this post was submitted on 30 Jan 2026
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AssholeDesign
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The likelihood that you get any kind of meaningful arc from puncturing a speaker is almost none, theyre not gonna drive those speakers with high voltage. Especially improbable since you're likely just destroying the speaker diaphragm, so an arc may not even be feasible from the type of damage done.
When myth busters tested whether cell phones, and then arcing (like from static discharge) would blow you up at the gas station, they had to use a large continuous arc from a neon sign transformer (extremely high voltage) and a sealed box full of the ideal fuel to air ratio of gasoline vapors to get an explosion.
Puncturing a speaker isnt unlikely to ever have to have either of those things. You're unlikely to get an arc, and there should be like a zero percent chance of a meaningful build up of fuel vapors in an open air setting where the vapors have to make out of the narrow choke of the fuel tank opening, where the nozzle and its rubber splash guard thing are blocking its route, and all the way to where the speaker is
Do you by any chance have any experience working with electricity to back up your concerns?
Sure buddy, handle one of those with a cigarette and see what happens. (/s fucking dont)
I have diplomas on the subject, professional experience and training, yes. Engineering regulations are written on blood and cemeteries are full of smart asses that dont follow them, that all I have to say.
While I feel theres a slight difference between a lit cigarette while operating a gas pump, and the possible spark from breaking the diaphragm in a low voltage speaker behind grates in the pump body- you know what fair enough. Usually when I see or participate in folks talking about electricity dangers online its folks who have no clue what theyre talking about.
A couple of months ago I was in an argument with folks on lemmy who thought if you put a nine volt battery against your nipple it'd electrocute you. At one point I went and grabbed a nine volt to take a picture of literally pressed against my skin just to prove my point 😅. A lot of folks seem to mythologize electricity and its dangers, sometimes it even seems to come from folks claiming to have electrical work backgrounds or engineering degrees
Regardless, hope you have a good day, take care :)