Myth: Cell phones cause gas pump fires...

....proven wrong, yet Connecticut lawmakers Andrea Stillman
([email protected]),
and Ed Jutila ([email protected]) don't think so, and are trying to make
it illegal.


Please give these people a call, or email them


Sen. Andrea Stillman, 20th Dist.
E-mail: [email protected]

Phone: 1-800-842-1420

Address:
Legislative Office Building
Room 3200
Hartford, CT 06106-1591


Rep. Ed Jutila, 37th Dist.
Legislative Office Building, Room 4048
Hartford, CT 06106-1591
(860) 240-8585
1-800-842-8267
[email protected]


S.B. No. 510

AN ACT PROHIBITING THE USE OF A CELLULAR TELEPHONE WHILE PUMPING GASOLINE.

To make it illegal to use a cellular telephone while pumping gasoline.

---

› See More: Myth: Cell phones cause gas pump fires...

Doesn't the petrol station already say you can't use mobiles while using the pump anyway?

and besides, it should be illegal. not because the mobile phone represents a
danger, but the use of a mobile phone can be a distraction. hence it should
be illgal whilst driving and pumping gas.


"nickh" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>
> Doesn't the petrol station already say you can't use mobiles while using
> the pump anyway?
>
>
> --
> nickh
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
> Cell Phone Forums: http://cellphoneforums.net
> View this thread: http://cellphoneforums.net/t168993.html
>

"rr (newst)" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> and besides, it should be illegal. not because the mobile phone represents
a
> danger, but the use of a mobile phone can be a distraction. hence it
should
> be illgal whilst driving and pumping gas.
>
>
> "nickh" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
> >
> > Doesn't the petrol station already say you can't use mobiles while using
> > the pump anyway?
> >
> >
> > --
> > nickh
> > ------------------------------------------------------------------------
> > Cell Phone Forums: http://cellphoneforums.net
> > View this thread: http://cellphoneforums.net/t168993.html
> >
>
>

I don't think its the phone itself that is a threat more a case of dropping
it and the battery falling out could create a spark across the terminals.
How powerful that spark is of course depends on the phone/battery
combination.

Martin

I think the main concern is that the pump will suffer an EMC problem and
register the
wrong amount of fuel dispensed!

"Martin" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>
> "rr (newst)" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
>> and besides, it should be illegal. not because the mobile phone
>> represents
> a
>> danger, but the use of a mobile phone can be a distraction. hence it
> should
>> be illgal whilst driving and pumping gas.
>>
>>
>> "nickh" <[email protected]> wrote in message
>> news:[email protected]...
>> >
>> > Doesn't the petrol station already say you can't use mobiles while
>> > using
>> > the pump anyway?
>> >
>> >
>> > --
>> > nickh
>> > ------------------------------------------------------------------------
>> > Cell Phone Forums: http://cellphoneforums.net
>> > View this thread: http://cellphoneforums.net/t168993.html
>> >
>>
>>
>
> I don't think its the phone itself that is a threat more a case of
> dropping
> it and the battery falling out could create a spark across the terminals.
> How powerful that spark is of course depends on the phone/battery
> combination.
>
> Martin
>
>

"Phil Green" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>I think the main concern is that the pump will suffer an EMC problem and
>register the
> wrong amount of fuel dispensed!
>
> "Martin" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
>>
>> "rr (newst)" <[email protected]> wrote in message
>> news:[email protected]...
>>> and besides, it should be illegal. not because the mobile phone
>>> represents
>> a
>>> danger, but the use of a mobile phone can be a distraction. hence it
>> should
>>> be illgal whilst driving and pumping gas.
>>>
>>>
>>> "nickh" <[email protected]> wrote in message
>>> news:[email protected]...
>>> >
>>> > Doesn't the petrol station already say you can't use mobiles while
>>> > using
>>> > the pump anyway?
>>> >
>>> >
>>> > --
>>> > nickh
>>> > ------------------------------------------------------------------------
>>> > Cell Phone Forums: http://cellphoneforums.net
>>> > View this thread: http://cellphoneforums.net/t168993.html
>>> >
>>>
>>>
>>
>> I don't think its the phone itself that is a threat more a case of
>> dropping
>> it and the battery falling out could create a spark across the terminals.
>> How powerful that spark is of course depends on the phone/battery
>> combination.
>>
>> Martin
>>
>>
>
>

I think the reasoning behind the ban was due to the fear that a high
frequency signal such as that produced by a Mobile phone could cause some
sort of static build up and possibly a spark.

