Date:         Wed, 14 May 2008 10:52:04 -0700
Reply-To:     Jeffrey Vickers <jeff@VICKERSDESIGN.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Jeffrey Vickers <jeff@VICKERSDESIGN.COM>
Subject:      Re: vanagon Digest - 13 May 2008 to 14 May 2008 - Special issue
              (#2008-520)
In-Reply-To:  <20080514154619.350C4440577@izzy.vickersdesign.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; format=flowed; delsp=yes

Mythbusters may not always get it exactly right but they sure try like
hell to eliminate all the possible related scenarios.

In that episode with the cell phone, they built a 3x3x3 plexi box, put
a cell phone in it and FILLED the box with an amount of gasoline vapor
the equivalent of roughly 20 times what you'd experience standing at
the pump. They called the phone a half dozen times and nothing
happened. They also tried 3 or 4 different phones. Nothing.

There has never been a proven/documented of a cell phone causing a gas
station fire. In a worst-case, million to one scenario I suppose a
cell phone battery could short while you are holding the phone in your
hand while pumping gas but, jeez... that's pretty unlikely.

It reminds me of the same cell phone nonsense that we endure on planes
and in hospitals. There is zero evidence proving that cell phones
affect either environments, yet the laws exist and the signs go up
telling you not to do it. I know a pilot that works for United and he
laughs whenever I bring this up. He used to be a mechanic before he
became a pilot and he said that the airline engineers know that cell
phones don't cause problems but they are reluctant to put that out to
the public because the flight crews don't want to deal with a whole
plane full of people talking on cell phones and making their jobs even
more miserable than they are.

Static electricity? Yes. Cell phones? No.

Don't even get me started about the stupid "hands-free" cell phone law
coming up in July...

jeff / san anselmo
On May 14, 2008, at 8:38 AM, Automatic digest processor wrote:

>
> Date:    Wed, 14 May 2008 09:12:44 -0400
> From:    Mike <mbucchino@CHARTER.NET>
> Subject: Re: Safety Tips (now for pumping gas!)
>
> Mythbusters is not the be-all, end-all of every fact in the world.
> The fact
> is that re-entering your vehicle after starting to pump gas and then
> putting
> you hand back onto the gas nozzle is what causes static-initiated
> gas pump
> fires.  That nice, Vanagon velour seat upholstery gives you static
> charge,
> then the first piece of metal that you touch gets a zap.  If that's
> the gas
> pump handle, the built-up concentration of flammable fuel vapors
> WILL ignite
> with this spark.
>  Also, cell phones may not be the source of static electricity, but
> they
> are an electrical device.  The battery and any switches on it can
> create a
> spark.  How many times have you dropped a phone and had the battery
> pop out?
> Any electrical device that is "intrinsically safe for use in an
> explosive
> environment' will be clearly labelled as such, by law.
>  When refueling KC-135's in the U.S. Air Force, we had to ground
> both the
> aircraft and the refueling vehicle or pit cart to an approved,
> tested earth
> ground spot, the aircraft and the refueling unit to each other, and
> we had
> to each physically touch an earth ground spot before beginning any
> transfer
> of fuel. We also had to use intercom headsets and mobile 2-way
> radios that
> were labelled as "intrinsically safe for use in an explosive
> environment."
> All unnecessary personnel were not allowed in the refuel area, and
> orange
> traffic cones were placed at the four outer points, to announce the
> location
> of this area to outsiders.
>  A non-chalant, unsafe, ignorant or uncaring attitude may cause you
> or a
> loved one some unnecessary grief.  The local and/or state fire
> marshall has
> the final say over whether you can use any electrical equipment
> while at a
> gas pump.  You can be cited, if observed breaking this important law.
>
> Mike B.