Never fill a running Generator

[keslake]

Just witnessed the aftermath of a terrible accident and without appearing to patronise anyone or state the obvious
would like to stress just how bloody dangerous it is.

I have my Boat moored in Tollesbury Marina on the east coast of Essex and another boat owner took his dinghy out to his motor launch which is on a swing mooring on the Blackwater.

Apparently he was filling a running generator on his motor launch and spilt some petrol.

Blew the top of his boat off and poor chap has 75% burns, along with lung damage where he inhaled the flames.

Astonishing thing is he managed to pilot his dinghy best part of a mile back to the marina before he collapsed.

I'm not sure why i am posting this really and i won't go into graphic detail but the sight of him burnt like that and going into shock has shook me up badly and i guess all i am saying is please, please be very careful with petrol.

To be honest i am guilty of doing the exact same thing in the past but by christ i will never, ever do it again.

I can't praise the Air Ambulance and coast guard enough for their quick attendance and hopefully the guy will pull through, although he was in a very bad way when they lifted him off to Broomfield burns unit.

Thanks for reading guys and please think twice if you are ever tempted to fill a running generator.

[J4CKO]

Good advice, memorised.

[tenpenceshort]

Someone should have shouted at him, Jenny! Don't be hasty!

[Spare tyre]

see this all the time at le mans, usually pissed brits

scary stuff petrol

We have a diesel generator, which is much better in everyway i can think, apart from everyone tries to pinch it

[Du1point8]

Wasnt there a PHer that got caught out by an exploding petrol can?

Petrol/lighter fluid too close to BBQ after use and blew due to heat... There was a running story on his injuries, etc...

[Council Baby]

Du1point8 said:

Wasnt there a PHer that got caught out by an exploding petrol can?

Petrol/lighter fluid too close to BBQ after use and blew due to heat... There was a running story on his injuries, etc...

Emsman, AKA Dusty964, he's ok now though

[stuart-b]

Feck me, you don't mess with petrol.

Reminded me of that car thread (BMW 8 series) where the chap drained the petrol tank into a shallow bucket under the car - most people thought that was dangerous due to the fumes!

Hope he is ok - one silly moment, life potentially ruined forever!

[TwistingMyMelon]

Remember being 15 on a go kart track when I ran out of fuel, the "operator" ran over with a fag in his mouth and poured the petrol in the kart (with me still strapped in) whilst still having his fag in his mouth!

[GTIR]

I don't think petrol can be ignited by a cigerette, well never in the times in Thailand I filled up with fuel anyway.

It's usually ignited bar a far hotter source, usually a turbo or exhaust. It has an ignition temperature of around 495° F, oddly a lit cigertte-end is between 700° F and 1100° F so should ignite it but doesn't.

[Du1point8]

GTIR said:

I don't think petrol can be ignited by a cigerette, well never in the times in Thailand I filled up with fuel anyway.

It's usually ignited bar a far hotter source, usually a turbo or exhaust. It has an ignition temperature of around 495° F, oddly a lit cigertte-end is between 700° F and 1100° F so should ignite it but doesn't.

Thought it was proven its the vapor or needs to be an actual flame.

if you throw it in a puddle of petrol it will put it out.

[Pixelpeep]

Du1point8 said:

Thought it was proven its the vapor or needs to be an actual flame.

if you throw it in a puddle of petrol it will put it out.

Unless it's a massive lifesize fake cigarette like they used in Con-Air.

[Dusty964]

Council Baby said:

Du1point8 said:

Wasnt there a PHer that got caught out by an exploding petrol can?

Petrol/lighter fluid too close to BBQ after use and blew due to heat... There was a running story on his injuries, etc...

Emsman, AKA Dusty964, he's ok now though

healed up nicely, lungs cured, eye is fine, deaf in one ear- it has it's advantages.

good luck to the guy in the OP, a long, painful and smelly road ahead, but it's incredible just how fully you recover, given time.

[I'm Rick james]

Duly noted. I have done some silly similar things whilst fuelling things. Will think twice now.
Thanks
Rj

[m444ttb]

When I was in my early teens my Dad was using me as forced labour on his allotment and a lady a few plots down decided to get her bonfire going a bit better by tipping 5L of petrol onto it. She was very lucky with no skin burns worse than sunburn and some seriously burnt hair. The only image I can remember is her long fuzzy hair flashing over with fire!

[caziques]

It's petrol vapour that's the problem.

Strangely enough in a crash it's brake fluid rather than petrol that is the culprit for starting fires. Petrol onto a hot exhaust manifold is fine, brake fluid catches fire.

[GTIR]

I got my BBQ going, as it was taking too long, with a can of Jizer and a lighter.

My 4yo sone said that is was a silly thing to do.

Pfft. What does he know!

[Leptons]

Jesus. Bit of a wake up call for me this. Always doing it in the back of the van! Not anymore!

[WhyAyeMan]

You wouldn't put petrol in a car with the engine running, so why on earth would you do it up because the engine is in a generator instead? Can anyone enlighten me as it seems like a pretty foolish thing to do.

[P I Staker]

tenpenceshort said:

Someone should have shouted at him, Jenny! Don't be hasty!

Christ


Had never really considered the dangers of this, noted for the future.

[226bhp]

WhyAyeMan said:

You wouldn't put petrol in a car with the engine running, so why on earth would you do it up because the engine is in a generator instead? Can anyone enlighten me as it seems like a pretty foolish thing to do.

There's no danger in filling a car while it's running.

Unless it's running away from you....