author=partzman link=topic=3564.msg66119#msg66119 date=1513636937]
So, I would classify this as an anomaly and would welcome any expert advice from those more knowledgeable in this area.
Additionally, poled dielectrics could be used which would add to the "ambient air" charge thus increasing the overall energy gain.
Regards,
Pm
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Attached below is a scope pix of tests I ran to replicate your tests with 2 parallel copper plates held apart with spacers so a piece of polycarbonate sheet could be inserted and removed. I was careful to be sure that the poling of any charge on the sheet was at a minimum or non-existent. Basically, the copper plates with ambient air dielectric were charged with 30vdc then, the polycarb dielectric sheet was slid into position and then discharged with the probe and captured the same as your procedure. The ch1 trace is the normal discharge with no added polycarb and the remaining Refs 1,2,and 3 are the voltages reached with the polycarb dielectric inserted. The results are very consistent and repeatable and show an apparent energy gain of ~(64(avg output peak)/28)^2 = 5.22 .
So,we charge the cap while it has an air dielectric ,and discharge while it has a poly carb dielectric,and we see an energy gain

--or do we?.

If voltage went up,then capacitance value would have had to of dropped-yea?,or are we about to re-write the ruel book?.
Perhaps leave the plates uncharged,and slide the polycarb dielectric between the plates,and see if you get a voltage reading across the plates.
If the result is 0v across the two plates,then this would eliminate any static charge being introduced into the capacitor when you slide the polycarb sheet between the plates.
Now, what can be done with this? Picture a generator made with segmented conductive stators with segmented dielectric rotors placed between each stator and spun to some reasonably high RPM. Use appropriate circuitry to charge the stators when air is the dielectric and discharge when the dielectric rotors are in place to allow the excess energy to be harvested.
Indeed

One question would be what the rotor drag would consist of in newtons but I can show an old simulation from my past research on a segmented poled dielectric generator that indicated a stronger pulling force than opposing force which would seemingly indicate a self driving generator!
To quote TK :
With rotating electrostatic machines like you describe, if they are hand-cranked one can actually feel the work being done as the dielectric "pushes" against the field when it moves between the charged plates. As the voltage on the accumulators (capacitances) rises they become harder and harder to turn.However,i do not think this is the same,and what we know seems to say the opposite.
We know
1-opposite charges attract
2-Both a negative charged object,and a positive charged object,attract an object with a neutral or no charge.
3 An object with a high negative charge,will attract an object that has a low negative charge-and visa versa for positively charged objects--as long as there is a potential difference in charge.
So it would seem to me,that if one plate has a positive charge,and the other plate has a negative charge,then both would have an attraction toward the polycarb sheet(dielectric),which has a neutral charge.
We would need some rather large segmented disk's to build a generator that would work on this principle,that has any sort of !volume! to the output.
In saying that,this has far more potential than any Bidumy energizer.
Brad
Never let your schooling get in the way of your education.