Posted by GRIFTER
They say that using a cellphone while pumping gas to your car is hazardous, It might start something. Is that true? Here in the Philippines they are talking about that and thinking of passing a law on the use of Cellular phones on gas stations.
What do you think? silly or true?
[ This Message was edited by: GRIFTER on 2002-03-07 01:34 ]
Posted by dondori
yes it is true, here in canada, there are signs up by the gas pumps that cell phone use is not allowed, they say it creats som kind of radiation that may cause friction with the gas and explode........dont know anymore about that.
just thought u might wanna know.
cheers.
Posted by GOwin
Would you rather find it out for yourself by being an explosion victim?
Anyway, all mobile phone manuals includes the warning that the unit should not be used in an explosive atmosphere (like gas stations). The phone is said to be capable of generating sparks, which in turn may cause explosions, though this is said to be rare.
I'd rather be safe than sorry.
Posted by Phrak
Apparently the real reason (or so i heard from the gas station owner who shut off the pump on me while i was filling my car and talking on my phone) is that there is a chance that a tiny air gap between the battery contacts and the pins on the phone may cause a spark, and that spark could potentially ignite the Petrol fumes (BTW, FYI it is actually the fumes that ignite, not the liqid...)
The other reason (altho somewhat similar in cause) is if you drop the phone, again, the air gap between the battery and pins could ignite the gas.
If the reason was the RF emitted caused problems, they would ask you to shut them off before you entered, like in a hospital.
Posted by ferrarista44
The earpiece produces sparks when sounding off. At least that's what my ECE teachers told us.:es:
Posted by ferrarista44
and yes i do turn off my phone during refilling gas.
rather be safe than really scorched!
This post was posted from a T68
[ This Message was edited by: ferrarista44 on 2002-03-07 14:47 ]
Posted by frost
If a tiny spark from the battery in my cellular is enough to ignite the fule, how can they let me start my car-engine on the gas station? Or let me turn on the light in my car (wich happens every time I open the cardoor)? Anyone heard of an exploding gasstation because of someone calling his wife? I think there is nothing to worry about.
/Magnus
Posted by Fingers
Crap! It's got nothing to do with sparks, think about how many switches and open sparks there are on your car, lets see the starter engaging on the fly wheel, more sparks there than a phone could generate, or the commutator on the alternator. The real reason is because of the radiation generated by a cell phone when it's transmitting receiving, it could heat the fuel vapours to a combustable temperature. I work on and around a lot of large commercial aircraft and when they're in the hangar with the fuel tanks open we're not allowed cell phones within about three metres, there's even a picture in the Boeing manual showing how close you can get with a phone or other device. And the fuel that is used in aircraft is a lot less volatile than ordinary car fuel, you can actually put a match out in a glass full of aircraft grade fuel, the only reason it burns in the aircraft engine is that it is atomised like when you light hairspray out of the can.
Posted by putra123
YES, ITS DANGEROUS IF YOU USE YOUR CELL IN THE GAS STATION ...WHILE SMOKING!
Posted by tomw
Someone correct me if im wrong, but i think that there is already a law against it in the UK?
Extinguish a match in aircraft fuel... Nice idea...
Posted by Bazboy
Yes its illegal to use a mobile phone in petrol filling station over here in UK... well thats what ive been told anyway.
If they say its bad and have passed a law against it, why the fcuk do it?? OK, I understand that a cars engine can generate more sparks but thats in a confined area. When you are filling the car, you are close to the fumes that are strong and easy to ignite....
I certainly wouldnt wanna be BBQd on the forecourt... or risk the lives of others, especially children that are normally in cars nearby...
Baz
Posted by Fingers
If you're phone's generating sparks there's something wrong with it. And what about the heat from your exhaust pipe, that's hot enough to ignite fumes. Aircraft fuel is a lot thicker than the fuel for your car, it doesn't evaporate as soon as it touches something, it's actually quite oily.
Posted by EyeSee
I used to work in a petrol station in the UK and i would not authorize anyone who was using a mobile phone, even if they were inside the car.
The law (UK) states that all mobile phones should be switched off before entering a petrol station forecourt. The risk is there for an explosion and i didn't appreciate people putting my life and everyone elses life within a 100 yard radius at risk because of their stupidity.
It states in every manual to switch phones off and their are signs on every pump to warn you. In some cases if someone was using there mobile and refused to switch it off i would stop every single pump and announce on the pa system that no one can fill up until the guy talking on the mobile switches off! They'd usually switch off or walk away after that!
Seriously though, is it worth risking yours and everyone elses life in the area for the sake of waiting a few minutes to make/answer a phone call?
