Research Question

[oggbashan]

Candle

Stand a candle in the middle of some crumpled balls of newspaper. Light the candle and leave the area.

When the candle burns low enough it will light the newspaper.

Og

 

[Jenny_Jackson]

So how would one make the thermostat or candle thing work. Sorry, still not getting that part really.

An electronic thermostat is really just a 12 volt timer. You would mount it the inside the drum lid along with a battery pack. With plenty of air space at the top of the drum the petrol will vaporize and fill the air space.

When the timer reaches a preset hour, it will send a signal to a large (precharged) capacitor which will create a spark across two parallel, but not touching wires, causing a spark to jump from wire to wire, igniting the gasoline vapors and KABOOM. The whole thing would cost about $20 and take less than an hour to rig.

Another thought. If you use a mixture of Sulpher based fertilizer along with the gasoline, you'll get a much bigger bang.

Again. Don't ask me how I know it.

 

[Trinique_Fire]

If you buy an electric timer that plugs into an ordinary electric socket and then plug an electric fire into that - you have an ignition source when the timer switches on. You don't actually need the fire - just connect the wires together so that they short out when the power is switched on.

Og

I'm sorry I'm such an idiot when it comes to having things explained. It's embarrassing. Something like this?

http://www.kiosktouch.co.kr/english/img/Electric%20Timer.jpg

or this kind?

http://www.heatedbathroom.com/store/image.php?productid=16207

*miserable sigh*

 

[Jenny_Jackson]

Try this one... http://yourhome.honeywell.com/Consu...Do-It-Yourself/7-Day/Conventional/Default.htm

It lets you time the explosion up to 7 days in the future. There are only two wires going in and one coming out. The metal of the drum acts as a ground for the second wire on the output side

 

[oggbashan]

Both could be used but the first pictured is easiest and cheaper.

Og

 

[Zeb_Carter]

Simplest timing device:

Book of matches with a burning cigarette locked in the cover.

Open the book of matches, light the cigarette, place the cigarette over the matchheads, placing the burning end of the cigarette away from the matches. Close the cover over the cigarette. Place the device somewhere will it will ignite the gasoline or a curtain or something like that.

You will have about 7 to 8 minutes to get away from the scene.

 

[Trinique_Fire]

Thanks zeb and ogg and cant and everyone


I got my answers. Big wet es for all

 

[Weird Harold]

You know waaaaay too much about this.

Oddly enough, mostly learned from safety briefings on how to STOP fuel drums from exploding accidently.

 

[cantdog]

And I was in the business of stopping buildings from burning. Firefighters make the best arsonists.

 

[Roxanne Appleby]

Simplest timing device:

Book of matches with a burning cigarette locked in the cover.

Open the book of matches, light the cigarette, place the cigarette over the matchheads, placing the burning end of the cigarette away from the matches. Close the cover over the cigarette. Place the device somewhere will it will ignite the gasoline or a curtain or something like that.

You will have about 7 to 8 minutes to get away from the scene.

Slight threadjack: I loved William Holden in Stalag 17. (This trick is a plot element in it.)