Smoke escapes, Julie keeps fingers

[tallgirl]

So ... my department is under a challenge to reduce capital expenses, which means I scrounge for hardware.

Today I mooched a 12 port 100BaseTX switch from a co-worker, put it in a rack, wired it up, configured two machines to talk to it, and tested it -- everything worked great. I then moved the switch, oh so gently, to the side to see how the mounting brackets were going to line up with the rack's rails, at which point some pretty blue sparks came out from the side of the switch, mere inches from my finger tips, followed by the smoke escaping.

Excitement was had by all ...

 

[al hildenbrand]

Ah, yes. . .the Smoke Theory of Electricity. . .once the smoke escapes from the conductor, the electricity is no longer there. . .

 

[muskiedog]

So what will you do next time? Have you learned from this amusement?

 

[dbuckley]

Perhaps that's what one gets for 'borrowing' kit

You should rerally name and shame the brand.

 

[zbang]

Hmm, last item that I let the smoke out of was a UPS . I think the inrush of a PC that had been disconnected for a while actually did the popping. The PC later powered up just fine on wall power (me using a switched power strip and extension cable to check this) and nothing else smoked.

The UPS is now in the electronics recycling pile. Since it was free, except for the cost of the batteries, it wasn't a big hit on the wallet. And, the batteries were about at end-of-life anyway.

 

[tallgirl]

So what will you do next time? Have you learned from this amusement?

Borrow gear that was actually being used before I borrowed it? Let one of my coworkers do it next time? Bring hotdogs?

 

[tallgirl]

Perhaps that's what one gets for 'borrowing' kit

You should rerally name and shame the brand.

I don't think so. I could probably get fired for that ...

 

[davidr43229]

In the service I was in AIMD which simply means we fixed electronic gear. we had test benches that were back to back. I always used to run a plastic hose into the gear that the other bench tech was working on , and blew smoke through the hose (we could smoke then). You should have seen his face :roll: as smoke rolled out oh his gear.....
Just my $.02

 

[ptonsparky]

Let the smoke out last fall. One of those HUA moments. Customer was right next to me to watch flames and smoke. Just as I reached for off toggle I remembered no gloves on. Another HUA moment. Nice blue flame about 3" was coming out of what once was control switch. Replaced all parts with new, and eventually the red face diminished.

 

[cowboyjwc]

When ever that happens you should turn to the customer and say, "OK, we've got power".

With the HO right there I once tried to move some wires with my screw driver, causing a hugh spark and me getting hit in the cheek with some melted copper. I then reached in there again and this time caught a piece right at the corner of my eye, cussing, I turned around and threw my now destroyed screw driver across her yard where it then stuck in her fence. She kept asking if I was ok and I told her I was, she said that it sure didn't seem like it. I told her what I was mad about is that not only was I dumb enough to do it once, I had to turn right around and do it a second time.

Lesson learned? Don't do it a second time.

Of course I found out where the short was. : )

 

[Awg-Dawg]

When ever that happens you should turn to the customer and say, "OK, we've got power".

I keep picturing that in Ben Steins (think Ferris Buellers day off)voice

 

[robbietan]

I was in a power plant when smoke (and some flames) start coming out from a panel. no excitement, the guys just shrugged and 'we'll fix it after the smoke dies out'.

rat is fried, plant did not trip, beers after work.


moral: cover up every conceivable rat entrance to the control room

 

[brian john]

So ... my department is under a challenge to reduce capital expenses, which means I scrounge for hardware.

We see this all the time, facilities try to trim budgets, do they reduce the number of plants in the front lobby, do they reduce the top salaries. No they seem to start with maintenance budgets. Cut the employees, reduce benefits, stop preventative maintenance, then wonder why there are problems.

 

[FNCnca]

We see this all the time, facilities try to trim budgets, do they reduce the number of plants in the front lobby, do they reduce the top salaries. No they seem to start with maintenance budgets. Cut the employees, reduce benefits, stop preventative maintenance, then wonder why there are problems.

I live this. My departments maint. budget has been halved each of the last three years. I have become a master Illusionist, I make things work with nothing.
Just this past January, the front office was remodeled, for no other reason than the receptionist thought it would look nice. The money spent was more than what was taken away from me for the year.

 

[aja21]

I live this. My departments maint. budget has been halved each of the last three years. I have become a master Illusionist, I make things work with nothing.
Just this past January, the front office was remodeled, for no other reason than the receptionist thought it would look nice. The money spent was more than what was taken away from me for the year.

Every time theres a retirement in maintenance or a budget cut we hire a new engineer.

 

[muskiedog]

I had them cut my budget that was for their license, air permits, hazardous waste streams and then come to me saying I was over budget. I had to tell them what regulatory agency do you want on your back. Amazing how the found the monies.

 

[tallgirl]

I had them cut my budget that was for their license, air permits, hazardous waste streams and then come to me saying I was over budget. I had to tell them what regulatory agency do you want on your back. Amazing how the found the monies.

We have bake sales and car washes at work.

Not really, but one of these days I'm going to stand out in front of the cafeteria with a sign begging for money.

 

[cowboyjwc]

I can just see tallgirl with her sign, "Will work for money"

 

[jsharvey]

Ah, yes. . .the Smoke Theory of Electricity. . .once the smoke escapes from the conductor, the electricity is no longer there. . .

UNLESS,, the conductor is attached to a FPE breaker

 

[jsharvey]

I live this. My departments maint. budget has been halved each of the last three years. I have become a master Illusionist, I make things work with nothing.

This reminds me of an old say we had back when I wore a blue suit for Uncle Sam,, " We the willing, Led by the unknowing, directed by the ungrateful have done so much for so long that we are now qualified to do anything, anywhere, anytime with absolutely nothing, including a thanks"

J.S.Harvey