Elliot Lee

I bid on one of those USB Air Purifiers on eBay and won it for $11 + $7 shipping. Here’s a quote from the auction description:

This ionizer purifies air, kills bacteria, removes smoke, emi free, improves immunity.

The new technological is brilliant and unique usb plug based ionizer, which by the consistent release of negative ions (more than 2,000,000 per c) via the application of corona discharge purifies and purifies the ambient air around the computer. Easy to use, with a footprint the size of usb flash memory drive, the ionizer eliminates static with no emi. With a low power consuption of less than 0.2w. Utilize the piezoelectronic transfer technology to produce a high negative ion concentration but with a very low ozone content-less than 0.48 ppm. The ionizer will substantly improve the air quality around the computer and its user, purify the air, killing bacteria, improving respiratory function with an increases sense of well being. Really small compact size. Very comfortable and convinient.

Help your healt - use this incredible product to keep your and close ones health and fitness for a long time.
Comes in a colorful attractive box. Makes an excellent gift.

eBay auction for USB air purifier

I received it today (or yesterday, rather, but we didn’t check the mail). Here’s my little review of it. So far, I’m quite impressed. It appears to be reasonably professionally made, and comes in a decent box. It even comes with a sort of instruction booklet with information about it. Although the box uses some awkward English, it’s not any worse than any other “Made in China” (or in this case, it appears it might be Hong Kong) products.

The package includes a USB extension cable (nice!), a brush for cleaning the filter, and the device itself. It’s got to have some credibility considering they pack these accessories with it.

I plugged the USB cable to the back of my Dell computer, connecting the other end to the air purifier. It has a cap on its connector, which I took off. When connected, the purifier has a blue light which illuminates. I’m not sure if this indicates whether the filter needs to be cleaned - the instructions only say “Remove the ionizer when the light goes off.”

The device itself is labeled EPI585 along with a logo consisting of three connected blue circles next to two connected blue circles. It does actually seem to be doing something - if you listen to it, it makes a distinct (but quiet) blowing noise (and I can feel some air blowing out of it). No fans, though - it should be completely electronic.

Anyone have any idea how to test air purifiers? I don’t suppose there’s any easy way to measure dust in the air…