Posted by arroyootje
In Azerbaijan it's illegal to use your phone in the petrolstation, but then they have stupid idiots coming to your card asking to refill your call credit
What about the radio? that's got waves in it and many other things in the car.... Have you ever actually HEARD of a gasstation exploding cos of a mobile???? I haven't...
Posted by dan_t
Familiar wid those anti-radiation stickers u put at the back and lights-up when you use d phone i think its d same principle y its prohibited 2 use it while at d has station
Posted by robpow
Just got back from Sweden where I had a hire car (Volvo S80 - nice one!)... anyway, there were no warning signs about not using a mobile phone at the pumps and I saw several people use them while actually filling their cars and the petral station attendants didn't seem to mind either.
Can anyone point out any official studies or reports proving the actual risk based on scientific tests rather than guesses and rumours? I'd be very interested to read it.
Matt
Posted by SohJai
I've actually heard of a case in Taiwan and another case in China where a cell phone blew up a gas station.
About cell making sparks, yes they do make sparks, but very small ones. For example when your phone ring it generates tiny sparks.
Have you guys ever hear of stories where someone using an old gas stove and the fire blew off and gas is still coming out and then someone press the door bell and boom! Everything blows up. What caused it? It's the spark when the door bell is pressed.
Similar to that when we pump the gas (fume) goes upwards and if we were holding the cell above where you pump to where the fume goes and if the fume does slip in the fone's circuits and end up contacting some spark then boom good luck.
Anyways that's what I know, but there's no point challenging the point just leave it in the car.
Posted by Fingers
Fuel vapours are heavier than air. Could someone with some technical knowledge please comment on this
Posted by rurouni
Any thing that has been atomised will inherently be more volatile. Also, when u pump gas do u notice that any spilloff dries up really fast? I think the main aim of these restrictions is to make people aware that any electrical item could potentially start a fire.. so better safe than sorry.
I'd think that if u go to a busy gas station when the lingering smell of petrol is in the air.. its best u turn off your mobile for just a few minutes...
Posted by Fingers
Finally, someone who knows what they're talking about, thank you.
Posted by friartuck
its call 'intrinsically safe'......and mobile phones generally arent, they spark (slightly)
it actaullyy says in the warranty,
Ericssin cannot be held responsible for accidents or death resulting from an explosion.
Posted by Brian
It's worth noting that turning off a phone on the forecourt will cause an IMSI detach and the phone will transmit, otherwise it may well not have done so unless actually in a call or when the location update time expired.
At the power levels generated by a mobile phone it is very unlikely that a fuel/air explosion could occur, in any case the fuel vapour is not enclosed and disperses quite quickly.
There were reports of earlier generation fuel pumps under reading in the presence of RF fields, this reduced the amount of money people were charged and obviously didn't please the owners or the oil companies.
Remember how powerful these interests are when it comes to lobbying for changes in the law.
Posted by robpow
Still all guesses and speculation. The car I rented had metal studs in the tyres to give grip on ice, these generate sparks against the road surface and metal objects on the ground in the petrol station, not to mention the engine and other eletric parts on the car... so why go after the mobile phone?
I'm still curious to see any actual scientific evidence that it is dangerous.
These guys have debunked most reports of mobile phones sparking petrol station fires so far: http://urbanlegends.about.com/library/weekly/aa062399.htm?once=true&
Matt
Posted by friartuck
I suppose the cannon on my challenger tank is a bit of a risk aswell...
i have to put a cork on it.....i keep getting the barrell stuck up my anus
Posted by krusel
fingers i absolutly agree with you, i used to work with airplane fuel and it is realy dfficult to ignite it under normal circumstances, and i think so to that the danger with cellphones on gasstation is connected to the kind of radiowaves used.
somebody else had a good example...what happen to water in the microwave....microwaves make the molekules moving , causing friction , causing heat....
Posted by verizonguy
Actually all of these supositions are BUNK!!!!
The radiation (non ionizing) is about .3 watts not enough to heat anything
the car or worse yet taking a drag on a cigarette while leaning over the nozzle are more likley sources of ignition. Also static electricity generated by the gasoline (petrol, benzin, etc.) could concievably cause a ignition generating spark
in very dry climates.
also i invite you to visit this URL
http://www.snopes2.com/autos/hazards/gasvapor.htm
Posted by pinolo77
First reason is that the phone,other than most devices,is a microwave emitter and this could ignite fumes.Second is that its water could cause problems with the circuits of the pump generating errors and sparkles...
Posted by pinolo77
Sorry...Water = waves...Now it is clearer... Damn t9 writing what it wants... ;-)
Posted by babynino
haha :D now thats funny :)