The smoke is what makes it work.

It was loud…. It was the sound of bacon frying, amplified times 50. Light was emitted brighter than the sun. Bright blue color with hues of orange and red. The heat so immense that your skin would tan in milliseconds. The smell of molten copper, burnt plastic, and rotten salmon filled the air. Then there was the smoke… ohhhhhh the magic smoke. Bright yellow magic smoke in fact, filling the air so thick you couldn’t see. Staining the concrete block wall with a shit stain of death… It was the death… The death of a Miller Syncrowave 350 TIG welder. A death so glorious, that she caused a 60 amp 480 volt receptacle to vaporize. A square D disconnect box actually disconnected itself from its anchor bolts in the wall because of her glory. Some men fled. Some stood motionless with fear. One particular man needed a clean pair of shorts after her marvelous display. It was a glorious display my friends… a glorious display.
 
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Sometimes it's just a little bit of smoke. Or rather, sometimes it's the last puff let out like a dying gasp of that magic smoke engine inside everything.

For example. One time I was starting up a brand new Trane screw chiller. First of it's kind, new generation of products. Power had been applied by the electricians on the job, but the compressor crank case heaters didn't come online.

So, I investigated. Turned out the big, 150 amp breaker on the unit was off.

Whelpz, that solves it. Let's just flip that Brea.....

*BOOM!!!!!*

Fuck fuck fuck


My future foreman was standing behind me, brainless. He drooled a little, with death in his eyes. He must've just been shot! No...no...he was fine. He's just like that.

A tuft of smoke released from the compressor VFD. Apparently they don't check those for shorts at the factory...or something.

They say it's hard to stop a Trane. That is true...only because they're a pain to actually...you know...get started.
 
Word to the wise:

The 24v connections only have smoke that's rated for 24v of smoke food. You can apply 24v to the 208v smoke food rated terminals, but it won't do you much good. But you should absolutely never connect the 208v smoke food supply to the 24v smoke food terminals.

Your smoke will over eat, become fat, and explode.

Similarly, if your 2 watt rated resistors feeding the output stage of a headphone amplifier are starting to show signs of smoke loss, maybe you should double check that you didn't use two n-type MOSFETs in the push/pull output stage of that channel. You big dummy.
 
Never stand naked in a steel sink of water and stick a butter knife in a 1950s wiring trailer home toaster.

Smoke on the Water baby.
 
Never stand naked in a steel sink of water and stick a butter knife in a 1950s wiring trailer home toaster.

Smoke on the Water baby.
Do it in an airplane and you'll get a fire in the....uhhhh...fire in the....uhhhh....hold up, I had something for this...
 
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My future foreman was standing behind me, brainless. He drooled a little, with death in his eyes. He must've just been shot! No...no...he was fine. He's just like that.
These are all pure poetry, but this one is just such a clear image. Nice work Stickman!!
 
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Word to the wise:

The 24v connections only have smoke that's rated for 24v of smoke food. You can apply 24v to the 208v smoke food rated terminals, but it won't do you much good. But you should absolutely never connect the 208v smoke food supply to the 24v smoke food terminals.

Your smoke will over eat, become fat, and explode.

Similarly, if your 2 watt rated resistors feeding the output stage of a headphone amplifier are starting to show signs of smoke loss, maybe you should double check that you didn't use two n-type MOSFETs in the push/pull output stage of that channel. You big dummy.
Tell me about it, years ago I was doing a start up and apparently whilst wiring the outdoor unit the electrician freed a wire from the contactor and just stuck back on an open terminal, 240v terminal, 24v control wire, I throw the switch and blew the faceplate off the thermostat when the mercury bulb exploded, not mention frying the transformer in the furnace! I guess now days that carpet would have to be removed by a remiedation team in hazmat suits
 
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