RE: OT.. I blew the capacitor on the IR board ...spectacular !!!!!

["Keith Doxey" <lists.diyha@xxxxxxx>]

I was repairing a mains operated timer once and failed to spot a short circuit diode.

 

This resulted in the AC mains being applied to an electrolytic capacitor instead of half wave rectified DC.

 

I was pondering why the timer was working but accompanied by the relay buzzing when there was an almighty bang and the case of the capacitor burst through the plastic case of the timer and embedded itself in the kitchen ceiling. Only seconds earlier I had been leaning directly over it !

 

It certainly put the wind up me :-(

 

At college we used to connect large electrolytic capacitors in reverse across the bench power supplies and set the current limit low so they took time to charge up. Partway through the lecture it would go off with a bang. That was in my imature days before I was aware of the nasty chemicals contained within although probably no worse then the Mercury we used to shove around the bench in the science lab in primary school.

 

Keith

www.diyha.co.uk
www.kat5.tv

-----Original Message-----
From: Campbell Macdonald [mailto:c.macd@xxxxxxx]
Sent: 14 May 2002 23:46
To: ukha_d@xxxxxxxSubject: [ukha_d] OT.. I blew the capacitor on the IR board ...spectacular !!!!!

Whilst mucking about the other day, I inadvertantly crossed my 12v supply wires to one of Ian Bird's original IR boards....It blew the 47uF capacitor in spectacular style. A pink plume and silver streaks across the paper below... and flames of course....It was at work during lunch when I was playing and fortunately the fire alarm didn't go off (i was sweating it!!!). The smell was terrible...for ages even with fans to waft it to the admin dept....they kept complaining..

 

Ah well fun over for another day...

 

Campbell

 

For more information: http://www.automatedhome.co.uk
Post message: ukha_d@xxxxxxx
Subscribe:  ukha_d-subscribe@xxxxxxx
Unsubscribe:  ukha_d-unsubscribe@xxxxxxx
List owner:  ukha_d-owner@xxxxxxx

Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of Service.

Yahoo! Groups Sponsor

ADVERTISEMENT

For more information: http://www.automatedhome.co.uk
Post message: ukha_d@xxxxxxx
Subscribe:  ukha_d-subscribe@xxxxxxx
Unsubscribe:  ukha_d-unsubscribe@xxxxxxx
List owner:  ukha_d-owner@xxxxxxx

Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of Service.