# Why not just pull the detonator? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 29, 2016, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-not-just-pull-the-detonator/758738 "2016-06-29T22:02:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![minor7flat5](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/minor7flat5/32/258_2.png) [@minor7flat5](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/minor7flat5)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2016, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-not-just-pull-the-detonator/758738/21 "2016-06-30T00:19:21Z")
> [@dropzone](#): > > Don’t real bomb teams have robots on tracks with TV cameras and shotguns? The first time I saw one was thirty years ago! You aim for the electronics and shoot. Might work better if the robot has a water hose. Wet electronics no worked. You are referring to a [PAN Disrupter](http://www.idealblasting.com/k998postpandisrupterkitwithpoststand.aspx), a device that uses a small charge, like a shotgun shell, to propel a jet of water with extreme force, with the goal of separating the bomb’s components as quickly as possible without flame or explosion touching the bomb. ---
**Author:** ![davidm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidm/32/225_2.png) [@davidm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidm)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2016, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-not-just-pull-the-detonator/758738/22 "2016-06-30T00:23:35Z")
> [@Velocity](#): > > Depending on how sophisticated a bomb-making henchman we are talking about, the bomb would, presumably, as **Der Trihs** says, be designed in such a way as to defeat attempts at defusing it. Probably designed to go off, in fact, specifically if anyone tries to defuse it and only the bomb-maker knows the special way to neutralize it. But is that real life? That’s something done by some fictional evil mastermind that wants to toy with the hero. In real life they hide the thing, don’t let anyone know about it, and set it off remotely. ---
**Author:** ![davidm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidm/32/225_2.png) [@davidm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidm)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2016, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-not-just-pull-the-detonator/758738/23 "2016-06-30T00:28:00Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > [Here you go.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c-gpx5GVXWI) \*Castle \*may not have been the smartest show on TV, not by a long shot, but it had its moments. But he did it out of desperation, because of a lack of other options, not because he realized that removing the detonator or unhooking the battery would be sufficient. Plus he idiotically waited until literally the last second when his options had run out a while before that. ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2016, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-not-just-pull-the-detonator/758738/24 "2016-06-30T00:28:47Z")
> [@dropzone](#): > > Don’t real bomb teams have robots on tracks with TV cameras and shotguns? The first time I saw one was thirty years ago! You aim for the electronics and shoot. Might work better if the robot has a water hose. Wet electronics no worked. [Some do use liquids. But it acts more like a shaped charge than a hose.](http://www.team-technologies.com/noauth/DisrupterTools.aspx) I suppose the factual answer is if someone left a bomb designed to not be diffused, they might wire multiple detonators, triggers, batteries and decoys so that if you try to pull one detonator, another one goes off. Of course, the most egregious example is Die Hard with a vengeance. Simon sets up this elaborate explosive device in a school. The bomb squad struggles to disarm it before it goes off, but it’s too complex. Here’s the thing. They make a point of showing how Simon’s devices are binary explosives. e.g. they are perfectly safe so long as the two components don’t mix together. So all they really have to do is drain one of the containers or destroy the elaborate mixing mechanism. ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2016, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-not-just-pull-the-detonator/758738/25 "2016-06-30T00:32:43Z")
> [@davidm](#): > > But is that real life? That’s something done by some fictional evil mastermind that wants to toy with the hero. In real life they hide the thing, don’t let anyone know about it, and set it off remotely. [https://read.atavist.com/a-thousand-pounds-of-dynamite](https://read.atavist.com/a-thousand-pounds-of-dynamite) ---
**Author:** ![snfaulkner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snfaulkner/32/433_2.png) [@snfaulkner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snfaulkner)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2016, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-not-just-pull-the-detonator/758738/26 "2016-06-30T00:40:22Z")
> [@davidm](#): > > But he did it out of desperation, because of a lack of other options, not because he realized that removing the detonator or unhooking the battery would be sufficient. Plus he idiotically waited until literally the last second when his options had run out a while before that. You can very easily design a circuit to fire the charge by unhooking the battery. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2016, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-not-just-pull-the-detonator/758738/27 "2016-06-30T00:43:17Z")
All bombs are designed to be diffused. In fact, the parts of the bomb will diffuse very, very quickly. What you want to do with a bomb you find is to defuse it, not to diffuse it. ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2016, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-not-just-pull-the-detonator/758738/28 "2016-06-30T01:15:21Z")
> [@snfaulkner](#): > > Wet electronics eventually no work because it causes short circuits. Do you really want to cause a short across the timing mechanism connecting the detonator directly to the power source? But if you are operating a remote device from Quite a Long Way Away, so what? ---
**Author:** ![snfaulkner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snfaulkner/32/433_2.png) [@snfaulkner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snfaulkner)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2016, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-not-just-pull-the-detonator/758738/29 "2016-06-30T01:26:12Z")
> [@dropzone](#): > > But if you are operating a remote device from Quite a Long Way Away, so what? If you are trying to set off the bomb, then you are right. Who cares. If you are trying to defuse it, getting the electronics wet isn’t a good plan. ---
