Danger of working on EVs was:Look!...it's a bird...

[John Bryan <jbryan4@mindspring.com>]

	I'll leave the plasma questions to others who are more
qualified, but will comment on some of your other questions.\

Chris Tromley wrote:

> What are some tips on short-proofing tools?

	Wrap electrical tape around your battery wrench, something
I haven't taken the time to do yet! I was really careful when I assembled
my packs....pretty lame excuse. I got away with it, but will definitely
tape up a wrench for next time.
> 
> What are the guidelines for working around hydrogen?  In other words, if
> my charger didn't shut off all night and I can hear all the batteries
> gurgling merrily, how do I not blow up the garage?

	Not unless your garage is air tight. Any hydrogen will head for
the highest point in a hurry and probably find a very easy way to escape.
In the car or in the battery box is a different story. If you're using 
wet cell batteries, make sure to include a brushless ventilation fan that 
runs while on charge.

> Etc., etc.  Anyone have any others?  This relative newbie would rather
> not be a poster boy for how unsafe EVs are.

	Actually EVs are extremely safe, especially when you compare them
to gas cars. I wouln't have wanted to go through the Zombie Meltdown
with my EV buddy at my side if it had been a gasoline fire.

	One time I started up a sandrail in my garage and when I looked over
my shoulder to back it out I saw nothing but flames. The engine was on fire
and being fueled by a high pressure fuel pump through a cracked fuel line.
I turned it off and shoved the burning machine out of the garage to get it
away from an avgas filled gyrocopter sitting right beside it. It turned out
ok, but could have been much worse.

	Another time a good friend of mine became engulfed in flames while
refueling his car at the gas station. It's suspected that it might have been
ignited by a static discharge when he removed the nozzle. He ended up in the
hospital with terrible burns and got massive skin grafts.

	The relative danger of EVs, even high voltage designs, is much lower
than gasoline cars. Even the shock danger is probably higher in an ICE, my 
only major shock ever came from a gas car's high voltage ignition system.

...John