Soupladel

>
> I think the reasoning behind the ban was due to the fear that a high
> frequency signal such as that produced by a Mobile phone could cause some
> sort of static build up and possibly a spark.
>
> Soupladel

oh please. and the scientific basis for that is? surely these politicians
have scientists and technicians that put them right on this? god, i hate
pseudo scientists
eee, when I were at school....

On Tue, 08 Mar 2005 20:31:44 GMT, "Soupladel" <[email protected]>
wrote:

>
>"Phil Green" <[email protected]> wrote in message
>news:[email protected]...
>>I think the main concern is that the pump will suffer an EMC problem and
>>register the
>> wrong amount of fuel dispensed!
>>
>> "Martin" <[email protected]> wrote in message
>> news:[email protected]...
>>>
>>> "rr (newst)" <[email protected]> wrote in message
>>> news:[email protected]...
>>>> and besides, it should be illegal. not because the mobile phone
>>>> represents
>>> a
>>>> danger, but the use of a mobile phone can be a distraction. hence it
>>> should
>>>> be illgal whilst driving and pumping gas.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> "nickh" <[email protected]> wrote in message
>>>> news:[email protected]...
>>>> >
>>>> > Doesn't the petrol station already say you can't use mobiles while
>>>> > using
>>>> > the pump anyway?
>>>> >
>>>> >
>>>> > --
>>>> > nickh
>>>> > ------------------------------------------------------------------------
>>>> > Cell Phone Forums: http://cellphoneforums.net
>>>> > View this thread: http://cellphoneforums.net/t168993.html
>>>> >
>>>>
>>>>
>>>
>>> I don't think its the phone itself that is a threat more a case of
>>> dropping
>>> it and the battery falling out could create a spark across the terminals.
>>> How powerful that spark is of course depends on the phone/battery
>>> combination.
>>>
>>> Martin
>>>
>>>
>>
>>
>
>I think the reasoning behind the ban was due to the fear that a high
>frequency signal such as that produced by a Mobile phone could cause some
>sort of static build up and possibly a spark.
>
>Soupladel
>

No - It was because someone sent a hoax email which was picked up and
then distributed as "fact", and thus every other petrol company
enforces this about all their pump-stations... It's amazing how a
myth can cause a stir, isn't it?

If this WAS such a problem, you'd have to turn off any tracking system
in your car before entering the forecourt (Including GPS), you'd have
to take off lights from your bicycle before entering, you'd have to
switch off your radios and CB's before pulling up to the pump!

Oh, and you'd be forced to TURN OFF the phone before you pull up
(Which could be considered reckless driving if you fumble for the
phone in the middle of the road, just before turning into the petrol
station!)... But you don't; you just leave it in the car - Switched
on.. Do YOU turn off your phone before entering the court, and then
on again once you leave? (Personally, my phone stays off while I'm in
the car - There's no earthly reason I'm going to answer a call and
cause danger on the road... A good friend of mine talks while he
drives, and his concentration goes to sh*t, which is saying
something!)

The only thing that would cause a spark in the petrol station would be
the car, which is why we turn the engine off... (Not least that we
don't want the fuel being sucked through the car while we're pumping
it into the tank.)... Yet, bikers don't consider kicking down the
stand and propping the bike up a possible cause of sparks... *cough -
I know I don't *

** Oh - And regarding the battery falling out and causing a spark...
Stand next to the derv (or diesel) pump and ask that - They'll still
give you the same rubbish, even though the spark will do zip! **

I'm afraid it's one of these myths that has become "true" and we all
must obey! (Like nVidia is better than ATI..... WHAT?)

