Can Cell Phones make a spark?

[amdkt7]

Some gas stations are now insisting that people turn off their cell phones while pumping gas.

Is there any basis in the idea that a cell phone can create a spark and cause a fire?

I do not believe it can, but the guys I work with think that there must be a good reason if they post those signs.

I don't think that there is any way a cell phone can create enough voltage to create a spark.

Of MUCH GREATER danger is static electricity. Your clothing can spark as you move around. Just getting out of the car can create an huge spark, depending on the weather and the clothes you are wearing.

I think that a lot of safety rules are invented by ignorant people who are just afraid of things they do not understand.

[korgul]

Maybe it is because that when you are using a cell phone you are not paying attention to what task you are doing. If you are talking on the phone and pumping gas you run the risk of overflowing the tank, thus spilling gas everywhere. Not sure the validity of this, just a thought.

korgul

[amdkt7]

Nope, it was explained to me that it can create a spark.

I seldom use my phone anyway, but I just can't stand stupid rules

Originally posted by amdkt7
Nope, it was explained to me that it can create a spark.

I seldom use my phone anyway, but I just can't stand stupid rules

well there always the one slim possibilty that it could happen. weirder things do happen. and i rahter have that rule up there just in case


JaYsin

[amdkt7]

Just because there is a .000001% chance of getting killed by using a cell phone around gas is no reason to be concerned.
(I'm guessing at the percent chance).

The odds of getting kill by lighting is much higher, besides the chance that the ground on the gas pump could be broken an a spark will occur when the nozzle first touches your car is much higher.

Believe me, that is a real possibility, it does happen. If the grounding is not correct a spark can cause a real fire and explosion at the gas pump. This is a very real danger, cell phones are not a real danger.

If you are going to worry about cell phones you better then use a robot to pump your gas while you are at a safe distance. Let's worry about the real dangers first before worrying about extremely low risk activities.

[desmocat]

What is more of a danger than cell phones are when people do not put the gas can they are filling on the ground.
There have been several instances when people fill up gas cans in the bed of pickups with slide in bedliners that have caused a spark and a fire.
I always put the can on the ground when filling.
The nozzles back in the old days had the wire thing wrapped around it. That was for grounding purposes( I dont see them very often nowadays it seems).
The next time you are behind a tanker on the road, look underneath it and you should see a little strap dragging the ground, it's for the same purpose, to dissapate static charge.

[ClubMed]

I think it has more to do with disturbing certain un-shielded computerised systems.

I find it hard to believe that a cell phone could cause a spark of any kind.

[Graham]

In theory, yes they could cause a spark (~4W RF power), likewise pagers. If you go to any sensitive areas, munitions factories, oil refineries, or factories where they make powder products or have volatile liquids, they will insist you leave pagers, cells matches and lighters at the gate.
I went to a US base once, you couldnt take matches or lighter in, but they had a cigarette lighter on the wall, sort of like a car lighter but fixed.

G

[amdkt7]

Come on, pagers?

They are receive only. They do not create rf...., what do they think, the incoming signal will set something off? The incoming signal will be there wether or not the pager is on.

Ok, if it was on vibrate, maybe the vibrator might create sparks, but that is just a simple electromagnetic motor, one moving part, no brushes.

Now if they are concerned about EMI (electro magnetic interference) maybe that is a problem in some situations.

[Imanage]

I think my old pager sent back some kind of acknowlegement that the page was successfully received. Nowadays, the company gave us the Motorola talkabout pagers (others have the Blackberrys)that you receive email and reply back. It has a mini keypad. You can't get away from work anymore...