[X] My Assistant

[CanadianWolverin...]

Just to add to the topic (based on the title), what are your thoughts on this: I recently watched an episode of Mythbusters where they ignite a "perp" on fire with the use of pepper spray and a taser projectile.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jV8oPisTOnY

I am not considering explosives going off but just that some simulated runner just got set on fire. Fire tends to be somewhat of a pain in buildings at times but I suppose it is enough an outlier that I am not sure it would deter the use of SnS. Hmm, some corp sec does a stray shot into the wrong object and now they have to explain why they set the building on fire? Maybe it would be a deterrent? *shrug*

Hehe, speaking of stray shots setting stuff on fire, it would be rather funny if runner either "accidentally" torched their objective on a smashNgrab or purposefully did it if they were doing a structure hit by using tracer, Ex, and/or Ex-Ex rounds.

[Tymeaus Jalynsfe...]

I want to know why they're using blasting caps and detonators at all.

Modern demolitionists don't use them much. They use DetCord/PrimaCord. Much more reliable and the 'signal' actually travels faster than electricity.

-karma

You still need a Detonator to ignite the Det Cord/Prima Cord... as it is an explosive as well... It cannot go "Boom" without an initiator... This form a LOT of expereince in the field... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smokin.gif)

[KarmaInferno]

You still need a Detonator to ignite the Det Cord/Prima Cord... as it is an explosive as well... It cannot go "Boom" without an initiator... This form a LOT of expereince in the field... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smokin.gif)

Yeah, but a detcord igniter is just a little handheld thing the size of a small flashlight. It's essentially a tube with a percussion cap in it - you load the percussion cap (or it's pre-loaded in disposable igniters) and stick the DetCord/PrimaCord/Shock Tubing in the open end. The other end has a ring you yank on, to set off the ignition.

There's computer-controlled versions as well.

None of which actually "explode" like the old blasting caps did. At most it's basically like taking the primer cap off a bullet cartridge and setting that off. It's not unlike a blank-firing pistol.

And I forgot the other big advantage of DetCord - it's electromagnetically insensitive. No stray radio waves setting the stuff off.

Here, an example for those who haven't seen how modern demolitions explosives are set off. It's actually pretty anticlimactic, a guy just pulls a ring-pin out of a small tube.


-karma

Construction Engineer, also has a significant amount of experience in the field.

[Yerameyahu]

There are 6-8 different 'cap' options in the book; one assumes that they cover the range of technology available today, and then some. The way language works, we'd probably call it a 'blasting cap' no matter what mechanism it actually used. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

No experience in any field needed. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

[Tymeaus Jalynsfe...]

Yeah, but a detcord igniter is just a little handheld thing the size of a small flashlight. It's essentially a tube with a percussion cap in it - you load the percussion cap (or it's pre-loaded in disposable igniters) and stick the DetCord/PrimaCord/Shock Tubing in the open end. The other end has a ring you yank on, to set off the ignition.

There's computer-controlled versions as well.

None of which actually "explode" like the old blasting caps did. At most it's basically like taking the primer cap off a bullet cartridge and setting that off.

-karma

Construction Engineer, also has a significant amount of experience in the field.

Think about this though...are you really going to hold the igniter (attached to the DetCord) in your hand to yank the Pullring? Really? I would highly doubt it (with the explosive rate of DetCord you will suffer the likely loss of fingers/hand/arm)... what is more likely is you will attach the igniter to a Small length of Fusing, which is attached to a Percussion Detonator, which is then attacked to a length of DetCord running to your Main Ring of explosives (All attached with DetCord)... At least that is how the Military does it...
You also have Electrical Options for this as well, some of which can be used wired, and other which may be used via Remote Radio/Computer...

Military applications STILL use detonators, both Electrical and Percussion, to ignite DetCord... I was unaware that Construction Demolitions have changed significantly from Military Applications. From what I have seen over the last few years, it is still as I described. Though your potential applications have come a long way for actual detonation, at the core, you still need a Detonator. Fulminate of Mercury for the win... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smokin.gif)

Of course, I may be caught up in the definition of "Explode" Here... no, Detonators are not like they were 50 years ago, most definitely... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wobble.gif)

[KarmaInferno]

Think about this though...are you really going to hold the igniter (attached to the DetCord) in your hand to yank the Pullring? Really? I would highly doubt it (with the explosive rate of DetCord you will suffer the likely loss of fingers/hand/arm)... what is more likely is you will attach the igniter to a Small length of Fusing, which is attached to a Percussion Detonator, which is then attacked to a length of DetCord running to your Main Ring of explosives (All attached with DetCord)... At least that is how the Military does it...
You also have Electrical Options for this as well, some of which can be used wired, and other which may be used via Remote Radio/Computer...

I added a video - the guy really does just hold the igniter tube.

Generally, they don't run Detcord all the way up to handheld igniters - if they're using DetCord, the last few feet will be replaced with Shock Tubing, which is a little less explody. If the ignition is computer-controlled rather than manually initiated (many building demolitions are these days) you can in fact run the Detcord right up to the igniter in some systems.

Really, quite often these days Shock Tubing has replaced Detcord entirely as the commonly used "fuse" of choice in commercial demolitions. Rather than PETN inside a cord, it's a fine explosive powder. Less finicky than PETN. But most laymen have never heard of Shock Tubing, so I initially used Detcord as a reference since more folks have heard of that.

Military applications STILL use detonators, both Electrical and Percussion, to ignite DetCord... I was unaware that Construction Demolitions have changed significantly from Military Applications. From what I have seen over the last few years, it is still as I described. Though your potential applications have come a long way for actual detonation, at the core, you still need a Detonator. Fulminate of Mercury for the win... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smokin.gif)

Of course, I may be caught up in the definition of "Explode" Here... no, Detonators are not like they were 50 years ago, most definitely... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wobble.gif)

Yeah, Commercial stuff has the luxury of running fuse all over the place. Military often doesn't.

I've seen commercial-grade remote igniters that are little more than a standard ignition tube with a radio controlled release, and tiny length of shock tube that gets stuck into the explosive, but I've never actually seen them used. Most of the time commercial demolitions folks prefer non-wireless stuff - urban environments have way too much radio traffic for remote detonation to be 'safe'.


-karma

[Tymeaus Jalynsfe...]

I added a video - the guy really does just hold the igniter tube.

Generally, they don't run Detcord all the way up to handheld igniters - if they're using DetCord, the last few feet will be replaced with Shock Tubing, which is a little less explody. If the ignition is computer-controlled rather than manually initiated (many building demolitions are these days) you can in fact run the Detcord right up to the igniter in some systems.

Really, quite often these days Shock Tubing has replaced Detcord entirely as the commonly used "fuse" of choice in commercial demolitions. Rather than PETN inside a cord, it's a fine explosive powder. Less finicky than PETN. But most laymen have never heard of Shock Tubing, so I initially used Detcord as a reference since more folks have heard of that.



Yeah, Commercial stuff has the luxury of running fuse all over the place. Military often doesn't.

I've seen commercial-grade remote igniters that are little more than a standard ignition tube with a radio controlled release, and tiny length of shock tube that gets stuck into the explosive, but I've never actually seen them used. Most of the time commercial demolitions folks prefer non-wireless stuff - urban environments have way too much radio traffic for remote detonation to be 'safe'.


-karma

Well, I learn something new each and every day...
Thanks KarmaInferno... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smokin.gif)