Hmmm ... interesting theory, although if true, it's likely that such RFI would cause the fuel bowser to register excessive counts, therefore producing a higher bill - in which case they would simply warn people about THAT, since nobody wants a higher bill, right?
It's difficult to imagine too many circumstances in which a mobile phone would induce a spark, but I suspect it's theoretically possible. The GSM system we currently use produces short, strong transmissions (time division multiplexing) of up to 3W, IIRC. Is that strong enough to induce a spark under certain circumstances? In the early days of radio, wasn't spark generation sometimes used as an indicator of RF energy detection (and no, I'm not referring to spark generators used for transmission)? I dunno, but ... Joe. > -----Original Message----- > From: Syd H. Levine [SMTP:[EMAIL PROTECTED]] > Sent: Monday, August 12, 2002 11:53 AM > To: Multiple recipients of list CHIPDIR-L > Subject: Re: Subject: Safety Reminder > > Yeah right, bout as likely as being hit by a meteorite while fueling up. > Or > about as likely as being killed by second hand smoke. Do the math on the > amount of energy available from a cell phone. Is there one single > documented case of a cell phone causing a fueling accident? More likely > is > the possibility of the stray RF interfering with the counter electronics > which may have a clock running in the megahertz range in there someplace. > > OTOH, there is a documented case of a cell phone setting off blasting caps > that had carelessly been tossed on the dash of a truck. We no longer dead > short the end of a shooting cable since that practice effectively creates > a > huge loop antenna. The current practice is to shunt with 5K ohms to burn > up > any induced current. Now there is some OT arcane trivia for ya.... > > ----- Original Message ----- > To: "Multiple recipients of list CHIPDIR-L" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Sent: Sunday, August 11, 2002 9:08 PM > > > > Well Peter, as you are no doubt aware, it is not permitted in Oz to > > operate a mobile phone near a fuel pump. Just look at the safety > > signs. The probability of danger is small but not zero. The energy > > emitted by the mobile can be picked up by any metal object and, > > under the right circumstances, a spark can be generated. > > > > Joe. > > > > > -----Original Message----- > > > From: Peter Vogel [SMTP:[EMAIL PROTECTED]] > > > Sent: Monday, August 12, 2002 3:53 AM > > > To: Multiple recipients of list CHIPDIR-L > > > Subject: Subject: Safety Reminder > > > > > > Here's one that's been doing the rounds of the 'net. The part about > > > static sounds plausible, although I'm not convinced about the use of > > > mobile phones being a risk. What do others think? > > > > > > > > > > > > STATIC FIRES AT GAS PUMPS > > > > > > Bob Penkes of Petroleum Equipment Institute is working on a campaign > to > > > try and make people aware of fires as a result of "static" at gas > pumps. > > > > > > > > > His company has researched 150 cases of these fires. His results > were > > > very > > > surprising > > > > > > 1) Out of 150 cases, almost all of them were women. > > > > > > 2) Almost all cases involved the person getting back in their > vehicle > > > while the nozzle was still pumping gas, when finished and they went > back > > > to pull > > > the nozzle out the fire started, as a result of static. > > > > > > 3) Most had on rubber-soled shoes. > > > > > > 4) Most men never get back in their vehicle until completely > finished. > > > This is why they are seldom involved in these types of fires. > > > > > > 5) Don't ever use cell phones when pumping gas !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! > > > > > > 6) It is the vapors that come out of the gas that cause the fire, > when > > > connected with static charges. > > > > > > 7) There were 29 fires where the vehicle was reentered and the > nozzle > > > was > > > touched during refueling from a variety of makes and models. Some > > > resulting in extensive damage to the vehicle, to the station, and to > the > > > customer. > > > > > > 8) Seventeen fires that occurred before, during or immediately after > the > > > > > > gas cap was removed and before fueling began. > > > > > > Mr. Renkes stresses to NEVER get back into your vehicle while > filling > it > > > > > > with gas. If you absolutely HAVE to get in your vehicle while the > gas > is > > > > > > > > > pumping, make sure you get out, close the door TOUCHING THE METAL, > > > before > > > you ever pull the nozzle out. This way the static from your body > will > be > > > > > > discharged before you ever remove the nozzle. > > > > > > As I mentioned earlier, The Petroleum Equipment Institute, along > with > > > several other companies now, are really trying to make the public > aware > > > of > > > this danger. You can find out more information by going to > > > it says "Stop Static". > > > > > > I ask you to please send this information to ALL your family and > > > friends, > > > especially those who have kids in the car with them while pumping > gas. > > > If > > > this were to happen to them, they may not be able to get the > children > > > out > > > in time. > > > > > > You can prevent static fire by touching your car before you get back > in > > > while pumping gas, or finish pumping before you get back in. Please > pass > > > > > > this on to all of your family and friends. > > > > > > -- > > > Author: Peter Vogel > > > INET: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > > > > > Fat City Network Services -- (858) 538-5051 FAX: (858) 538-5051 > > > San Diego, California -- Public Internet access / Mailing Lists > > > -------------------------------------------------------------------- > > > To REMOVE yourself from this mailing list, send an E-Mail message > > > to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] (note EXACT spelling of 'ListGuru') and in > > > the message BODY, include a line containing: UNSUB CHIPDIR-L > > > (or the name of mailing list you want to be removed from). You may > > > also send the HELP command for other information (like subscribing). > > -- > > Author: da Silva, Joe > > INET: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > > > Fat City Network Services -- (858) 538-5051 FAX: (858) 538-5051 > > San Diego, California -- Public Internet access / Mailing Lists > > -------------------------------------------------------------------- > > To REMOVE yourself from this mailing list, send an E-Mail message > > to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] (note EXACT spelling of 'ListGuru') and in > > the message BODY, include a line containing: UNSUB CHIPDIR-L > > (or the name of mailing list you want to be removed from). You may > > also send the HELP command for other information (like subscribing). > > > -- > Author: Syd H. Levine > INET: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > Fat City Network Services -- (858) 538-5051 FAX: (858) 538-5051 > San Diego, California -- Public Internet access / Mailing Lists > -------------------------------------------------------------------- > To REMOVE yourself from this mailing list, send an E-Mail message > to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] (note EXACT spelling of 'ListGuru') and in > the message BODY, include a line containing: UNSUB CHIPDIR-L > (or the name of mailing list you want to be removed from). You may > also send the HELP command for other information (like subscribing). -- Author: da Silva, Joe INET: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Fat City Network Services -- (858) 538-5051 FAX: (858) 538-5051 San Diego, California -- Public Internet access / Mailing Lists -------------------------------------------------------------------- To REMOVE yourself from this mailing list, send an E-Mail message to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] (note EXACT spelling of 'ListGuru') and in the message BODY, include a line containing: UNSUB CHIPDIR-L (or the name of mailing list you want to be removed from). You may also send the HELP command for other information (like subscribing).
