In the past, in the non-existent country, surprisingly often the water was boiled by shorting mains via water in a vessel, oddly enough, used to buy beer. The e

In the past, in the non-existent country, surprisingly often the water was boiled by shorting mains via water in a vessel, oddly enough, used to buy beer. The electrodes used were frequently shaving blades. It's not exactly electrolyzer - mains were AC - but, if fuses (or usually their less fire-preventing replacements) held, water was heated - resistive effect. I think Casey is just simplifying things a bit.