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#144265 10/29/05 05:06 PM
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 8,443
Likes: 3
Trumpy Offline OP
Member
Just been doing some surfing and this story came up.
It's about a month old but well worth a read.
It's here.

#144266 10/30/05 01:47 AM
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 23
A
Member
Hope he doesn't handle JET-A1, JP-1,or Avgas when he had that charge on him. It'll be *ugly* [Linked Image]
Edited for spelling at 1248 GMT+7 by Av-guy

[This message has been edited by Av-guy (edited 10-30-2005).]

#144267 10/30/05 06:38 PM
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 1,803
Member
Quote
..."We tested his clothes with a static field meter and measured a current of 40,000 volts, which is one step shy of spontaneous combustion, where his clothes would have self ignited"...

LOL! [Linked Image] A current of 40,000 volts? Mike, you're a fireman, what are 'static field meters' calibrated in? Have you got one in your vehicle? How do you charge the di-lithium crystals? You gotta watch out for that spontaneous combustion, it causes stuff to self-ignite! [Linked Image]

Quote
...Firemen took possession of Clewer's jacket and stored it in the courtyard of the Fire Station, where it continued to give off a strong electrical current...

ROFL! [Linked Image] Imagine! All that current pouring out of that poor bugger's coat and going to waste down the drain!

Conclusion? An absolute load of crap, but a good laugh!

Alan



[This message has been edited by Alan Belson (edited 10-30-2005).]


Wood work but can't!
#144268 10/31/05 09:24 PM
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 8,443
Likes: 3
Trumpy Offline OP
Member
Alan,
I don't think that this story was actually "made-up".
I have some mis-givings about the way it was reported though.
Most Fire-fighters that I know, know the difference between Current and Voltage.
And I'm not going to engage in a Trans-Tasman tirade about Aussie FF's either.
Clothing of these types can build up quite an appreciable charge.
I'm actually wearing a Nylon T-shirt at the moment, and aside from being moderately uncomfortable, it gives a huge static charge in dry weather.
I touched the Stainless sink-bench here this morning and I swear I saw a blue spark jump from my hand to the sink (which is bonded to Earth) and a bit of a slight crackle.
Now, combine that with wool, wool(Or sheeps fur, if you like Sven [Linked Image]) is quite popular down here for garments.
With them two materials rubbing together,
It would take no time at all to build up a good charge.
BTW Alan a Static Field Meter is calibrated in kV.
We don't carry them on our pumps, the nearest thing to that that we would have is a Modiewark HV Line Indicator, that measures up to 66kV.

#144269 11/01/05 11:40 AM
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 7,520
P
Member
I think we might need to allow for the usual journalistic license here.... (I'm trying to put that in the nicest way possible [Linked Image] ).

Still, it does illustrate at least one advantage of our damp English climate!

#144270 11/01/05 01:56 PM
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 1,803
Member
Journalistic license? Enough static charge to melt a carpet? Pull the other leg, it plays "I Believe" in stereo.
See;
http://www.powerlabs.org/wimshurst.htm



But, take one small tin of lighter fuel and a gas lighter........, now you're talking science!

Alan

[This message has been edited by Alan Belson (edited 11-01-2005).]


Wood work but can't!
#144271 11/02/05 05:50 AM
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 354
K
Member
G'day Trumpy, I think "Stuff" is the online Christchurch Star and I read it all the time. Its a reputable newspaper. I hadn't seen the article you mentioned, but I'm going to look into it because Stuff doesn't usually print rubbish.

#144272 11/02/05 06:26 AM
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 354
K
Member
Trumpy, something to consider in this thread would be the Nor'west weather pattern in the South Island and its effect on static electricity. Victoria also experiences a similar weather pattern.

#144273 11/02/05 02:01 PM
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 7,520
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Quote
Pull the other leg, it plays "I Believe" in stereo.

Well, I did say I was trying to be as kind as possible...... [Linked Image]

#144274 11/02/05 04:13 PM
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 1,803
Member
That phrase was coined by a John Savage, (wherever he is now), when I was in the Senior Scouts. 'I Believe' had been a popular song then; this is before The Bachelors; Jimmy Young?
Further research reveals that I might be eating humble pie on the static question of melted carpet, if ( big IF! ) the victim's coat was not only able to generate static, but was constructed in some way such that it emulated a Leyden Jar?

Alan


Wood work but can't!
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