When Electricity Fights Back

[Anderton]

I always take a barrier strip with me to European gigs. All my gear works at 110/220, so I just need one adapter for the barrier strip, and plug my normal gear into the strip.

So last time I went over, I couldn't find my usual barrier strip so I brought a different one. No big deal, right?

Well, it is if the barrier strip has overvoltage/spike protection. Yup, I plugged in the strip, and it made pretty colored sparks and what was probably toxic smoke.

[Anderton]

Then there are the "epic fails" that are so failure-prone the idea itself fails before it can do any more damage.

Take the J-CON speaker connection adapter that made a mercifully brief showing at NAMM a few years back. Basically, it let you use a heavy-duty AC extension cords for speaker connections.

I can just see the roadie now...time to hook up the speakers...uh, is this the J-CON cable or the AC extension cord? Let's see, plug it in...

Bye-bye, speakers. Far as I know it was never produced once people at NAMM started mumbling things about about liability...

[Mark Wein]

I played a church carnival a few years back where their "professional electrician" had run 220 to the stage power. We plug in, turn on an hear pops. My '66 Bassman blew a fuse, my Boss TU-12 fried and the Bassists Furman started spewing smoke....it did save his Eden amp, though....

When we had the eventual confrontation with the event staff I was accused of "plugging into outlets that I hadn't tested yet", and that made it my fault...we later resolved things (I am surprised I was not struck with lightning after some of the things I said), I got to go shopping at GC for tuners on their tab and we even played the second night we were booked for...

[frankiej]

Ive been shocked like 10 times unplugging things from outlets. My thumb and arm has gone numb each time.

[kevinnem]

I once blew up what I think , .. was a 600 amp fuse.

An old building, and a presumibly color blind idiot hook up the cam feeders.

You whould be suprised how much electricity can go through a ground shorted cam feeder.....

[canoehead]

First gig with my "newly refurbished" Hammond M3 and Leslie 147. Having fun jammin' when it's my turn to sing. My mouth and the microphone become the grounding point for the broken and ungrounded connection between the 147 and Leslie cable. That was not a fun time. In fact, a recent survey indicates that 4 out of 5 dentists do not recommend having that amount of voltage go through your lips! And I always thought the weight of the Hammond made it dangerous. Nothing as exciting as playing an instrument that wants to kill you!

Cheers,
Canoe

[Kikaruu]

I've been shocked about three times, usually outlet related it. I was recently shocked by the innards of a disposable camera.

[bdhn]

urinated on an electric fence once,does that count

[Kikaruu]

urinated on an electric fence once,does that count

Only if you were shocked. :cop:



btw, an uncouth fellow would say, "Pics or it didn't happen." Don't worry, I believe you. ;)

[Sonic Jedi]

One time after being shocked by a 400V source, immediately after I thought "the path of the current was from my right hand to my left, and the biggest danger from shock is the heart stopping", so I placed my hand on my jugular and took my own pulse.

.... good thing I still had a pulse. I'm not sure what I would have said in that last moment before falling over. "Need CPR!" comes to mind.

[Kikaruu]

One time after being shocked by a 400V source, immediately after I thought "the path of the current was from my right hand to my left, and the biggest danger from shock is the heart stopping", so I placed my hand on my jugular and took my own pulse.

.... good thing I still had a pulse. I'm not sure what I would have said in that last moment before falling over. "Need CPR!" comes to mind.

Poor guy... But I'm glad you're alive and well today! :thu:

[crowquill]

Bump teh on topic threadz :thu:

[Kikaruu]

Bump teh on topic threadz :thu:

I like your spirit. :thu: