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Experts date the beginning of the tech boom to somewhere in the 1990s. We've been living with microchips, laptops, and routers for around 30 years, yet sometimes we don't abide by the simplest safety measures. Surprisingly, even 66% of Americans don't consider themselves tech-savvy. After you've scrolled through this list, you might understand why.
It might seem that most people should know not to microwave a laptop or to hang a bunch of wires from the ceiling, yet some don't. Bored Panda found the craziest examples of people mishandling all kinds of electronics, and we present the best of the worst to you here. It makes you wonder: how have humans made it this long?
This post may include affiliate links.
#1
So Mac Doesnt Support Windows But Atleast It Supports Doors
Forrest Hobbs 1 month ago (edited)
Tucker Cahooter; I've got one on my desk. It's a lot lighter than most monitor + CPU separate combinations - and in any case, it's meant to be a desktop machine, not portable. If you want a really heavy all-in-one design, try one of these: https://www.ricomputermuseum.org/collections-gallery/equipment/apollo-dn330 (the disc drives - hard and 8" floppy - were in a separate case with caster wheels that sat on the floor. Open-reel or cartridge tape drives were an optional extra). The keyboard case is made out of steel and it's strong enough to support the weight of a Unix guru sat on it across the arms of a chair - I watched in awe.
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Forrest Hobbs 1 month ago
Red Wyvern Emperor: yeah, you're totally right. I mean, Apple makes such terrible hardware that no-one ever buys it and the company's close to going bust. https://www.macrotrends.net/stocks/charts/AAPL/apple/net-worth. Just sayin' 😉
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RELATED:
#2
Apply Kirchhoff's Laws
Uncle Panda 1 month ago
With that cute little bit of eggshell still on his head.
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Barong 1 month ago
I've seen lines like this. It's wild. If there is a problem, I have doubts they trace the line and fix it. They probably just abandon the old failed connection and add a new one. That and if someone wanted to add a line and pirate services by adding their own connection, who would know?
StumblingThroughLife 1 month ago
I gather that they haven't moved to underground cables yet .... but then if it is purely in rural areas (overhead cables are still in a lot of UK countryside - as well as satellite - tbf), understandable - but that looks like a (massive fire/blackout waiting to happen.
Eugenia 🇮🇹🤌 1 month ago (edited)
The guy is wearing an helmet and gloves, so what's the issue here?
Beth Wheeler 1 month ago
Oh dear God in heaven. what a nightmare! All if those lines are dead for him to be up there. My ex was a lineman for over 30 & there are times that they do hot work. The trucks are always grounded if they're in the bucket. They have special gloves and sleeves while working whether in a bucket or on a pole.
#3
This Coffee Grinder Fills Its Base, Motor, And Circuit Boards Up With Grounds
Cygnus_X_2112:
"That's grounds to buy a new coffee grinder"
Watton:
"Whoever greenlit the design for this is gonna get roasted."
As humans, we're used to adapting to difficult circumstances. After all, it's what has helped us remain on this Earth for so long. What's more, we're the innovators who have invented electronics: the TV, the computer, the smartphone, and the microchip were all conceptualized and made by humans.
So, why do we sometimes feel so behind on the current tech trends? Naturally, age has something to do with it. Older people usually feel less comfortable using devices independently and are slower to adapt to new technologies. In fact, 26% of U.S. adults said during the pandemic that they usually needed someone else to show them how to use an electronic device.
#4
User Spilt Coffee On His Laptop, So He Put It In The Oven To Dry It Out
Brian Droste 1 month ago (edited)
I am not very good with modern technology but at least I know enough not to put a keyboard in a oven to dry it out or if someone tells me to clean a keyboard not to wash it with soap and water.
attunedsorcerer 1 month ago
Brilliant! Maybe put it in the freezer for sometime. Let the keys magically go back to its original shape.
#5
Errrr Guys, My Capacitor Scares Me, It Has Blinky Eyes
Anthony Elmore 1 month ago
I find this oddly relatable. I call him Bob. mechani_sp...d438f3.jpg 
#6
Who Lost Their SD Card?
Anthony Elmore 1 month ago
Probably, but I once had a boss who didn't understand that it takes a computer more time to simulate liquid flow than it takes the actual liquid to flow. Never rule out the possibility.
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Mary Peace 1 month ago
I've been using pins wrong for quite a few years, then.
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Rick Murray 1 month ago
Back in my day, people did this with floppy discs. The 5.25" (actual floppy floppy) sort.
WubiDubi 1 month ago
My first impression from the thumnail was oh it's a magnet, it's likely fine. That card got pinned like a butterfly.
Bi.Felicia 1 month ago
I think the card was most likely stung by a bee than pinned like a butterfly.
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Mary Peace 1 month ago
Not technically minded but I'm guessing that was the joke!
Load More Replies...The pandemic exposed the lack of tech-savviness in younger people, too. 47% of parents "with lower tech readiness" said they had some difficulty helping their children with setting up online school instructions. People didn't like using technology for communication, either, as only 17% believed that it was as good as in-person conversations.
Younger and more financially well-off Americans tend to be more interested in technology. A recent YouGov survey showed that 26% of U.S. adults aged 55 and up are not very interested in tech, and 19% even find it hard to learn about new technologies. Similarly, 26% of lower-income Americans have little interest in tech, and 15% say it is hard to learn.