N*

On Wed, 9 Mar 2005 00:11:52 -0000, "rr \(newst\)" <[email protected]> wrote:

>>
>> I think the reasoning behind the ban was due to the fear that a high
>> frequency signal such as that produced by a Mobile phone could cause some
>> sort of static build up and possibly a spark.
>>
>> Soupladel
>
>oh please. and the scientific basis for that is? surely these politicians
>have scientists and technicians that put them right on this? god, i hate
>pseudo scientists
>eee, when I were at school....
>
The near field from the antenna (makes no difference what the
frequency is), is probably high enough to cause arcing under the right
conditions. It is a admittedly a low probability event because the
energy available is quite low, but petrol vapor is extremely flamable.

It is a very low probability event, but not a zero probability event.
No upside to allowing the use.

if a mobile phone can set a pump on fire why the fark don't we turn our
cars off before entering a servo because there is a hell of a lot more
power running through a car than a phone. aside from that as a myth
phones do not set of petrol fires the danger is static electricity the
**** that zaps you when you get out of your car sometimes can also zap
you when you fill up with petrol ( or gas depending on what side of the
earth you are on th what you call it) petrol ( gas in us ) needs a spark
to set it off heres one for you ever tried to throw a cigarette into
some petrol to light it 99 % of the time it wont work.
no the problem is the companys like Exxon mobil bp caltex shell and
others do not want to spend money making it safe for us the fill up but
are trying succesfully to point the finger at someone else





Jerry wrote:
> ...proven wrong, yet Connecticut lawmakers Andrea Stillman
> ([email protected]),
> and Ed Jutila ([email protected]) don't think so, and are trying to make
> it illegal.
>
>
> Please give these people a call, or email them
>
>
> Sen. Andrea Stillman, 20th Dist.
> E-mail: [email protected]
>
> Phone: 1-800-842-1420
>
> Address:
> Legislative Office Building
> Room 3200
> Hartford, CT 06106-1591
>
>
> Rep. Ed Jutila, 37th Dist.
> Legislative Office Building, Room 4048
> Hartford, CT 06106-1591
> (860) 240-8585
> 1-800-842-8267
> [email protected]
>
>
> S.B. No. 510
>
> AN ACT PROHIBITING THE USE OF A CELLULAR TELEPHONE WHILE PUMPING GASOLINE.
>
> To make it illegal to use a cellular telephone while pumping gasoline.
>
>
>

I think we should enforce a no-drive zone around gas stations. Push the last
30m or so, then push it away before starting it up Y'know just in case of
something.
Then maybe we should insist on gas stations being on a hill, so we can
switch off the engine and roll in. Then after filling up, push it down hill,
set it rolling and jump in before starting that dangerous, spark-using
engine :P




"Col" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> if a mobile phone can set a pump on fire why the fark don't we turn our
> cars off before entering a servo because there is a hell of a lot more
> power running through a car than a phone. aside from that as a myth phones
> do not set of petrol fires the danger is static electricity the **** that
> zaps you when you get out of your car sometimes can also zap you when you
> fill up with petrol ( or gas depending on what side of the earth you are
> on th what you call it) petrol ( gas in us ) needs a spark to set it off
> heres one for you ever tried to throw a cigarette into some petrol to
> light it 99 % of the time it wont work.
> no the problem is the companys like Exxon mobil bp caltex shell and others
> do not want to spend money making it safe for us the fill up but are
> trying succesfully to point the finger at someone else
>
>
>
>
>
> Jerry wrote:
>> ...proven wrong, yet Connecticut lawmakers Andrea Stillman
>> ([email protected]),
>> and Ed Jutila ([email protected]) don't think so, and are trying to
>> make it illegal.
>>
>>
>> Please give these people a call, or email them
>>
>>
>> Sen. Andrea Stillman, 20th Dist.
>> E-mail: [email protected]
>>
>> Phone: 1-800-842-1420
>>
>> Address:
>> Legislative Office Building
>> Room 3200
>> Hartford, CT 06106-1591
>>
>>
>> Rep. Ed Jutila, 37th Dist.
>> Legislative Office Building, Room 4048
>> Hartford, CT 06106-1591
>> (860) 240-8585
>> 1-800-842-8267
>> [email protected]
>>
>>
>> S.B. No. 510
>>
>> AN ACT PROHIBITING THE USE OF A CELLULAR TELEPHONE WHILE PUMPING
>> GASOLINE.
>>
>> To make it illegal to use a cellular telephone while pumping gasoline.
>>
>>

