If there was any question about it, this is completely bogus. Dielectric is the technical term they perverted, and it represents the stuff between the plates of a capacitor which impedes the flow of charge while resisting ionization; this improves efficiency, allowing higher operating voltages and/or smaller components with the same performance. Somebody wasn't trying very hard when they named this. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dielectric
Now, they claim this will decrease the charge passed from plug to plug over - presumably - an empty outlet. No dice. By putting a plug in, you effectively introduce a (really, really bad) capacitor into the circuit in the form of two metal plates parallel to each other. The efficiency is terrible, but the important part is that it will actually increase the net current flow, contrary to the advertisement. Realize that we are dealing with leakage currents in the µA or nA, maybe even pA range here, so while this sounds bad it really will never be noticed either way unless you are measuring with lab quality equipment.
"Now, they claim this will decrease the charge passed from plug to plug over - presumably - an empty outlet. No dice."
@JoshWarner: did you pay any attention to the actual page that was linked to? Did you read it at all? They made no such claims whatsoever, the idea behind these pieces of ART (see that word, art) are not designed to have any effect on the plugs whatsoever, they don't claim to lessen the power consumption or anything even remotely similar to what you have written. All he was doing was coming up with unusual ways of using spare plugs.
Now that we've thrown 'em off the trail, use the form below to get in touch with the people at Engadget. Please fill in all of the required fields because they're required.
Wow, at $35 for the cheapest item, how much electricity would I have to save to justify the cost of one of these things?
Trying to cash in on the new eco-friendly hype, are we? Lame.
It's more of an art piece/statement/bit of fun than an actual way of trying to save electricity
If there was any question about it, this is completely bogus. Dielectric is the technical term they perverted, and it represents the stuff between the plates of a capacitor which impedes the flow of charge while resisting ionization; this improves efficiency, allowing higher operating voltages and/or smaller components with the same performance. Somebody wasn't trying very hard when they named this. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dielectric
Now, they claim this will decrease the charge passed from plug to plug over - presumably - an empty outlet. No dice. By putting a plug in, you effectively introduce a (really, really bad) capacitor into the circuit in the form of two metal plates parallel to each other. The efficiency is terrible, but the important part is that it will actually increase the net current flow, contrary to the advertisement. Realize that we are dealing with leakage currents in the µA or nA, maybe even pA range here, so while this sounds bad it really will never be noticed either way unless you are measuring with lab quality equipment.
"Now, they claim this will decrease the charge passed from plug to plug over - presumably - an empty outlet. No dice."
@JoshWarner: did you pay any attention to the actual page that was linked to? Did you read it at all?
They made no such claims whatsoever, the idea behind these pieces of ART (see that word, art) are not designed to have any effect on the plugs whatsoever, they don't claim to lessen the power consumption or anything even remotely similar to what you have written.
All he was doing was coming up with unusual ways of using spare plugs.
It seems like most of the people here have chosen to comment before actually grasping the concept at hand - read the (over a month old) article they had on it over at Gizmodo for a better understanding: http://gizmodo.com/gadgets/powerless/die-electric-uses-power-outlets-for-its-own-devices-279182.php