#7
People That Use PC Cables To Rest Their Feet
Roxy222uk 1 month ago
Well the employer should be providing furniture so that the person can sit comfortably at their computer, ffs
Riley Quinn 1 month ago
I put a board up along the wall after I noticed I kept getting tangled in all the cords. Now I can stretch my feet out without yanking the cables/wires.
Tucker Cahooter 1 month ago
Well my feet are always getting entangled in the cables but I have never done it deliberately
#8
8-Year-Old Cousin Stabbed My 300 Dollar All In One Computer When I Refused To Let Him Use It
Today my 8-year-old cousin was visiting my house. He was walking around the house when he noticed that I had a pc. He instantly started asking me if he could use it, and ofcourse i said no, he asked me again, and again and again until he finally just walked over and started trying to use it. I quickly unplugged my pc before he could modify anything. He started screaming and crying. My mom and his mom came over to see what was going on. I told my mom what he was doing, and she told me to let him use my computer because I should be "sharing" my stuff. My mom eventually told me that if I didnt share with him, she would take my computer away from me. I said "Fine ill let him use it". I plugged it back in and left the room. Not even a minute later he came out to ask me for my password. I told him that I wasnt going to give it to him. Then he stormed back into the room and picked up some scissors that I had out and started violently stabbing my computer screen until the scissors literally got stuck in the screen. His mom offered to give me money to get me a new computer but my mom told her that I didnt need it since I own multiple computers. Now ill need to save up for a new one.
DC 1 month ago
Or at least be rid of the current one. They suck, regardless of there being a replacement of theirs or not.
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Display Name 1 month ago
This was his house? It sounds like Mom has way too much control and is overstepping...
Rali Meyer 1 month ago
kids should have insurance for this. And medical aid for two broken legs
Rick Murray 1 month ago (edited)
And when OP leaves home and goes NC with his spectacularly sh*tty mother, she'll be all "why?". Well, this. This sh*t right here. First, you don't have to share with indirect relatives who happen to be visiting, and second if I was the parent in this situation that brat would never step foot in the house ever again. Today he stabbed a computer. How d'you plan to deal with what happens if he tries to stab a pet or a person?
#9
What Does The Red Light Mean?
Chocolate llama 1 month ago
That's just thinking ahead. Bolts can't be stuck if they're molten
Bill Swallow 1 month ago
IT MEANS IT'S TIME TO HEAD FOR THE MAIN BREAKER PANEL AS FAST AS POSSIBLE!!!
Beth Wheeler 1 month ago
I literally gasped. Turn the breaker off and call an electrician fast!
Despite having doubts about their ability to adapt to new technology, most Americans still want to own the newest gadgets. Smartphones, smart watches, and the newest model laptop: a whopping 77% of Americans think that it's essential to own the latest electronics. Unfortunately, few can afford them, and, as a result, many even go into debt to be able to buy them. 28% of Americans say that owning the latest gadget is even more important than paying the bills.
#10
Help. How Do I Turn My Night Light Off??
Wyndmere 1 month ago
Like NOW. RIGHT NOW. -- I realize this photo was from a while ago. Do you still have a house?
Load More Replies... Forrest Hobbs 1 month ago
And this, people, is a great advert for RCDs (aka GFCI, RCCB, or ELCB). They're primarily to protect people from fatal electric shocks, but will also trip out when that sort of thing is going on. Flames conduct electricity. https://www.electricalsafetyfirst.org.uk/guidance/safety-around-the-home/rcds-explained/. It's also an advert for smoke detectors and professional electricians with qualifications and professional test gear... 😬
Rick Murray 1 month ago
Now you see this is why over this side of the ocean we run stuff at 230V. That way we can happily run a 3kW kettle and nothing gets warm except the water.
Riley Quinn 1 month ago
Go to the circuit breaker. It's a box on the wall somewhere in your home with lots of unmarked or mislabeled buttons. Start shutting off the buttons, checking each room to see what you turned off. Eventually, you'll shut off the power to this outlet. Then, first thing in the morning, call an electrician.
Beth Wheeler 1 month ago
Nope you silly goose, flipping the main breaker, call 911 because you have a fire. Grab the fire extinguisher if you have 1 and an electrician.
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Papa 1 month ago
Even without it, shouldn't the breaker trip before it reaches this point?
Load More Replies... Mary Peace 1 month ago
Don't try and turn it off because it isn't a good idea to go to bed with it like that.
Brian Droste 1 month ago
Unplug the plug. Don't usevit again untily ou call a qualifying electrician to find out why that is doing that.
#11
This Router At School
Glix Drap 1 month ago
Whoever spec'd the Ethernet port did it correctly (right place for a WiFi router covering an open area is at ceiling height). The idiot here is the person who installed the router and should have used a mounting bracket.
ABC NrTen FCK CENSORISM 1 month ago (edited)
... and a power cord. /edit: well, I read on and apparently stand corrected.
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#12
Server Room From My First Hospital Job
Rick Murray 1 month ago
With the exception of the very dodgy outlet running everything, that's almost tidy. I've seen far worse.
Inservio Smurf 3 weeks ago
This is why you don't put metal in the microwave : sometimes the microwave becomes sentient and you get a Bodysnatchers sequel breaking out in your own kitchen
Of course, the newest of all new technologies is artificial intelligence. And, surprisingly, Americans are quite on board with it. A recent Ipsos survey shows that 68% of Americans are familiar with the use of AI and its applications. Most trust AI just as much as news outlets, and even twice as much as social media influencers. People especially trust AI when it comes to financial decisions. They think it's great for detecting fraud, managing investments, budgeting, and even as a financial advisor.
