[JimBob (OP)]

http://www.metacafe.com/fplayer/924327/candel_power.swf

Why does this work? What is the chemistry and especially the Physics work to do this?

(I tried to get the clip onto the site but couldn't.)

[neilep]

Wooo !!

I wanted to see the entire leads as they are hanging over the side and he later displays the entire leads, so, I am well confused.....I shouldn'tbe though..cos wifey has the power to get my adrenalin rushing just by waving a credit card in the air....

[Bored chemist]

Fake, but nicely done.
Note how one or other of his hands disapears under the table just before the current switches on or off.
I think the crucial "cut" is where he "magnetises" the nails. At that point the real connections must be made round the back of the candles (replaced by ones where the nail is accessible from the other side- rather than the ones where it's shonw that the nails don't go through).

[neilep]

trust the dinosaur to be taken in by that !!..I of course knew it was a fake !

[syhprum]

I too noticed the suspicious hand movement as the power came on.
my first thoughts was some high frequency induction was used in which case the supposed DC motor must have some rectifying diodes concealed within it.