How does electricity work again?

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July 20th, 2001, 08:28 AM
crackbeer

How does electricity work again?

I mention to a coworker that I was going over to Best Buy to buy a computer game, and she asks to tag along because she has to return a DIMM that she purchased in error.

We get there and approach the counter. A kid comes up and my coworker explains her deal. The kid says that he has to verify that the memory isn't defective before he can issue a credit. Fine. Sounds reasonable.

He steps back into the repair room and through the open door I see him step up to a computer that is clearly on (power LED's lit, and a windows desktop displayed on the monitor). A little red light appears in my head, but it all happened so fast...

He stuck the DIMM into the PC (I think it was an HP) and BOOM! A shower of sparks. A puff of smoke. A hellish shriek from the kid as he's thrown back from the PC.

"Holy ****, that must have hurt," I said. In hindsight, that was kinda insensitive of me to say.

The kid turns to face me and the whole front of his pants an part of his right leg are soaking wet.

A manager type person comes over and inquires what happened. We basically told him that the once perfectly functional DIMM was now almost certainly not so anymore, the kid probably needs an ambulance, and the HP system now appeared to have bigger problems than it had when the customer dropped it off.

The kid was ok, but I just couldn't help laughing my *** off for about 20 minutes after that. Never seen anyone piss their pants before, either...
July 20th, 2001, 08:35 AM
kingtbone

Did this really happen??? It sounds like some sort of story someone would make up! Still, if it's true, that's hilarious! I laughed for a while at this one.

"**** that must of hurt." Ha ha ha ha, no kidding. As the kid sits there in a pool of his own urine.
July 20th, 2001, 09:17 AM
cc_penguin

ROTFLMAO <IMG SRC="smilies/biggrin.gif" border="0"> <IMG SRC="smilies/biggrin.gif" border="0"> <IMG SRC="smilies/biggrin.gif" border="0">

Thanks I needed that today, Thanks!!!!
July 20th, 2001, 10:40 AM
Stanley_Kubrick

YYYEESSSS!
Sweet!
July 20th, 2001, 10:48 AM
CinderElmo

I feel sorry for the kid, but I would be willing to bet he never makes THAT mistake again.

<IMG SRC="smilies/eek.gif" border="0">
July 20th, 2001, 10:59 AM
kingtbone

Quote:

Originally posted by CinderElmo:
I feel sorry for the kid, but I would be willing to bet he never makes THAT mistake again.

<IMG SRC="smilies/eek.gif" border="0">

Or lives his life with an inexplicable fear of computers <IMG SRC="smilies/biggrin.gif" border="0">
July 20th, 2001, 12:12 PM
WesFlash

Be thankful the poor dude didn't get enough current through his heart to die. I used to work on radars, and you gotta turn stuff off if you are going to live when you work on those things. A service procedure checklist might help a few people, bu the talented ones won't look at it. I don't know how many times I used to catch the experienced technicians breaking rules like that kid did or not following ESD procedures. Worse, was when they did it in front of the inexperienced students.....that was always a riot. I, and my fellow instructors, would plan out who would make the best person to make an example of this way, and we made sure all of our eyes watched when it happened too.
July 20th, 2001, 12:37 PM
Quiet Thunder

"Hurt didn't it? Betcha won't do that again, will ya?"
July 20th, 2001, 12:57 PM
NakedMessiah

<IMG SRC="smilies/eek.gif" border="0"> Yes, the electricity will create incontinuity in the body <IMG SRC="smilies/biggrin.gif" border="0">
July 20th, 2001, 01:24 PM
Slipstream

That one's a belly laugh. Reminds me of a time I was getting a flat fixed at a Shell station. A mechanic( I use this term loosely)was trying to determine why some lady's car would not start. So to check the coil he pulls the coil wire from the distibutor and while holding it has the lady turn the engine over. The shock causes him to recoil so violently that he almost knocks himself out on the car's hood. While still staggering around he tries to nonchalantly explain to the lady that the coil is working.
July 20th, 2001, 01:47 PM
Stalemate

Quote:

I laughed until I stopped!