#13
I Still Hear A Loud Buzzing But Checked Cables And Everything Looks Ok, What Could It Be?
Riley Quinn 1 month ago
Absolutely clueless based on this photo. Perhaps punching holes in the wall will lead you to the bee's nest that's causing the buzzing sound.
#14
How Often Should I Let The Excess Air Out Of My MacBook Battery?
Rick Murray 1 month ago
Whether or not a swollen lithium cell goes kaboom depends a lot on whether or not there is charge in it - because an overheated/overcharged cell can swell up and when it does, well, you've seen the burning Tesla video right? This is primarily because it's an exothermic reaction which leads to a runaway thermal event and, well, burning batteries are not something easily dealt with due to the self-generated heat and plentiful stored energy. However, due to chemical imbalances, a completely dead cell can also swell up as a sort of last gasp. It's unlikely to go kablooey (one I had just ruptured and spat out some gunk when I dropped a 15kg rock on it), but even so you should treat them with caution (and never ever drop heavy rocks on them) because the stuff inside is *nasty*.
Load More Replies... ABC NrTen FCK CENSORISM 1 month ago
Quite a nice album by Nightwish, yeah :)
Load More Replies... StumblingThroughLife 1 month ago
I hate that so many manufacturers glue those batteries to the case. It should be illegal, considering their contents, imo. An absolute nightmare when you need to replace them.
#15
A User's Desktop When I Came Into Work Yesterday
Billo66 1 month ago
That triggered a horrible memory. One morning about 9am I fell asleep at my desk holding a lit propane torch. (Long time ago. Substances were involved) My girlfriend came home at noon for lunch and woke me up this way. My monitor was a puddle of plastic on my desk and floor. Man, I get really nauseous when I think of my life back then. So much regret. Sometimes "sorry" just doesn't cut it.
NetworkMan 1 month ago
Reddit speculates a fire of some kind. Possibly from a space heater, but more likely the comment stating that 'a student was lighting hand sanitiser on his desk, and dropped the bottle. '
Uncle Panda 1 month ago
The rectangular char on the right, under the pen? It's about the right size and shape.
Load More Replies... Rick Murray 1 month ago
For all the damage, the table itself seems remarkably unscathed. There's some visible blistering, but compared to what the keyboard ended up as...
The majority of Americans have a largely positive view of AI. 77% believe that artificial intelligence will have a positive impact on the world, and 62% say it will help the U.S. secure a good spot in the global competitive market. Americans think AI will help strengthen national security, boost the economy, and even speed up scientific and medical breakthroughs.
#16
Why Is My Light Switch So Aggressive?
Robert T 1 month ago
It's not agressive, just very grounded. I suspect that is static electricity and not mains, as 1) 110v won't jump that far and 2) if it did, you'd be dead.
DC 1 month ago
Depending on location, it could be 220 V as well. As we don't see an outlet, but just a switch, I can't tell if this is in America, Europe or elsewhere. Are there different voltages than 110 and 220 V in households' usual standard outlets? Of course, there's the 380 V ones in Europe, and likely something similar in America, but these I don't mean.
Load More Replies... Ashtophet 1 month ago
The s***w, the plate or both are touching one of the live wires in the wall. Shut off power, then unscrew and fix.
nottheactualphoto 1 month ago (edited)
No. It's static discharge from the human to the grounded S***W.
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#17
Maybe Using Two Is A Bit Too Much But I'm A Perfectionist
#18
PSA: Don't Leave Grandma Unattended At The Servers Room
Yet, many experts are sounding the alarm bells regarding AI. They say that policymakers should regulate generative AI to protect societies from the spread of misinformation, the misuse of personal data, and, in the case of creative industries, the unethical use of intellectual property. Public attitudes are heated as well; many people call for the harsh regulation of AI, fearing that their jobs will soon become obsolete.
#19
Someone Asked If This Is Repairable
Riley Quinn 1 month ago (edited)
I'd start with Comet cleanser, and if that doesn't work, try using a steel wool pad.
#20
What Do I Do Now?
Alf Eliassen 1 month ago
In norwegian, VOLD means violence. I guess it somehow makes sense. :-D
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Beth Wheeler 1 month ago
Put your head between your legs and kiss your assss goodbye because you're gonna be paying out of it fir the repair1
Lady Chelsea (LadyChelseaoftheVoid) 1 month ago
if i bought the warranty, you better give me my f*****g warranty
#21
Clients Office Cable Management. I’ve Never Been So Mildy Infuriated
StumblingThroughLife 1 month ago
This is why PC & office tables with plug-in tech in the middle of rooms is a bad idea...
Anthony Elmore 1 month ago
I usually just use brackets and wire ties, but I get the feeling someone didn't take cord length into account which is why they couldn't use them.
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Trophy Husband 1 month ago
I work in IT and I have OCD. But my rat's nest is behind a desk that you can't see, so it doesn't bother me.
Rick Murray 1 month ago
The worst part is that you can easily and cheaply get little sticky pads that have a velcro loop on the back, designed to organise cables. So this nonsense is entirely avoidable.
Other experts point out that AI will have a disproportionate effect on people depending on their geographical situation. People in the U.S. and Western Europe may benefit from AI in many sectors, but those outside of these regions may not. "AI-driven technologies have a pattern of entrenching social divides and exacerbating social inequality, particularly among historically-marginalized groups," authors of a 2019 study write.
