I had a potential customer call me tonight and say that they saw what looked like a "static electricity charge" in the corner of their bedroom, suspended in the air, near the ceiling. I told him that I have never heard that one before. I suggested that I or other electrician check the house for wiring problems, but I don't have a clue what it was. I wanted to suggest that he might slow down on the medication. Anyone had one of those calls?
strange call
- Thread starter difowler1
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yankj
Senior Member
- Location
- Carrollton, Texas
I once had a second grade teacher who had two little boys tell her that electicity came out of a receptacle and floated around the room and landed on a desk. She was convinced they were telling the truth. Okaaaay.:roll:
K8MHZ
Senior Member
- Occupation
- Electrician
It may have been ball lightning.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ball_lightning
A friend of mine, an electrical inspector, has seen it twice inside houses. Very rare, but real nonetheless.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ball_lightning
A friend of mine, an electrical inspector, has seen it twice inside houses. Very rare, but real nonetheless.
K8MHZ
Senior Member
- Occupation
- Electrician
IIRC, one of the instances my inspector friend had, the ball did originate from a wall receptacle after a lightning strike. It then traveled around the house before it fizzled out. The boys may have been telling the truth.
gadfly56
Senior Member
- Location
- New Jersey
- Occupation
- Professional Engineer, Fire & Life Safety
It may also be "St. Elmo's fire", a related but distinct phenomenon.
donf
Member
- Location
- Tidewater Virginia
Back at you.
Back at you.
I once told a particular annoying customer that the unit I was working on had a defective power supply and that the resulting electron leak may have damaged her concrete floor.
She got out the Bald man cleaner and started scrubbing at the front of the garage while I finished the work. I did not even feel the least bit of guilt.
Back at you.
I once told a particular annoying customer that the unit I was working on had a defective power supply and that the resulting electron leak may have damaged her concrete floor.
She got out the Bald man cleaner and started scrubbing at the front of the garage while I finished the work. I did not even feel the least bit of guilt.
yankj
Senior Member
- Location
- Carrollton, Texas
Again I say "Okaaay":roll:
stevebea
Senior Member
- Location
- Southeastern PA
If I did I probably would tell them to call back if it's a reoccuring problem, otherwise chalk it up to unsolved mysteries. :thumbsup:
readydave8
re member
- Location
- Clarkesville, Georgia
- Occupation
- electrician
I went on a service call and when I took the cover off the panel found a breaker turned off, didn't see it with cover on because it was covered with a piece of paper saying "leave on." I didn't want to embarrass customer and I wanted to get paid, so I told her a wire was bent too tight and the electricity couldn't get thru. I got my check & got out quick before she had a chance to tell anyone else what the problem turned out to be.
- Location
- Simi Valley, CA
Why couldn't it have been a static charge? If the weather conditions were right or they use a dehumidifier and the wall covering and the ceiling finish were right?
When I was a kid living in Reno, it was a crap shoot sometimes on how bad it was going to hurt when you opened the front door. I'd seen sparks of at least 6" jump out and bite you.
Or it could have been a ghost.
When I was a kid living in Reno, it was a crap shoot sometimes on how bad it was going to hurt when you opened the front door. I'd seen sparks of at least 6" jump out and bite you.
Or it could have been a ghost.
Cow
Senior Member
- Location
- Eastern Oregon
- Occupation
- Electrician
I didn't know I needed my hip waders for this place!!
readydave8
re member
- Location
- Clarkesville, Georgia
- Occupation
- electrician
When I know I can't blind them with my brilliance, I try baffling them with my bs.
iMuse97
Senior Member
- Location
- Chicagoland
Haven't really noticed anything weird so far... here in Chicagoland we have politicians that can tell stories that far outdistance anything I've ever read on this forum. We've even given one of these
politicians to the whole country so that they can see how we do it over by here.
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kwired
Electron manager
- Location
- NE Nebraska
Haven't really noticed anything weird so far... here in Chicagoland we have politicians that can tell stories that far outdistance anything I've ever read on this forum. We've even given one of these
Stop sharing with us
Sorry, couldn't resist.
- Status