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Is it hazardous to use your cellphone in a gas station? |
robpow
Joined: Jan 20, 2002
Posts: 70
From: London, UK
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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
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SohJai
Joined: Feb 21, 2002
Posts: 34
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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. |
Fingers
Joined: Jan 29, 2002
Posts: 468
From: New Zealand
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Fuel vapours are heavier than air. Could someone with some technical knowledge please comment on this |
rurouni
Joined: Mar 03, 2002
Posts: 46
From: Singapore
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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...  |
Fingers
Joined: Jan 29, 2002
Posts: 468
From: New Zealand
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Finally, someone who knows what they're talking about, thank you. |
friartuck
Joined: Mar 07, 2002
Posts: 13
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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. |
Brian
Joined: Mar 07, 2002
Posts: 17
From: UK
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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.
--
Brian |
robpow
Joined: Jan 20, 2002
Posts: 70
From: London, UK
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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
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friartuck
Joined: Mar 07, 2002
Posts: 13
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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 |
krusel
Joined: Jan 22, 2002
Posts: 60
From: Germany - USA
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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.... |
verizonguy
Joined: Apr 26, 2002
Posts: 1
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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
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pinolo77
Joined: Jan 17, 2002
Posts: 390
From: Lugaggia, Switzerland
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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...
This post was posted from a T68 |
pinolo77
Joined: Jan 17, 2002
Posts: 390
From: Lugaggia, Switzerland
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Sorry...Water = waves...Now it is clearer... Damn t9 writing what it wants... ;-)
This post was posted from a T68 |
babynino
Joined: Apr 15, 2002
Posts: 14
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haha :D now thats funny :)
This post was posted from a WAP device |
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Posted: 2002-03-07 13:03
