Fucking magnets! How do they work?

[reddragdiva]

So our washing machine (Hotpoint: The Finest Of British Attention To The Wrong Detail) just let out a couple of really loud electrical BANG noises and stopped working, blowing both its own plug fuse and the extension cord's plug fuse (both 13 amps — it's always fun when a mains-powered electric motor shits itself). So I go pottering around the Comet website to ascertain the lay of the land. And what do I see? They offer this piece of physics-defying woo with every machine. In fact, they preselect it on all order forms.

So, I'm faced with a difficult shopping choice: Advertising Standards Authority, Office of Fair Trading or both? And have any before me in the UK taken Fucking Magnet Miracles to said bodies that you know of?

(Please forward this question to UK sceptics of your acquaintance. More complaints are probably better too.)

Oh yeah, and we have to buy a new washing machine. Washer-dryer combo is dictated by space, sadly. Nothing from the Hotpoint Group will be considered, and I'm unlikely to buy the actual device from Comet barring a price miracle, but any recommendations other than that? Presently it's looking like at least £400 for something that isn't shit.

Update: Holy crap: magnetic descaling does not defy physics. Gosh. (Just engineering.)

Comments

[(Anonymous)]

Oh absolutely true -- cannot vouch for device as you say. It does, however, appear to be founded on correct science. When I read your tweet I thought "how the fuck would that work then" hence I went to find out. Could be that they've designed a non functional device based on correct physical principles (for example the magnet is not strong enough or the flow rate too great or the frequency is wrong). Some of the cited material in journals refers to industrial applications where it is used and does give measureable reductions. Clearly such a device could be built but whether the sold gadget is one is another matter. If I were a betting man I would bet that it does work (at least to some extent). The timescale of initial research in 90s, industrial application a few years back... it just feels right.