#22
Glass Desk Cracked Mid Session
Bewitched One 1 month ago (edited)
Same, especially since I have three kids. We HAD a three tier glass and wood tv stand that included a mount for the tv and my mom fell (she had some bad side effects due to her meds (to lower BP) and apparently m**h smoking) and busted her head open when my youngest was 6 ish month old. On Christmas Day. I called an ambulance twice on Christmas Day for her 🤦🏼♀️, but anyway, it busted her head open, and didn’t do a thing to the stand but it has since been removed from our home. Currently the tv is wall mounted with nothing under it. That was one of the things we did when baby proofing everything before the kid was allowed to roam uncontained
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Bewitched One 1 month ago (edited)
Think that’s a little more than “c*****d” my dude Edit: really BP ? C R A C K E D
TheLuggage 1 month ago
More than c*****d. Shattered is the word. I keep that c**p out of my house.
Inservio Smurf 3 weeks ago
You shouldn't be having s*x in the studio in the first place man. Also where's the other white/blue trainer?
Boris Long-Johnson 1 month ago (edited)
They don’t say what type of session - imagine being busy “k1lling kittens” “ripping the heid af it” or “bumping the bean” and CRASH.
#23
Is This The Correct Charger
angelmomoffour62 1 month ago
If someone really thinks that's the right charger then all I can say is....... oh Lord.
Inservio Smurf 3 weeks ago
Flashback to every "I don't need help I know what I'm doing" meme ever lol
#24
The City's Inspector Is Coming Over In 2 Hours. How Can I Fix My Outdoor Christmas Lights So It Passes Inspection?
Giles McArdell 1 month ago
You'll need a decent wad of fifties, apply directly to the inspectors wallet.
Rick Murray 1 month ago
Pull the tarp over it and deny all knowledge of any lights...or Christmas.
keyboardtek 1 month ago
Don't worry. The fire department will probably be there before the inspector gets there.
Other experts argue that it's all a "Tech Panic Cycle." Essentially, every new invention, from the printing press to the phonograph and even the Internet, has experienced this kind of public panic. People worried it would take away their jobs, their creativity, and their livelihoods, yet humanity is still here, standing strong. "Fears increase, peak, then decline over time as the public becomes familiar with the technology and its benefits," Patrick Grady and Daniel Castro of the Center for Data Innovation write.
#25
USB-C Cable Just Unplugged The Wrong Way
arthbach 1 month ago
Get a glue gun, and put a blow of glue on the USN connector. Whist the glue is hot, stick on a glue stick. When the glue is at room temp use the glue stick as a handle to remove the connector. Buy a new cable.
Malachi Burlet 1 month ago
not your falt when they get old they do that cause suction than the prongs bend its very hard too fix just buy a new one they are cheap
Rick Murray 1 month ago
Looks like there's enough there that dry unsweaty fingers ought to be able to grab the end and pull. USB C doesn't latch so it ought to come right out.
#26
My Grandfather Didnt Trust I'd Wipe His Hard Drive Before Selling His Old Laptop. So He Took It Into His Own Hands
NetworkMan 1 month ago
It's a pretty effective way of wiping a hard drive. I'd be more concerned as to what he may have had on it to take the nuclear approach to getting rid of it...
Uncle Panda 1 month ago (edited)
A widow friend brought out ~10 hard disks of possible student related data from her late husband's research career to be destroyed. Because FERPA (student privacy rights) is so strong, the only correct decision was that if there was a chance of privacy exposure, the item had to be destroyed. We used the big drill press to render the disk unreadable (fun!) and then she started in with a 2 lb hammer. She had destructive skills far beyond my understanding and I gave up trying to get the hammer out of her hands after a few minutes. The electronic and remaining parts of the discs were pulverized.
Riley Quinn 1 month ago
When I've donated my PCs, I always removed the hard drive. I'd either destroy it or use it as an external backup drive. But there's no way I'd trust a stranger to wipe it since it had financial records on it.
Fabulous chocolate cookie 1 month ago
Honestly based on that extreme measure, what big secrets had grandpa to hide?
Bewitched One 1 month ago
Not sure why you were downvoted when others have also said the same thing including the top comment lol so I upvoted to negate that downvote :)
Load More Replies... Rick Murray 1 month ago
What did he hit it with? I've had some fun decommissioning old drives using my trusty pickaxe and it does a pretty good job wrecking the heads and bending the platters, but I've never actually shattered a platter before. The rest of the drive looks too intact to be had with a plate compactor (although that would be epic, don't you think?).
ABC NrTen FCK CENSORISM 1 month ago
Can actually solve that one, as I had exactly this happen to me about a month ago. Due to higher stiffness and therefore thinner plates (and therefore higher storage density), modern HDDs sometimes use a glass disc rather than an aluminium one.
Load More Replies... StumblingThroughLife 1 month ago
I do this - although, when I dismantle them, and score tf out of the disc before recycling the parts.
ReenieTino 1 month ago
What exactly did grandpa have on that hard drive he didn't want seen????
WJ Williams 1 month ago
A place I worked required the hard drives be destroyed after being replaced die to proprietary information. This was my favorite part of the job.
Fat Harry (Oi / You) 1 month ago
Can't see the problem here. I put a drill through old hard drives.
