If I ever need to defuse a time bomb, what color wire should I cut (assuming color standards were followed)?

Answer 1

Cut either wire that leads to the detonator, which will be a small metal cylinder that is imbedded in either the primary charge or a booster charge (i.e., the charge that is intended to set off the primary charge).

Tragically, bombers have few standards when it comes to manufacturing destructive devices; few specifications have been laid down by the Mad Bomber's Association (International) to make sure that all mad bombers use the same color scheme. Besides, a small portion of these mad bombers will be color-blind, and heaven help you if you come across a blue-green color-blind anarchist and you're told to cut the blue wire.

Cutting wires that lead from batteries may be a poor choice, versus those that lead to the detonator, as collapsing circuits- which cause the bomb to detonate if one or more power source is lost- may cause it to go off anyway. Cutting power to the detonator is sure to work- unless, of course, there are more detonators. In this case, as it is impossible to sense whether a detonator's wire is cut (unless wrapped in a very slender wire- check to ensure there's no very thin, almost hair-like wire wrapped or glued to the outside of the wire), cutting them in series will work. Snip, snip, snip.

And, in fact, expect more than one detonator if the mad bomber knows what he is doing; redundancy is essential in the proper manufacture of mad bombs.

Lastly, it is certainly possible to manufacture a device that cannot be defused. Tremblers (which make even the slightest motion of the device impossible) are very easy to make, as are switches and pull-tabs that make just picking the device up a potentially lethal event. It is also possible to imbed the entire device within the bomb so that no electrical or electronic systems are visible.

Lastly, some types of detonators (NONEL, for example) have no wires; they have a tube that leads to them- one single, usually colorful orange or yellow, plastic tube. Just cut the tube; it's harmless, and used only to transmit the shock wave- hence the term 'shock tube.'

Answer 2

If you are a Hollywood fan, then cut the red wire. However try cutting another one and make up the mind to cut the red one only at the last moment i.e (may be 2 seconds to go)

I really wish terrorists followed some standards.

Answer 3

Always cute the red wire. As its the live wire and that would disarm the bomb. And dont ever cut the blue wire because you wouldnt live to tell the tale! Good luck and godspeed in your travels and in your bombs!

Answer 4

There are no color standards. If their where anyone that wanted to blow you up wouldn't follow them. To disarm a bomb, you need to be able to determine what each wire is used for.

Answer 5

That's the $64,000 question. Unfortunately bomb makers have not seen fit to standardize their wire colors.

Answer 6

Make sure im far away when you cut the wire ill put it that way.

Answer 7

That's quite a big assumption, and possibly one the bombmaker thought of before you did.

I'd leave it to an expert.

Answer 8

I would go blue, red signals danger and if u cut the dangerous one, you will die.

Answer 9

I agree with silver. You should go ask MacGyver!!

Answer 10

it easy really cut them all at once!