Comments on All the Best Bits: A Potentially Lethal Electrostatics Lesson

Just a minor FYI -- regarding the part where you s...

2006-12-01T15:54:00.000-08:00

Just a minor FYI -- regarding the part where you say "all modern gas pumps have sleeves to trap fumes in the tank, and it is important to be sure the sleeve seal is fully engaged and mated to the gas tank pipe" -- this is only true in localities that require the sleeve. Here in "middle America" we have never had the vapor recovery sleeves even on brand-new pumps. I'm sure the sleeve would serve to reduce the risk of explosion so it's a bit surprising the insurance companies don't insist they be added even where people aren't concerned about VOC pollution.

I'm also surprised there haven't been more stories of explosions -- so either it's rarer than you would think or not reported much. The new pumps do include more warnings about various things that might produce sparks (including cell phones and filling metal gas cans in a pickup truck bed). So the warnings are there for those of us who hang around the pump with nothing else to read. ;-)

On second thought, my wife has the best solution: ...

2006-11-21T11:02:00.001-08:00

On second thought, my wife has the best solution: she sends me to load the gasoline. Phil

On second thought, my wife has the best solution: ...

2006-11-21T11:02:00.000-08:00

On second thought, my wife has the best solution: she sends me to load the gasoline. Phil

Amazing, my wife was telling me exactly the same t...

2006-11-21T08:41:00.000-08:00

Amazing, my wife was telling me exactly the same the other day when charging gasoline. The message is to touch the pump body with your hand before touching the hose valve. Phil

Excellent precaution -- the tv clip is amazingly c...

2006-11-20T11:17:00.000-08:00

Excellent precaution -- the tv clip is amazingly clear. Good it did not blow up. Phil