#27
My Hotkeys
What was your funniest encounter with a piece of tech, Pandas? Did you ever stab a screen in a fit of rage? Or were you able to save your device by chucking it into a pot of rice? Let us know in the comments and don't forget to upvote your favorite entries on this list. Also, if you'd like to see more similar tech fails, be sure to check out these tech support disasters!
#28
Don’t Replace Ram In Poor Lighting Conditions
I was replacing my 32gb of RAM with 128gb. Got the first stick in. Lined up the next stick and pressed down firmly. I heard a solid click. I let go and the stick came off. The click wasn’t the locking mechanism. It was the sound of 7 tiny capacitors being sheered off the PCB. I wasn’t in the slot. I was between them. Luckily I know a really good board level repair guy who could give me a good price on repairing the stick and I found the components.
2WheelTravlr 1 month ago
I hate how fragile these feel even when I do have them properly slotted.
Anthony Elmore 1 month ago
Why would you even pay for the repairs, though? You can get ridiculous amounts of ram for relatively cheap. The only exception is if you're buying like, maximum levels of ram per stick. I recall 64gb ram sticks were expensive back when I put together but like anything less you could get for 20-40. I can't even imagine the work to rep- well, I suppose if it really was just the capacitors sheered off the board, maybe? But putting components back on a modern circuit still isn't exactly easy or cheap.
Lady Chelsea (LadyChelseaoftheVoid) 1 month ago
nothing like playing Tetris with expensive components!
#29
OSHA Approved
Laura Lawson 1 month ago
Many other countries have OSHA you know. The words Occupational Health & Safety aren't limited to the USA. I'm in Australia & it's called OSHA here as well.
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Trophy Husband 1 month ago
It's not OSHA who's going to get you for that, the fire department will...
#30
At My School, They Hot Glued The USB And Audio Ports
Rick Murray 1 month ago
Some of the PCs I've dealt with have had these front panel things being a little board plugged into the motherboard. If this is the case, far better to just unplug it inside, and then sit back and enjoy the shenanigans as the students try in vain to get their USB device recognised. (and for next level trolling, modify the internal cable so it's putting out 5V on the USB port so it looks like a proper working port). I should have been a school sysadmin...
ttirreg 1 month ago
You are evil my friend, but i like your thoughts... Does this make me evil 2?
Load More Replies... Plentyofoomph 1 month ago
In my experience, schools always extend the trust and students violate it - so things like this are done
Load More Replies... Lady Chelsea (LadyChelseaoftheVoid) 1 month ago
...then how is a student gonna use a jump drive?
#31
All But 2 Of My Outlets Are So Loose That Nothing Actually Stays In
nottheactualphoto 1 month ago
A new duplex outlet costs a couple of dollars. Maybe five if you get the high quality one. Any big box home improvement store will have them. Do it.
Load More Replies... StumblingThroughLife 1 month ago
You wouldn't have to worry about doing this with UK plugs and sockets with switches…although we do have the odd 2-prong plug with some electrical items - but the socket switch isolates the current when turned off. Those 3-prongs are very hard (Thankfully) to accidentally pull out, and the cable doesn't stick out, which is a plus. socket-68e...22-png.jpg 
Forrest Hobbs 1 month ago
StumblingThroughLife: say, what? BS 1363 sockets have shutters which are opened by the earth pin (or Insulated Shutter Operating Device - the official name for a standard-compliant insulating earth pin substitute) - you can't fit a two pin plug into them, not unless you break the shutters (or take the socket off the wall and remove them - Do Not Do That!). However, there are fake "BS 1363" plugs out there: https://fatallyflawed.org.uk/BS1363/index.html. BS 1363 history here: https://electrical.theiet.org/media/1485/bs_1363_socket_and_plug.pdf
Load More Replies... Papa 1 month ago
If this ever happens to anyone else, bend one of the prongs so they're either slightly closer together or farther apart, and then plug it into the outlet. That will exert enough pressure to keep it plugged in.
Forrest Hobbs 1 month ago
Papa: never muck around with mains electricity like that. Replacing the sockets and possibly also the plugs is the only sensible and safe way to deal with this sort of problem.
Load More Replies... Riley Quinn 1 month ago
Great idea. Why waste money on new outlets when you can use a glue gun and burn the whole place down.
Boris Long-Johnson 1 month ago
I’m not particularly familiar with what appears to be US style sockets however my guess is if they connection is loose the conductors won’t be clamping the plug with sufficient force. This isn’t great because it could lead to a small air gap/increasing resistance/arcing lead leading to heat buildup and potentially fire. UK sockets are only a few pounds. I would guess American ones are similar price way better just to replace them.
Load More Replies... Rali Meyer 1 month ago
there should actually be a well defined pull out force required. Else the socket or plug is wrong
#32
Help - My Japanese Toilet Is Not Flushing, Where To Plug My Jtag?
B Hobbs 1 month ago (edited)
"You want the top of line toilet / bidet? We will need to plumb hot and cold water, three phase power, natural gas, Ethernet, phone line ... let me check the installation manual again. I may have forgotten something." "Ah yes, do you prefer cable or satellite TV? Hmm, I will need to research the fibre optic connectors."
SchadenFreudian Psychology 1 month ago (edited)
I don’t want my private parts anywhere near something like that. The three seashells might be safer.