**Author:** ![El\_Kabong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/el_kabong/32/496_2.png) [@El\_Kabong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Kabong)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2016, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-not-just-pull-the-detonator/758738/30 "2016-06-30T01:57:27Z")
> [@Dale\_Sams](#): > > I hope to God the Russians can’t fit fusion bombs in suitcases! Don’t worry, I’m _sure_ TSA will catch it at check-in. ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2016, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-not-just-pull-the-detonator/758738/31 "2016-06-30T02:00:07Z")
> [@El\_Kabong](#): > > Don’t worry, I’m _sure_ TSA will catch it at check-in. They’ve got a special bin for those. ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2016, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-not-just-pull-the-detonator/758738/32 "2016-06-30T02:00:17Z")
> [@snfaulkner](#): > > If you are trying to set off the bomb, then you are right. Who cares. > > If you are trying to defuse it, getting the electronics wet isn’t a good plan. You have greater confidence in the reliability of electronics than I. Especially home made electronics. ---
**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2016, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-not-just-pull-the-detonator/758738/33 "2016-06-30T02:12:58Z")
So, do Bomb Squads in th’ movies discriminate against color-blind agents? ---
**Author:** ![snfaulkner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snfaulkner/32/433_2.png) [@snfaulkner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snfaulkner)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2016, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-not-just-pull-the-detonator/758738/34 "2016-06-30T02:29:28Z")
> [@dropzone](#): > > You have greater confidence in the reliability of electronics than I. Especially home made electronics. My point isn’t that water won’t break the electronics. My point is that in the process of breaking the electronics, by shorting capacitors and whatnots, a very tiny short caused by the water could trigger the shot. ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2016, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-not-just-pull-the-detonator/758738/35 "2016-06-30T02:35:37Z")
> [@davidm](#): > > But is that real life? That’s something done by some fictional evil mastermind that wants to toy with the hero. In real life they hide the thing, don’t let anyone know about it, and set it off remotely. True - I’m sure in real life it is like you describe, although maybe still with a few booby traps to kill responders. Since this is Cafe Society though, I presume we are talking about bombs that are designed to entertain. 😃 Disclaimer: I am in no way an expert on bombs or electronics. ---
**Author:** ![Trinopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/2bfe46/32.png) [@Trinopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trinopus)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2016, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-not-just-pull-the-detonator/758738/36 "2016-06-30T02:36:24Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > . . . Hell, they could have just beat on the thing with a crowbar for 5 minutes and it would have been reduced to junk without detonating. There was a comic book, “Albedo,” where someone had left a nuclear device ticking away…and the heroine just shot it with a high-velocity anti-tank round. Yeah, some Plutonium contamination, but, given the choices… ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2016, 2:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-not-just-pull-the-detonator/758738/37 "2016-06-30T02:41:27Z")
> [@snfaulkner](#): > > My point isn’t that water won’t break the electronics. My point is that in the process of breaking the electronics, by shorting capacitors and whatnots, a very tiny short caused by the water could trigger the shot. Or not enough. See msmith537’s link. Anyway, that’s what the shotgun is for. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2016, 2:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-not-just-pull-the-detonator/758738/38 "2016-06-30T02:45:14Z")
> [@davidm](#): > > And it has to be the _right_ wire. Because if you cut the wrong wire it will explode, because… that’s just the way bombs work! If you watched enough movies you would know that. And the colors of the wires must be _very_ important for some reason, otherwise any half competent bad guy would use the same color wires in order to foil the good guy. That one makes sense, at least. You use different colored wires in electronics because it makes it easier to tell which wire is going where. And when you’re building a bomb, getting that wrong tends to go very poorly for you, so you probably want to make extra sure you don’t make that mistake. ---
**Author:** ![minor7flat5](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/minor7flat5/32/258_2.png) [@minor7flat5](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/minor7flat5)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2016, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-not-just-pull-the-detonator/758738/39 "2016-06-30T02:46:31Z")
> [@snfaulkner](#): > > My point isn’t that water won’t break the electronics. My point is that in the process of breaking the electronics, by shorting capacitors and whatnots, a very tiny short caused by the water could trigger the shot. The entire purpose of the PAN Disrupter is to separate the components of the bomb as quickly as possible, so they don’t have a chance to send the signal. Certainly those who use such a device aim it so the supersonic slug of water strikes the safest spot, scattering everything. For the record, pure water is not a conductor by itself, and it won’t have time to dissolve any salts to become a conductor before the kinetic energy has torn apart the bomb. These devices are quite effective in making a bomb safe. ---
**Author:** ![UltraVires](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ecccb3/32.png) [@UltraVires](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UltraVires)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2016, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-not-just-pull-the-detonator/758738/40 "2016-06-30T02:50:29Z")
Don’t forget the extra wire that when cut causes the timer to count down faster. Bomb makers have a sense of humor that way. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-not-just-pull-the-detonator/758738.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-not-just-pull-the-detonator/758738.md?page=3)