Thread: I thought....................

Ya car is not earthed, so why should a jerry in the car be any different to filling the car tank?

Precisely. That is why I understood it was earthed when the filler nozzle contacted the vehicle.

There was a good reason for doing this....just can't think of it at the moment.


Anyway, I remember seeing that a few people around the world have been blown up after filling up Jerry's while they are on the car or trailer.

http://www.docep.wa.gov.au/Resources...linfosheet.pdf

See page 5 of 5 re filling drums etc.
The nozzle should be in contact with the drum, indicating that the hose would be conductive.

Trev.

In your situation he didnt know his **** from his elbow, as your jerrycan is as stable as your fuel tank, where it is an issue is with regular vehicles that dont use metal as a feature and use this strange stuff called carpet which insulates the jerry can from the metal of the car and the carpet is a lovely storage point for static which then in turn creates a spark.

Technically speaking every vehicle should attach an earth strap before filling just as tankers are meant to do when they decant into the tanks.

btw did you know that you should never fill your motorcycle unless you put it on its side stand, has been a few cases of bikes going up in flames, riders included.

Portable metal drums and cans should be filled withmetal spouts that are held in contact with the container throughout the filling operation to prevent static accumulation and discharge. However, plastic containers are not conductive to the metal filling spout andcan accumulate a static charge on the liquid surface and discharge to the spout as the liquid level rises. When large plastic containers are filled, a grounding rod should be inserted to the bottom of the container before filling. A recent survey documented 27 fires involving both metal and plastic filling when a plastic truck bed or carpeted car trunk supported the container. However, small plastic containers (e. g., one gallon) are less of a problem if the filling velocity is slow and the container is placed on the ground surface.

Just found this. Maybe it was plastic drums that went bang?

Easy for them, Caltex/Woolworths to make a blanket ban. Then again, he may have spouted off without knowing why?


Ed. Yep that WA link explains it well enough. If it is so important, one would think signage would be mandatory before they first opened their doors. Console Operators can't be expected to watch everybody, but in this case there were 3 of them behind the counter.
In the 2A I have a rubber mat & the Discovery, I have dispensed with the original carpet & also fitted ribbed rubber mat. (For Sirs greater pleasure )

I think you guys may have missed the point.
I would NEVER fill a container INSIDE the vehicle.Too easy to spill,then you have the vapours inside a presumably warm at least interior.By time you go in and pay you have the possibility of a big bang when you get in(NUMEROUS IGNITION POSSABILITIES).
Im sure this is what the attendant was scared of,just remember he may go up with you.
Perhaps we need to get mythbusters and Buster to research this one
Andrew

Point taken Andrew.
Sounds like he didn't know exactly why he was sayin' what he was & was simply being a Parrot.