#33
My Grandpa's Handmade Intercom System From The Communist Era (~1980)
Harry Gondalf 1 month ago
There's a certain ... elegance, beauty here. Sometimes I miss Radio Shack.
nottheactualphoto 1 month ago
Radio Shack... Just today, I threw out a broken Micronta multimeter. But they were also the place that sold power rectifier diodes in packs of three.
Load More Replies... Rick Murray 1 month ago
Ah, man, three dimensional circuitry and built for reliability and function. I'm impressed.
#34
Failed The Physics Exam Today... This Was The Last Straw, I'm Doing It
Red Wyvern Emperor 1 month ago
That's an american socket, so I'm presuming there's 110V. Yeah... he's fine. XD
Riley Quinn 1 month ago
Ah, Honey. I think I know why you failed your exam. Even toddlers know to use a metal utensil in an outlet.
Brian Droste 1 month ago
That is a plastic fork so it shouldn't do anything. If it was a metal fork than OP would be in trouble.
StumblingThroughLife 1 month ago
Plastic .... Was the Physics exam part of an Electrical Engineering course? ... If so, he's f**ked.
Forrest Hobbs 1 month ago
StumblingThroughLife: fscked with a plastic fork? Sounds painful... 😉
Load More Replies... Boris Long-Johnson 1 month ago
If they don’t know the difference between a store and a fork, they really are in trouble.
#35
Is My Soldering Good Enough?
Skywitness 1 month ago
Pro tip after many years of soldering, the iron needs to be warmer than room temperature. You'll thank me later.
Robert T 1 month ago
No, and you should also get your tested for red/black colourblindness! ;-)
Rick Murray 1 month ago
In this particular instance, the colour mismatch is the least of the problems.
Load More Replies... keyboardtek 1 month ago
When I did my first electronics project, it did not work. I took it to a tech who told me it was the worst soldering job he had ever seen. He taught me how to solder. I ended up working as an electronics bench tech for 44 years!
Riley Quinn 1 month ago
One of the better soldering jobs I've seen in a long while. You should start your own soldering business.
Inservio Smurf 3 weeks ago
For a Jackson Pollock homage? Absolutely!! I didn't know it wasn't, till I read the text.
#36
These Cable Runs In My Server Room. Bull Clips And Rubber Bands
#37
A Victim Of The TikTok Trend
DankLordSkeletor:
"What trend? Pouring burning acid on your laptop?"
Forward-Actuary9402:
"The trend of shoving random conductive objects in usb ports of chromebooks (like razor blades, pencil tips, paper clips, chunks of metal, coins, and wires) to short them out causing smoke or internal motherboard damage; optionally then removing a key on the keyboard and stabbing the battery. It usually causes smoking, explosions, or leaking of battery acid. Edit: thanks u/Water_bolt for reminding me about kids stabbing batteries."
LillieMean 1 month ago
This brings back fond memories of the tide pod and cinnamon challenges. Maybe the next challenge could be to encourage these low-light individuals to eat batteries? Cheers to Darwin.
nottheactualphoto 1 month ago
I love "low-light individuals." I'll need to steal it, thanks.
Load More Replies...
Patricia Richardson 1 month ago
there are definitely some stupid people out there 🤦🏼♀️🤦🏼♀️🤦🏼♀️
Inservio Smurf 3 weeks ago
Clearly we need to be putting flourine and cesium in these batteries, to discourage children from this trend. Cambodia had a similar campaign, to stop children playing outside. If anything that campaign was TOO effective.
Lady Chelsea (LadyChelseaoftheVoid) 1 month ago
never ever do that s**t with lithium batteries!
#38
I Present You Guys One Of My USB Cables
#39
Is This Safe To Power My Phone?
nottheactualphoto 1 month ago
You might be better off with a stack of AAs or similar. That 9V won't provide much current.
#40
Received Email To Clean My CPU At Work. Now It Department Is Mad At Me
#41
I Let Someone Play Tf2 On My Laptop. Came Back To This
Billo66 1 month ago
Yeah, I let my friend use my computer for 5 minutes and suddenly 50,000 songs were gone. Formatted my storage drive, says he didn't. Grrr.
StumblingThroughLife 1 month ago
I don't let anyone touch my pc - or any devices with a screen, after one incident. I've been able to eventually ignore the word 'selfish' thrown at me.
Load More Replies... ABC NrTen FCK CENSORISM 1 month ago
The penetration of full-auto guns in these new FPS games is getting out of hands, I tell you. Right through, and into the wall behind the player.
Dr Jimmy 03 1 month ago
Girlfriend (now wife) closed her laptop display on a pencil; fried instantly. I set her up with her old CRT display until I got a replacement LCD. (Yes, I learned how from a Youtube vid.)
Riley Quinn 1 month ago
You have two choices. Either stop allowing your friends to use your stuff or find friends that aren't complete idiots. Your choice.
#42
Is The CPU Installed Correctly?
Ilan Elron 1 month ago
someone had a purpose, and went at it full tilt - maybe misguided, or worse, but can't fault that someone's commitment
nottheactualphoto 1 month ago
Wires have inductance. The conclusion is left as an exercise for the student.
#43
My Nephew Was Really Proud Of Cutting My Multimeter Leads
Rick Murray 1 month ago
Well, great job. I now have two leads that would fit quite nicely around your neck... 🤬 Anybody did something like that to my multimeter, I would not guarantee their safety...or continued existence.
