Spontaneous Combustion Explained: Don't Wear Wool Shirts With Nylon Jackets

from the just-saying... dept

Really not quite sure what to make of this story, which seems to have all the elements normally associated with an urban legend. GMSV points us to a Reuters piece describing a man in Australia who made the fashion faux pas of the century. He didn't just clash... he clashed electrically speaking. According to the story, the combination of his wool shirt and synthetic nylon jacket worked up enough static electricity to scorch the world behind him, even setting his office carpet on fire. The guy didn't realize it was his fault until after the firemen evacuated the building in search of the cause of the carpet fire, he noticed that stuff in his car was scorched as well. The firefighters claim that the combination of the shirt and jacket were tested, showing a current of 40,000 volts, "one step shy of spontaneous combustion." Now, if only he could learn to use those powers for good, instead of evil...

12 Comments | Leave a Comment..


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  1.  

    current

    identicon
    Howard, Sep 16th, 2005 @ 1:23pm

    Current is measured in amps, not volts. Turn in you nerd badge when you leave.

    reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  2.  

    Re: current

    icon
    Mike (profile), Sep 16th, 2005 @ 1:26pm

    Read the article... wasn't my quote. As I said... plenty in the article seems sketchy.

    reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  3.  

    No Subject Given

    identicon
    Chris, Sep 16th, 2005 @ 1:35pm

    Wheres snopes.com when you need it :)

    reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  4.  

    Fashion Nerd vs. Tech Nerd

    identicon
    AnyMouse, Sep 16th, 2005 @ 2:06pm


    If you can get 40kv from rubbing wool and polyester together, why do you need a backpack?

    MjM

    reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  5.  

    No Subject Given

    identicon
    Venuko, Sep 16th, 2005 @ 2:26pm

    I guess the energy crisis is no longer an issue!

    reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  6.  

    Static electricity

    identicon
    DJ-Panic, Sep 16th, 2005 @ 2:45pm

    That's a BS story, a balloon on your arm hair can produce 100KV, so his 40KV could in no way set the place on fire.

    check this link out for all the yummy details
    http://amasci.com/emotor/voltmeas.html

    reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  7.  

    come on now

    identicon
    Anonymous Coward, Sep 16th, 2005 @ 11:04pm

    Techdirt has been "passing" lately on a lot of interesting stories. I even submit them now and then and never see them get posted. Then crap like this shows up, which is almost certainly not true - but even if it were, WHO CARES?
    let's go back to being above-board and relevant here...

    reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  8.  

    Re: Static electricity

    identicon
    William Whitney, Sep 17th, 2005 @ 2:20pm

    40kV IS enough to light something on fire, as is 12kV. the voltage DOESN'T MATTER, only the AMPERAGE does, as far as ignition is concerned.

    reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  9.  

    It's all about the current.

    identicon
    Speaking of amperage.., Sep 17th, 2005 @ 4:59pm

    Short out a 1.5V AA NiCd battery with a paperclip sometime, the paperclip will glow red hot within seconds, and the battery will get pretty hot too. That's just 1.5V but NiCd batteries can deliver an assload of current. (Warning; this is quite dangerous. Batteries can explode when abused like this. You might want to wear safety glasses and heavy gloves.)

    You know that big bright arc you get when welding? There's only about 10V between the work and the electrode, but typically 50 to 150Amps of current.

    When you walk over carpet on a hot, dry day you'll regularly build up 40KV of static charge. Touch a doorknob and it hurts, but nothing is likely to catch fire.

    reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  10.  

    Re: It's all about the current.

    identicon
    roger, Sep 18th, 2005 @ 4:00am

    ..and how much our anti-glair screen produce static current
    link

    reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  11.  

    Re: It's all about the current.

    identicon
    roger, Sep 18th, 2005 @ 4:01am

    ..and how much our anti-glair screen produce static current

    reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  12.  
    identicon
    Jeremy, Jun 17th, 2009 @ 12:44am

    Batteries can explode when abused like this.
    translation service

    reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]


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