Q. What makes the Elanra any different from other Ionisers?
Q. Are all negative ions the same size and does it matter?
Q. What are the main differences between the Portable and the MkII?
Q. How long will it take before I know if it is helping?
Q. Why do the needles have to be replaced?
Q. Is it difficult to change the needles?
Q. What do you mean by "different settings" on the Elanra?
Q. Does it make any noise?
Q. Is there an instruction manual?
Q. What is the output of the Elanra?
Q. How much does it cost to run?
Q. Is it usual for the Elanra to create a high amount of static?
Q. How important is the positioning of the Elanra?
Q. How do I convert my 4 needle MkII to an 8 needle unit?
Q. Why is the Elanra so expensive?
Q. Will the Elanra create dust?
Q. What if your company stops selling the Elanra or goes out of business?


Q. What makes the Elanra any different from other Ionisers?
A. In a word, SIZE. Not the machines themselves but the negative ions they produce. See the answer to the next question for a full explanation.

Q. Are all negative ions the same size and does it matter?
A. No, they are not all the same and yes it does matter. There are small, medium and large negative ions. Small (ingestible) negative ions are highly mobile and are biologically active. The Elanra is the only ioniser in the world to produce these consistently over a wide range. A process patented by the Australian manufacturer.

Medium to large negative ions are sluggish and slow moving and merely clean the air. These molecule groups are called small ions or clusters. They can also join up with larger neutral particles and form "small medium ions", "large medium ions", "large ions" or "ultra large ions" depending on particle size. However, it is essentially only the small ions which are biologically active. These possess an electrical mobility which is greater than 1 cm2/Vs.

Small ions have about 3-5 molecules (< 8 electron charges) and Medium (8 - 50 electron charges) and Large (> 50 electron charges) have 5-100 molecules. Small neg-ions have the greatest effect on living organisms whilst medium and large neg-ions are effective at precipitating particles from the air.

The diameter of one oxygen atom is about one Angstrom (0.0001 Micron). When joining together with other atoms to form a molecule, subatomic forces push the atoms of a molecule apart. Thus, the diameter of an oxygen molecule which consists of two oxygen atoms is about three Angstroms.

Q. What are the main differences between the Portable and the MkII?
A. The most important fact is that both ionisers produce the small highly mobile breathable ions. The therapeutic range (i.e. the range over which they remain breathable) of the Portable is 1m and the MkII Home/Office model is 2m. In most instances for therapeutic purposes you will be using it within 1m anyway (e.g. beside your bed).

The air cleaning capacity of the Portable is 25sqm and the MkII is 75sqm. The settings control the volume of ions produced and their characteristics (i.e. frequency; 4Hz to 40Hz). In combination these can be used to target specific complaints (e.g. pain relief, respiratory problems etc.) or environmental conditions (e.g. a stimulating frequency for the office and a more relaxing frequency for the bedroom). The MkII has more output settings available than the Portable but in practice this makes very little difference. Both units have the same number of frequency settings.

Q. How long will it take before I know if it is helping?
A. The piece of string question! Some people see an immediate benefit. With others it can take some time, weeks even months. To get a feel for it, you could look at the letters on the testimonial pages of this web site.

Q. Why do the needles have to be replaced?
A. The needles need replacing every 1200 hours (there are warning indicators on the units). With use, the needles degrade and cease to produce the small breathable therapeutic ions. Therefore, it is vital that they are replaced. In average use (e.g. at night by the bed) they last about 3 months. The lights first turn Orange to warn you that you have a week or so to insert new needles; they then turn Red and the unit effectively shuts down until the re-set button is pressed (one long slow press is best). When you have replaced the needles and pressed the reset button, the unit starts counting down from 1200 hours again.

Q. Is it difficult to change the needles?
A. Not at all. Simply pull the old ones out with a tweezers or small pliers and push the new ones in. If you have lost dexterity in your hands or have poor eyesight, you may require assistance from a family member or friend.

Q. What do you mean by "different settings" on the Elanra?
A. There are 8 micro switches on the Elanra MkII and 6 on the Portable, which control the volume of ions produced and their frequency. But why does one need anything other an On-Off switch? It's all about control. For example, a high volume of negions may not be appropriate for a baby or an emphysema sufferer but would be appropriate for healthy person use such as an athlete. Controlling the output is also a useful tool for environmental conditioning. The bigger the area, the higher the output required and vice versA. So some of the control you have is to achieve the correct amount of ionisation. You may be familiar with the concept of healing frequencies. The Elanra applies a frequency to the ion output via the micro processor to switch the ion production on and off (pulsed) at varying times to give a range of frequencies. The is the other half of the control that is available to you. This pulsed effect is similar to a continuous drum beat which slows or speeds up your heart beat but effects your brain patterns instead. Like controlled breathing to relax or meditation to put you into the Alpha state, the Elanra helps you achieve it simply and effectively. The frequencies achievable range from 4 to 40Hz, so a more stimulating effect can also be achieved, say 25Hz for office use.

Q. Does it make any noise?
A. The Elanra products are best described as virtually silent. A slight hissing can be heard in the dead of night (when hearing is acute), the level of which is dependant upon the environment (humidity, dust etc).

Q. Is there an instruction manual?
A. Both models come with a comprehensive instruction manual and in addition we are always available to give advice.