Ilan Elron 1 month ago
learning how to use tools is essential for modern nephews - someone left him unattended
#44
I Was Tired Of Buying Compressed Air
Bill Swallow 1 month ago
Micro Center has several models of 'infinite' air dusters. Instead of a can of compressed gas, they have a small electrically driver blower. Some have rechargeable batteries (USB charging port), some are wall-socket. Minuses: Air is not filtered, possibly noisy. Pluses: Never runs out.
#45
“Waterproof” Manscaped Razor Has Mold On Circuit
Red Wyvern Emperor 1 month ago
Never quite understood how that happens. Those boards are supposed to be made of plastic, gold, silver, copper zinc and some quartz. How the hell does a mold catch on that? XD
B Hobbs 1 month ago
A couple of lifetimes ago, I was a computer repair tech in the US Air Force, working on special purpose computers. Had to send bad boards to depot to be repaired and get a coating on the board, except for the contacts. Apparently there are molds and fungi that like some of the ingredients in circuit boards. Back then, most hardware had to be able to be deployed and operated in environments that humans might have difficulty surviving.
Load More Replies... #46
Check Before Disassembling Your Steam Deck
#47
My Belkin USB C Cable Shorted Itself Destroying The Cable And The My Phone's Port In The Process Everything Is Melted
2WheelTravlr 1 month ago
Except that's not a Belkin cable, name is mostly visible on the side, Pla___ can't read the last 3 letters, but the first are definitely not Bel.
#48
Does This Count? Discharging A Bosch Ebike Battery Using An Electric Heater
#49
How Do I Connect This Key Board To My Laptop?
Inservio Smurf 3 weeks ago
I actually love this for an april fools prank. Replace everyone's keyboards with key boards hahahahaha
#50
Can I Solder It Back Together?
nottheactualphoto 1 month ago
Why not tape it together instead? It will be faster and easier and just as effective.
#51
PCBs? We Don't Need No Stinking PCBs!
Forrest Hobbs 1 month ago
Whoever made that is both insane and incredibly highly skilled. Applause.
Harry Gondalf 1 month ago
Is this a counter? If so, it only counts up to 99 (or 3). Even so, imagine latches & flip flops implemented in discrete hardware. I suppose the rest of the hardware is logic to turn on the digit segments of the displays. This is definitely a work of art.
#52
I've Been Told My Wire Management Looks Really Nice
#53
I'm Trying To Charge My iPhone Like Really Really Quick Before A Meeting, Will 120 Car Batteries Work?
Bill Swallow 1 month ago
Always assuming, of course, that those car batteries aren't flat to start with...
Load More Replies... Inservio Smurf 3 weeks ago
The cellphone you are trying to reach may be outside the service voltage.
#54
Why Did My Overclock Fail
#55
Ummm. Is The M.2 NVME Supposed To Bend Like This?
Emilu 1 month ago
Lol, I've accidentally done this too (... minus actually screwing it in, though). They're surprisingly forgiving.
WindySwede 1 month ago
That should be ontop of that "distance s***w" instead? (Don't know the correct word though I think?)n
Load More Replies... Rick Murray 1 month ago
It's the weight of the data. The more you fill it, the more it'll bend.
#56
My Friend Hand Soldering A Chip Like A Crack Head. It "Almost" Worked
#57
This Is The "I Don't Know My Resistor Color Codes Yet" Bin For Engineering Students At A Local College
#58
Why Do They Say That USB Is A "Standard"?
Robert T 1 month ago
The great thing about standards is that there are so many to choose from. ;-)
Harry Gondalf 1 month ago
"Way back when" we would hear engineers mattering, "Which RS-232C are we following THIS week?"
Load More Replies... Rick Murray 1 month ago
That's a camera isn't it? Then that's NOT a USB connector. It's a connector with the ability to plug into USB, but there's often other stuff lurking in there, like analogue video (for plugging the camera into the TV).
#59
What's Wrong With My Resistor?
Red Wyvern Emperor 1 month ago
Fun fact: There was an actual hotdog heater that worked on basis of running high voltage through them.
Inservio Smurf 3 weeks ago
Looks like a DIY circumcision video. Remember kids, youtube is for learning, tiktok is for trolling. Do not confuse the two.
Rick Murray 1 month ago
I can't post an image from a mobile device, but I have a book with "cool experiments for kids" that gets you to wire forks to each side of the *mains* and then stick into the hot dog. How they actually made it into a book, I don't know.
#60
Cat Disassembled My PC, How Do I Put It Back Together?
Inservio Smurf 3 weeks ago
Your cat was trying to spell something out before you sorted all the pieces by type. I think one of your relatives may have hit a g***y with their car.
#61
This Happened The Other Night At Like 2am. Thought You Guys Might Enjoy The Pain It Caused Me
#62
M.2 SSD's Are Over-Rated
#63
Why Did Airport Security Stop Me With My Powerbank
#64
Charging My Phone With My Phones Own Battery
Bill Swallow 1 month ago
The Laws of Thermodynamics look at you and shake their heads, then grin.
#65
Why Did My Battery Have An Orgasm?
LillieMean 1 month ago
Protective gloves, cotton swabs and vinegar. Vinegar can be used to clean the battery compartment and the terminals of leaked batteries should be taped and placed in a sealed plastic bag before proper disposal. I have sometimes forgotten batteries in a device that is not used often and later found this unpleasant surprise.
