Static electricity hazard while pumping gasoline

   / Static electricity hazard while pumping gasoline #21  
I'd be more grateful if you pulled up your britches before bending over. :dance1:
But i noticed she didn't just run away, she shut the pump off. That's pretty gutsy.
If anyone does that, I would recommend that you hit the switch/lever to make it think that the hose has been put back so the pump shuts off BEFORE you reach for the handle to shut it off...

I know a little bit about grounding in general, but not gas pumps in particular (from a hard-core engineering standpoint). The "rubber" fuel hose could be made to be fairly conductive electrically, but I don't know for sure if it is or isn't.
I think the fuel hose has a braided sleeve for abrasion resistance as well serving as a ground path.
Yep.

Aaron Z
 
   / Static electricity hazard while pumping gasoline #22  
Good point Aaron Z, When or if a fire starts, shut the hose off at the pump, probably best not to mess with the hose at all.
 
   / Static electricity hazard while pumping gasoline #23  
Same here, I have been doing the exact same thing since I learned about ESD in the late 70's..

yep.. most people don't think about this if they have never had esd training.
 
   / Static electricity hazard while pumping gasoline
  • Thread Starter
#24  
I think the fuel hose has a braided sleeve for abrasion resistance as well serving as a ground path.

Makes sense, and that's what I'd expect - just never checked the specs yet, so wasn't about to speculate. I'd get funny looks at a gas station if I pulled out my ohm-meter !

Lies, darn lies, and statistics... yeah, I know. If you asked those Snopes 150, I'm sure you'd hear a lot of "I had no idea....." comments, and they probably aren't lying.

No, it is not a common occurrence - vapour density, humidity, and other local conditions have to align for ignition. Personally, not odds I'd like to play with though, given the consequences.

The 150 is probably under-reported somewhat, given the # of accidents that never get reports filed. But, even at that #, how many general product safety recalls get issued because of just a few dozen events - many, if the news reporting can be believed.

As I said earlier, this issue may be too fine a distinction for many..... a buddy of mine was talking about seeing people on the West Coast filling up water jugs (blue ones, with the white spigot at the bottom, and white vent plug at the top of the end/face) with gasoline at a station. The attendant was helping the customer lift it into the vehicle. :rolleyes:

Rdgs, D.
 
   / Static electricity hazard while pumping gasoline #25  
If anyone does that, I would recommend that you hit the switch/lever to make it think that the hose has been put back so the pump shuts off BEFORE you reach for the handle to shut it off...


Yep.

Aaron Z

There is a BIG RED BUTTON to shut off fuel flow to the pumps.. Every station has them. Look for it next time and keep its location in mind. The stations i frequent usually have one per island.
 
   / Static electricity hazard while pumping gasoline
  • Thread Starter
#26  
There is a BIG RED BUTTON to shut off fuel flow to the pumps.. Every station has them. Look for it next time and keep its location in mind. The stations i frequent usually have one per island.

Like noting the fire exits when checking into a hotel, you describe a good practice that is easy to overlook.

Rgds, D.
 
   / Static electricity hazard while pumping gasoline #27  
There is a BIG RED BUTTON to shut off fuel flow to the pumps.. Every station has them. Look for it next time and keep its location in mind. The stations i frequent usually have one per island.
Yep, but if it is your car, it will be faster to hit the "the nozzle is back in" lever/door, especially if you have kids in the car to get out.

Aaron Z
 
   / Static electricity hazard while pumping gasoline #28  
Yep, but if it is your car, it will be faster to hit the "the nozzle is back in" lever/door, especially if you have kids in the car to get out.

Aaron Z

Most pumps now require the pump actually be inserted back to turn off. The days of the 'lever' are going away...
 
   / Static electricity hazard while pumping gasoline #29  
Most pumps now require the pump actually be inserted back to turn off. The days of the 'lever' are going away...
Around here, there is a lever that you lift/lower or there is a flap that the nozzle pushes into. If you push on the flap with your hand, it will shut off the flow of gas as it thinks that you put the nozzle back in.
You can sort of see the flap in this picture:
gas-pump-ed1.jpg

Aaron Z
 
   / Static electricity hazard while pumping gasoline #30  
Around here, there is a lever that you lift/lower or there is a flap that the nozzle pushes into. If you push on the flap with your hand, it will shut off the flow of gas as it thinks that you put the nozzle back in.
You can sort of see the flap in this picture:
View attachment 330748

Aaron Z

Hey Aaron,

As you know, you are correct sir!

This is slightly off topic, but I noticed that at our local BJ's gas pumps, there is a lot of siphoning or whatever going on after you turn off that switch by pushing on the flap, before eventually the handle switch clicks like it does when your tank is full, or the nozzle gets feedback from foaming.

So when I am done filling (if no one is waiting behind me) I leave the nozzle in the filler opening, trip the switch, and then squeeze the handle until it trips, getting sometimes 4 oz or more (my estimate) before the click.

This also keeps gas from dripping out of the nozzle when replacing it.

YMMV,
Thomas
 

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