Q. What is the output of the Elanra?
A. The therapeutic range of the Portable is 1m and the MkII Home/Office model is 2m. The air cleaning capacity of the Portable is 25sqm and the MkII is 75sqm. In terms of ions per cc, this is a spurious measure as size, not quantity, is the key measure in terms of therapeutic effect. That is not to say that the Elanra products are under powered, far from it, at its lowest setting the MkII produces 350,000 ions per cc at I meter and the Portable 240,000. These figures are in the millions at the highest settings.

Q. How much does it cost to run?
A. Very little. The Australian manufacturer says that in that country it would cost about AU$3.00 a year, so in the UK that would equate to about £1.20 (10/04)!

Q. Is it usual for the Elanra to create a high amount of static electricity?
A. No. But in certain environments, where the user is insulated (rubber soles, carpets, etc.) and where there is a lot of electrical equipment or metal, the user may experience a high level of static caused by the electrons looking for an earth. This is not dangerous for the user but it can be annoying. Generally, in this situation the output is too high and/or the unit is positioned too close to metal objects. Trial and error is the order of the day here. To stop the static build up in the environment one can affect two things. Firstly; the output and secondly the position of the unit. If you are using the Elanra in the office, keep your machine about 5ft from the computer, phone, radiators etc. If it is too close to a computer you will hear the computer speakers 'clicking'. Although it is unlikely to happen, it is worth pointing out that one should never touch an electrical device whilst touching or holding the ioniser. This is especially true for computers where there is a risk of crashing.

At home or by the bed try to keep it as far away as possible from metal objects such as radiators

If you have a MkIII Portable, be careful not to touch or put your finger too close to the metal apertures (where the wrist strap or mains lead plug in to the unit) when the unit is turned on. Touching these areas when the unit is operating will result in a static discharge. Our advice is to turn the unit off before moving it.

Carpeting, humidity, rubber soled shoes etc. all have a bearing on the level of static. If you are having a problem you should experiment with a combination of reducing the output and re-positioning the unit until the static has been eliminated.

Q. How important is the positioning of the Elanra?
A. When we give instructions on positioning we are trying to get the user to position the ioniser in the absolutely ideal place where the person will get the maximum uninterrupted flow of negions. This has to be tempered with common sense. In an office the unit may have to be further away from the user than in the bedroom, to avoid static problems with computers and other equipment. In the bedroom, the bedside table is often slightly behind the persons head when sleeping. And very often on a bedside table the ioniser becomes obstructed with books, glasses etc. So, whilst its okay to place the Elanra on a bedside table, we try to encourage people to go for the absolute ideal and place it a little way down the bed with an uninterrupted path to the user.

Q. How do I convert my 4 needle MkII to an 8 needle unit?
A. To convert your MkII to an 8 needle unit, you need to remove the 4 plastic "plugs" from the centre ring. They are pre-cut on the opposite side to the existing needles. To remove them you should drill gently into them with a small drill-bit and then lever them out or insert a screw into the small hole you drilled, to give you something to hold, and pull. Following that, all you need to do is to insert the needles.

With an 8 needle unit, you will need to have good clearance all around the unit. Ideally it should be placed somewhere central in a room or say between two single beds etc.

Q. Why is the Elanra so expensive?
A. We wish the products were cheaper too but that's not the reality. The manufacturers' costs are high and this is reflected in the retail price. We are in fact one of the cheapest Elanra distributors in the world and the only one who gives extensive guarantees. Under our guarantee scheme the maximum exposure for anyone is just £25. A very small price to pay when balanced against the potential benefits. In fact the overall retail price is excellent value if it brings the desired results. The value is in the therapeutic benefit and it's hard to put a price on that. The cost of the Elanra is very obvious but it is a one off. Look at how much one can spend say over a year, on drugs, supplements or other treatments. Also consider the vast profits of the major pharmaceutical companies, who charge so much for their drugs that third world countries are unable to treat HIV-AIDS or even the many diseases that we have long since eradicated in the West. Even the NHS can't afford all of what they need and they already spend £7 billion a year!

Q. Will the Elanra create dust?
A. The Elanra will not create dust but it will precipitate the pollutants that are already in the air (and which you would have been breathing) and this pollution will fall to the ground or nearest surface as "dust". Negative ions clean the air by attracting the positively charged particles (pollutants) which cluster, become heavy and fall towards the nearest surface, seeking an earth. Nothing will alter this. This effect will be most pronounced around the ioniser but will take place throughout a room. You need to a.) Stay on top of the 'dust' by giving a general wipe around the area with a damp cloth about once a week; b.) try putting a sheet of card or paper under or behind the unit. If you stay on top of it, it should not be an ongoing problem. The problem occurs when it is left to build up over time. The dust actually bonds quite firmly to the surface. The level of precipitation will of course also depend on the level of airborne pollutants in your environment. If you burn wax candles in the room or anywhere near the ioniser, the black carbon generated will be deposited on your surfaces so avoid this.

Q. What if your company stops selling the Elanra or goes out of business?
A. We have been the UK and Ireland distributor for the Elanra since 1999 and in fact introduced it to the UK. If the worst happened and we ceased to trade, the manufacturer, Bionic Products would simply set up another distributor and you could buy replacement needles from them. Also, in the absence of a UK distributor, you would be able to purchase direct from the manufacturer. But let's hope it doesn't come to that! .