I don’t understand how a soldering iron could start a fire, especially so quickly. All the soldering irons I’ve ever used (dozens) wouldn’t start a fire, unless you were really, really trying.
I’m guessing the writer just doesn’t know what she’s talking about and it probably wasn’t a soldering iron.
>> “I don’t understand how a soldering iron could start a fire” <<
.
If it was a large iron that he was heating in a forge.
You must not have played with some of those pistol irons, with the transformer that makes up the bulk of the iron.
I have had several of those go super hot -— fire hot -— on me. Comes from pushing them over their duty-cycle. The radio shack and lowe’s weller types are notorious for overheating, melting the insulation, and going off the deep end.
If you drop one in a fuel rich environment, it doesn’t matter if the power is off, the iron cores will store enough heat to kindle up a good blaze.
Not in response to norwaypinesavage.... but to many others here condemning the guy:
While I know that electric cars are not a viable solution to our oil consumption (with current energy storage tech), why are people here condemning a guy for experimenting in his garage? That is truly pathetic the attitude, especially considering people here claim to be anti-big-government. Would you stop him from experimenting just because you like oil? I seriously doubt he was working from a government grant, he was just experimenting with an idea on his own.
Accidents happen to us all.
If you think it is “too bad, so sad” he was a loser because he was experimenting with electric transportation, you don’t deserve to be called conservative, you just want to be a nanny, just differently from the evil Left. I call you out for what you are: Evil.
The guy had an accident, panicked, and lost several cars, including his test mule. His insurance, not the government, will take care of things if he has been paying his premium.
Geez, some of the people commenting here irk me — you guys are just nannies yourselves, who can’t see yourself as such, because someone “from the other side” has been trying to impact your own rights.