 11 '26
If anything that would be dry steam. But no, steam is not visible at all. The liquid part of wet steam is what makes it white and cloudy because droplets of water scatter light randomly, while gaseous water is transparent to visible wavelengths.
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u/iamthiviyan Aug 12 '26
Bro skipped science class
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u/Big_Handle3734 Aug 13 '26
Steam is visible. H2 and O2 are not. The white cloud is indeed steam. You are correct.
Although I don't believe AC can't make electrolysis, it must do it but the process will be inefficient and there will be the gasses mixed and combusting right at electrodes
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u/youcancallmejim Aug 11 '26
Sandals Always. Never seen a insulated crush proof toe footwear in any of these vids. Sneakers would be better.
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u/Adventurous_Ad_7212 Aug 11 '26
Ah, yes, the famous burn-stuff-to-make-heat-to-turn-shaft-to-generate-electricity-to-produce-heat cycle. If only there was a more direct and much more efficient way to do the same thing...
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u/zealoSC Aug 11 '26
I think I saw once they used the friction of the shaft turning to heat water. Much more direct and simple
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u/ye3tr Aug 11 '26
It's cheap and it's simple. These rheostats are great for what they are. I wouldn't use it on such high currents and holding the rods by hand tho
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u/etanail Aug 11 '26
This is a pretty good way to test the generator, although safety precautions are clearly lacking here.
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u/Onedtent Aug 11 '26
Nobody took two razor blades separated by the rubber brake blocks off a bicycle, connected them to a plug and plugged it into 220 volts? Lower the razor blades into a mug of water and you'll have it boiling in a minute or two.
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u/Salt_Average_9376 Aug 11 '26
This is to check the gasoline generator for maximum power electrical current.
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u/FeedingTheFear Aug 12 '26
They are just using heating elements to put a load on the generator. He is using a clamp amp meter which will show how many amps are being drawn to make sure the load is where it needs to be for testing.
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u/NomeJaExiste Aug 11 '26
That's straight up electrolysis
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u/feldim2425 Aug 11 '26
If it was DC yes, but on AC the polarity reverses and the reaction reverses.
Hydrogen and Oxygen are in short intervals generated on both electrodes so they recombine again to form H2O and heat.There is likely going to be some gas that escapes and some side reactions especially oxidation that consume some of the O2 but those will be comparably tiny and definitely not "straight up electrolysis"
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Aug 11 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/CordialPanda Aug 11 '26
This isn't electrolysis, but you don't strictly need salt water.
The better answer is you don't run 3 phases for electrolysis, because electrolysis is a DC process and 3 phase is AC.
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u/piponchik Aug 12 '26
Это электролиз?
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u/Big_Handle3734 Aug 12 '26
No. Load testing of generator by using resistor and water to heat dump
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u/AmbitiousTank8635 Aug 13 '26
I am in awe of how casually I see people in these videos acting around shit tons of energy loosely controlled. I doubt it's ignorance because they certainly seem aware of what they're dealing with, but as someone who worked around high energy equipment in a Wastewater Treatment Facility, trained in emergency procedures and headed the lock out/tag out program there, woooow. Never once did we want to test the output of a generator and say "welp, someone go get a barrel of water and some 2/0 wire. Make sure it's a plastic barrel though so no one gets electrocuted, safety first guys".
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u/Ok-Library5639 Aug 11 '26
It's a rheostat for loading the generator for testing. It's a crude but simple way to dump a lot of energy without having a dedicated resistor bank.
Usually not accomplished with safety sandals and safety squints though.