- From the album cover to Monty Python and the Holy Grail.

Pain *is* the best of teachers...
July 21st, 2001, 12:43 AM
In The Wind

Lets see, there are holes and there are electrons. The holes attract the electrons to themselves. I get it, the holes in the computer attract the electrons of the gentlemans brain, causing temporary lockup, during which time the hand did its own thing causing the fubar. I've wondered before why some people get addled around electronic equipment.
July 21st, 2001, 01:10 AM
Sowulo

Quote:

Originally posted by NakMess:
 <IMG SRC="smilies/eek.gif" border="0"> Yes, the electricity will create incontinuity in the body <IMG SRC="smilies/biggrin.gif" border="0">

When I was young (about 11 I think), I accidently took a leak on a fence post that was holding up an electric fence....I guess I kinda know how that guy feels.... <IMG SRC="smilies/biggrin.gif" border="0"> <IMG SRC="smilies/biggrin.gif" border="0"> <IMG SRC="smilies/biggrin.gif" border="0">
July 21st, 2001, 05:54 PM
Papa Smurf

The amount of times I've seen trainee techs get zapped by simple mistakes always makes me laugh. Thank god none have really hurt themselves in the process. I usually see this as a learning curve. That kid will think twice before plugging anything into a computer before 1st checking that its switched off.
July 21st, 2001, 08:11 PM
weazel

Quote:

Originally posted by Sowulo:


When I was young (about 11 I think), I accidently took a leak on a fence post that was holding up an electric fence....I guess I kinda know how that guy feels.... <IMG SRC="smilies/biggrin.gif" border="0"> <IMG SRC="smilies/biggrin.gif" border="0"> <IMG SRC="smilies/biggrin.gif" border="0">

YEOW!!!
Them thar elctryfied fences DO have a kick, dont they? <IMG SRC="smilies/eek.gif" border="0">
Reg
July 21st, 2001, 11:44 PM
Sowulo

Quote:

Originally posted by rfmathis:


YEOW!!!
Them thar elctryfied fences DO have a kick, dont they? <IMG SRC="smilies/eek.gif" border="0">
Reg

No permanent damage...I have two kids. <IMG SRC="smilies/biggrin.gif" border="0">
July 21st, 2001, 11:52 PM
Danger

Quote:

Originally posted by Sowulo:


When I was young (about 11 I think), I accidently took a leak on a fence post that was holding up an electric fence....I guess I kinda know how that guy feels.... <IMG SRC="smilies/biggrin.gif" border="0"> <IMG SRC="smilies/biggrin.gif" border="0"> <IMG SRC="smilies/biggrin.gif" border="0">

Lol <IMG SRC="smilies/smile.gif" border="0">

A long time ago, I was probably twelve, I had gone on a camping trip with my boy scout troop. One of the older boys (probably 16 or 17) actually was ASKING the scoutmaster if he would stop the van so that he could take a leak on an electric fence that was on the side of the road! Now THAT is stupidity! <IMG SRC="smilies/smile.gif" border="0">
July 22nd, 2001, 04:41 AM
Gabriel

Quote:

Originally posted by Sowulo:


No permanent damage...I have two kids. <IMG SRC="smilies/biggrin.gif" border="0">

Don't be so Sure...
}:->
July 22nd, 2001, 12:51 PM
Sowulo

Quote:

Originally posted by Gabriel:


Don't be so Sure...
}:->

Well, yeah, that was a pretty unusual starting point for an electro-lobotomy.... <IMG SRC="smilies/biggrin.gif" border="0">
July 22nd, 2001, 03:46 PM
[NeoZeeD]

hey go back to best buy and tell security if you can get a copy of the tape and send us a copy.

