Walter,

On Fri, 06 Jan 2006 08:45:57 -0500, Walter Banks wrote:

> A project box with large switch,  neon indicator lamp and  electrical cord that made the rounds at one of 
the summer jobs I had with a neat typewritten label that said
> 
> Handy Dandy Fuse Popper
> 
> 1) Plug it in
> 2) Light goes on
> 3) Press button
> 4) Lights go out
> 
> The push button switch (50 amp or more rating) and a neon bulb indicator light connected in parallel across 
the mains.

It wouldn't work in Britain - our lighting circuits are always separate from the sockets, and plugtops have 
their own fuse!  :-)

When I was young (15) and very foolish my mother's car battery was flat (low on charge, not as in pancake :-) 
and I was given the job of removing it from the car and bringing it and charging it - there was no way to do 
it while still in the car.

Having done so, the battery was sitting in the hall awaiting refitting to the car, and I thought I'd test it 
to make sure it was charged... by quickly swiping a piece of thin wire (one core of telephone cable I think) 
across the terminals... the resultant release of energy welded the last inch of wire to each terminal, and 
vapourised the rest, insulation and all!  I was dazzled by the flash for some time.  Quite why it didn't burn 
my fingers I will never know, but I now know I was very lucky not to detonate the gasses that could have been 
around from the charging (Hydrogen and Oxygen in just the right ratio for an explosion).

When I look back at some of the stupid things I've done, I'm amazed that I've avoided a Darwin Award...

Cheers,


Howard Winter
St.Albans, England


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