Re: Obstacles, Part 2

>OK, ignorance shows:

I wouldn't say it's ignorant at all. It's not like a whole lot of people
deal with explosives in their everyday lives.

>Why no electrical stuff?

The reason is that electrical systems are VERY touchy. The comment about
using ECM (or just about any strong electro-magnetic field) to detonate
charges is quite possible even today. Even a sufficient static electric
charge (ala rubbing your shoes on the carpet to zap your kid brother on
the
ear) could - but unlikely - set the charge off.

Given the increasing number of items that give off electro-magnetics as
part of their everyday operation, the possibility of mishaps has
increased
dramatically in the modern era. Thus, the increasing reliance on
non-electrical detonation systems.

Today's technology has made the simplistic system of timing cord
(essentially a fuse just like on a stick of dynamite) very accurate and
reliable. Even for a system set for an extended delay, the timing is
usually accurate to within a few seconds if properly constructed. The
entire system can easily be made waterproof as well (timing and det cord
have their own internal O2 source) with almost 100% reliability.

Schoon