LOL thats some funny @ss Sh*t. <IMG SRC="smilies/biggrin.gif" border="0">
July 23rd, 2001, 06:28 AM
kingtbone

Quote:

Originally posted by Sowulo:
When I was young (about 11 I think), I accidently took a leak on a fence post that was holding up an electric fence....I guess I kinda know how that guy feels.... <IMG SRC="smilies/biggrin.gif" border="0"> <IMG SRC="smilies/biggrin.gif" border="0"> <IMG SRC="smilies/biggrin.gif" border="0">

Too bad you never had Ren & Stimpy when you were younger. "Don't whiz on the electric fence" was one of my favorite songs as a child. <IMG SRC="smilies/biggrin.gif" border="0">
July 23rd, 2001, 09:25 AM
Deca01

that was a good one! <IMG SRC="smilies/biggrin.gif" border="0">
July 24th, 2001, 05:55 PM
artpego

had a customer call me back after they picked up their new computer saying it was shocking them when they turned it on. i was naturally a bit concerned about the situation so i hopped in my car and drove to their house. when i get there, the guy starts yelling at me and telling me he is going to sue because it shocked him "real bad" . i asked him to calm down and eventually got him to show me where he kept his computer. it was down stairs in the basement on a metal table sitting on a concrete slab (clue number 1). i asked him to show me where it was that he had touched that shocked him and he pointed to the rear of the case. i check out the back and see that the seal had been broken (clue number 2) . i asked him if he had taken the computer apart. he denied it at first, then finally admitted that he had. when i asked why, he said "because it shocked me and i wanted to see if there were any losse wires". i went over and hit the power button, touching the back of the case... suprise suprise, no shock for me. i inform him of that and he barges up and touches the back and recoils with a little flich saying "it damn sure shocked me just then". i look down, and this guy is in his bare feet (clue number 3) . i patiently explain to the guy a bit of basic electronics and what a "ground" is. he looks at me and you can actually see the little light pop on in his head. he then decides to complain about how the machine had stopped working (i did notice that when i turned on the machine that it did not even start the POST), so i told him i would have to pop the case and see if he had dislodged anything from his exploring. he adamently refused to admit that he had done anything but look. as i started to pull off the case, i noticed that the floor was a bit damp and a nice watermarked trail came directly from the back of the washing machine (clue number 4). i get the case off and look inside, the chip on the modem actually looked like it had been shot with a phaser (a futuristic laser device for you non-trekkers). now after a thourough fact finding question session, i finally find out when this guy actually pulled the case and tried to "wiggle" the modem (re-read your clues to get the mental picture of what happend when the goofball... er client... decide to do so.)

he never did manage to call back with any more complaints or follow through with a law suit... wonder why? <IMG SRC="smilies/confused.gif" border="0">
July 24th, 2001, 10:00 PM
jmani

Quote:

ROTFLMAO

What does this mean?
July 24th, 2001, 10:24 PM
Sowulo

Quote:

Originally posted by FunkSoulBrotha:


What does this mean?

Rolling On The Floor Laughing My A$$ Off
July 24th, 2001, 10:28 PM
Chevelle

Are you serious???

ROTFLMAO=
Rolling
On
The
Floor
Laughing
My
***
Off
July 25th, 2001, 12:21 AM
Sowulo

Speaking of electricity....got the following in an email a few minutes ago:

Quote:

So this neutron walks into a bar and orders a beer.
"How much will that be?" the neutron asks.
"For you," replies the bartender," no charge"

My reply:

Quote:

So does an electron get paid to drink and a proton get stuck with
the tab???
July 25th, 2001, 12:22 AM
format c:

Surgen General warning; Do not pee on an electric fence, this is hazardous to your health
That poor kid, I could just picture him standing there in soaked jeans holding a fried dimm ( Wilye Coyote, Super genius ) At least no seriouse injury was incurred <IMG SRC="smilies/tongue.gif" border="0">
July 25th, 2001, 12:59 AM
KamicarZ