nickh wrote:
> Doesn't the petrol station already say you can't use mobiles while using
> the pump anyway?
>
>

It's because they beleive, it might interfear with the digital meter and
you might get away with more petrol than your allowed. Myth created by
idiots me thinks, evil stooges..

"Jerry" <[email protected]> skrev i meddelandet
news:[email protected]...
> ...proven wrong, yet Connecticut lawmakers Andrea Stillman
> ([email protected]),
> and Ed Jutila ([email protected]) don't think so, and are trying to
> make it illegal.
>

This one was covered on the Discovery Channel show "mythbusters" some
time ago. Not exactly conclusive evidence, but they couldnt get a cell phone
to ignite petrol vapour. Address below, although I dont know if there is any
specific description of this episode. (The show is pretty entertaining, if
you are a bit of a geek like me

http://dsc.discovery.com/fansites/my...thbusters.html

What they did show (and this is documented by others too) was that you
could build up a good static charge by sitting in the car with the right
clothes, and then discharge yourself through the petrol nozzle when filling
your tank - resulting in a nice fire. Like someone else said, there are
plenty of easier ways to produce a spark from a car.

One lesson: if the above happens to you, dont try to remove the petrol
nozzle from the filler hole - this just makes things worse!

Niall

In message <[email protected]>, "rr (newst)"
<[email protected]> writes
>oh please. and the scientific basis for that is? surely these
>politicians have scientists and technicians that put them right on
>this? god, i hate
>pseudo scientists
>eee, when I were at school....

They should have taught you that RF can induce currents in metallic
objects that can cause sparks. Stick a spoon in the microwave if you
need proof. It can also heat up organic compounds to the point where
they ignite. I wouldn't advise putting a cup of petrol in a microwave to
prove this.
Whether a mobile phone is powerful enough to cause an explosion,
especially nowadays, is a different matter. Personally I can't see the
problem with not being put in the position of having to find out.
--
Pete Devlin
[{//////news03//////at\\\\\secondrow/////co\\\\\uk}]
"Mind the oranges Marlon!"

in some places of the world like here in chile, in the dessert here is very
dusty and the particles are very little, when its windy and the dust wich
its lifted up in the air, in some gas stations in the dessert people are
instructed to get off the vehicle even the passengers, because of the static
contained in the dust.and in some mining companies here it is required by
the company internal regulations while you´re in the facilities
felipe
"Lina & Niall" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>
> "Jerry" <[email protected]> skrev i meddelandet
> news:[email protected]...
>> ...proven wrong, yet Connecticut lawmakers Andrea Stillman
>> ([email protected]),
>> and Ed Jutila ([email protected]) don't think so, and are trying to
>> make it illegal.
>>
>
> This one was covered on the Discovery Channel show "mythbusters" some
> time ago. Not exactly conclusive evidence, but they couldnt get a cell
> phone to ignite petrol vapour. Address below, although I dont know if
> there is any specific description of this episode. (The show is pretty
> entertaining, if you are a bit of a geek like me
>
> http://dsc.discovery.com/fansites/my...thbusters.html
>
> What they did show (and this is documented by others too) was that you
> could build up a good static charge by sitting in the car with the right
> clothes, and then discharge yourself through the petrol nozzle when
> filling your tank - resulting in a nice fire. Like someone else said,
> there are plenty of easier ways to produce a spark from a car.
>
> One lesson: if the above happens to you, dont try to remove the petrol
> nozzle from the filler hole - this just makes things worse!
>
> Niall
>
>
>