How did the saying go? 'Assumption is the mother of all f%^k ups. I've never plugged anything into a live machine, but I have come close with psu's which have tripped the inline fuse when I plug the power cable in... I also had a hairline crack in the lead which connects the monitor and the back of the power supply. I plugged it in and the charge climbed up my arm. Had a numb arm for about 5 minutes <IMG SRC="smilies/rolleyes.gif" border="0"> <IMG SRC="smilies/tongue.gif" border="0"> <IMG SRC="smilies/rolleyes.gif" border="0">
July 25th, 2001, 02:21 AM
RH0RT

Electricity can do that to you... ...that's why it's known as a SHOCK! <IMG SRC="smilies/confused.gif" border="0">
July 25th, 2001, 06:41 AM
raptorGT

First of all, electricity is good. It makes our computers work, but when no computer is there to absorb the 220 volts of power, it tends to cling to the closest human who's standing in a convenient pool of water or other conductive liquid. Since humans tend to think positively, electricity must be negative. Therefore, it's always the happiest people who get fried!
July 25th, 2001, 06:45 AM
Cygnus

OMG! That poor kid! LOL

How in the heck they put people who dont know enough working around those things ill never know.. <IMG SRC="smilies/rolleyes.gif" border="0">
July 25th, 2001, 06:48 AM
Kenny P.

Damn, that's funny!

Good thing he wasn't touching anything while pissing on himself otherwise he might have electrocuted himself!!!

Electron flow and magic smoke - it's what makes all those 'puter chips work!

Kenny P.
July 25th, 2001, 07:04 AM
tempdir

Electrical smoke and pee smell, I bet this was good for sales.
July 25th, 2001, 08:50 AM
USA 1

Ouch!!!
Well heres one.
Me in 4th or 5th grade.
Lite Brite.
I go to plug in.....
GSHHHHKKKKKKKkkkkk,
Nice little burn on my right hand and a major blister and I was seeing spots because of the flash......Oh and never ,I say NEVER try to see if a phone line is good by checking it with your tongue.......It ain't no 9 volt battery!!!!!! LOL
<IMG SRC="smilies/tongue.gif" border="0">
July 25th, 2001, 09:48 AM
derekb

hey Wesflash, the kid didn't suffer from a ESD discharge, the system was up and running when he plugged in the DIMM. I agree with your point though.
July 25th, 2001, 01:33 PM
DDDWarp

I have never ruined anything but once I plugged in a modem into a hot system. It zapped one finger pretty bad and I could not use for about 5 minutes. Both parts worked.

I will not tell you all of the almosts, "Is that system on" times.
July 25th, 2001, 11:36 PM
ClickHere2Surf.com

Quote:

Originally posted by WesFlash:
Be thankful the poor dude didn't get enough current through his heart to die. I used to work on radars, and you gotta turn stuff off if you are going to live when you work on those things. A service procedure checklist might help a few people, bu the talented ones won't look at it. I don't know how many times I used to catch the experienced technicians breaking rules like that kid did or not following ESD procedures. Worse, was when they did it in front of the inexperienced students.....that was always a riot. I, and my fellow instructors, would plan out who would make the best person to make an example of this way, and we made sure all of our eyes watched when it happened too.

A PC is 12 volts, you can't get electrocuted with that even with wet hands!
July 26th, 2001, 06:58 AM
Platypus

Quote:

Originally posted by ClickHere2Surf.com:


A PC is 12 volts, you can't get electrocuted with that even with wet hands!

<IMG SRC="smilies/biggrin.gif" border="0"> Yeeesss, and a DIMM will have 5 volts at most, probably 3.3, interesting isn't it?

However with an AT case, inadvertently brushing a spare fingertip against a terminal on the back of the power switch could do it.
July 26th, 2001, 08:08 AM
In The Wind

Not many of the PS on current mfg equipment has an isolation xformer. When it goes to fail mode, you could possibly find lots of high voltage where it shouldn't be, hopefully for very short times, but I wouldn't want my hand in the middle either. RE electric fences, I grew up with them, they provided many an amusing moment and many a shocking reminder. I used to be able to go thru on the "off" cycle but I was a lot younger then.