Inservio Smurf 3 weeks ago
This is the best one. I spat out my coffee and almost fell off the bed
Forrest Hobbs 1 month ago
Alkaline AA/AAA and other common cylindrical batteries are less leak-prone than zinc carbon types. That's because in alkaline batteries, the electrode that gets eaten away is a pin through the centre of the cylinder while in zinc carbon batteries, the electrode that gets eaten away is the zinc can around the outside (which is then encased in a shell usually made of thin steel). Basically, zinc carbon AA/AAA/C/D cells are guaranteed to leak if you leave them go flat while alkaline batteries might not - or at least, not so quickly...
Load More Replies... 
#67
Universal Power Adapter
Inservio Smurf 3 weeks ago
Well technically, this is indeed safe. I mean the contact point of the screwdriver will turn that connection into a crude microphone, but if you secure it, this might not even be that stupid
Rick Murray 1 month ago
You're not a real nerd until you've done something like this to get a machine going in the absence of some specific weirdo power pack.
#68
How Can I Create An RTX4090ti Using 2N2222 Transistors? I Have Reached A Point Where I Can Add 1+1
Forrest Hobbs 1 month ago
RTX4090ti = high end graphics card. 2N2222 transistors: old fashioned NPN silicon switching transistors (for other fossils reading: yes I made a radio with OC71 and suchlike glass-enveloped PNP transistors when I was a kid, I know 2N2222s aren't *that* old fashioned...)
Rick Murray 1 month ago
Brilliant! Only two billion more transistors and you might be able to make a modern processor that will run at about twenty kilohertz *and* dim all the lights on your street when you power it up.
#69
Folks, Why Is There A Capacitor In Place Of A Fuse Inside My Multimeter?
#70
Who Ships Electronics Without Plastic Protection?
Forrest Hobbs 1 month ago
Condensation. Well, leave it out in a warm dry room for 24 hours and it'll be fine.
#71
The Cable Of My Colleague's Phone At Work
Ilan Elron 1 month ago
old, very common affliction - one hoped to never again witness its effects
#72
Oak Grove KY Hotel Lobby Door. I Assume That There Is A Resistor Under The Electrical Tape
I assume that there is a resistor under the electrical tape. Surely the housing couldn't hold more than a CR2032 type battery.
#73
My Friends PC
#74
Strange Lines On Back Of My Dell Monitor
I have two Dell monitors, bought them together and have used them both equally. I discovered that some thunder looking lines started to appear on one of the monitor. Does anyone have experienced something similar and cab anyone tell me what is causing this?
Bi.Felicia 1 month ago
It appears that the monitor has Lichtenberg figures or Keraunographic marks.
Red Wyvern Emperor 1 month ago
To quote one of my favorite videos on youtube "Woudln't wanna touch you with a six-foot chissel."
#76
Whys My Circuit Not Working???
Inservio Smurf 3 weeks ago
You can't use RAW redstone, you have to make redstone WIRE you nublet!
#77
I Found This Under The Desk. Is It A Camera?
Red Wyvern Emperor 1 month ago
Hmm.... call it a hunch, but I'd say it's a heat detection sensor. XD
Bi.Felicia 1 month ago
I'm guessing that this is in a large lecture hall, to show students which seats are open/available?
Robert Benson 1 month ago
It says that it isn't a camera, but that's probably a lie to try to fool you.
#79
I Ordered A Red LED But It Looks Like They Shipped Me An Infrared One Because I Don't See Its Light
#80
Tech Support Did This
Inservio Smurf 3 weeks ago
Waaaait a second I saw this on Stargate. Don't let Carter touch the keyboard.
Rick Murray 1 month ago (edited)
So... USB to serial to gender changer to protocol changer (RS232 to RS485) to outgoing, and I would imagine lengthy, cable.
#81
I Found This In My Son’s Room Should I Be Concerned???
#82
Why Does My New Computer Use So Much Electricity?
Forrest Hobbs 1 month ago
That looks very much like a quantum computing device of some sort. Whatever it is, it looks like something that needs to be cooled down to a very low temperature, hence the strange shape. I don't actually know how they do it - is the whole thing actually dunked in liquid helium?
#83
Help, I Sneezed Too Strong And My Computer Got Dislocated
Inservio Smurf 3 weeks ago
I love that the silkscreening somehow moved in perfect sync with the chips.
#84
Brain Fart Moment
No-Release3675 (OP):
Context here, we had needed a 20 ohm resistor to trick this TCM into thinking it's shift solenoid was still connected when we disconnected it. Upon getting these little buggers found out they're only .25 watt capable. So.... Battery math said 36 in parallel ought to do it. Well we were wrong. Checked before testing lol Ordered a proper 20w 20 ohm resistor after this fiasco.
Edit we needed 20 ohm resistance capable of 9watts of power handling. This is why I ended up trying the 36 😂"
DuePotential6602"
"Well.. you would have to put a few in line to bring the current inside them down until they hit their .25W, then you have to take many lines of these together parallel get back down to 20Ω.
20w 20Ω means √P*R = 20V
To get them down to 0.25w you would have to bring them up to 1600Ω on 20V. So you need 80 in line so the resistor survives the 20V and then as well 80 parallel so you get the overall resistance back down to 20.
In total: 36 isn't enough, you are 6364 resistors short of doing that.
Edit: dang, have to do it again, did a brain fart and assumed they are 20Ω and only 0.25w but those are 10kΩ..
they do 0.04w on 20V.. so you do not have to worry about the power, you need just 10000Ω / 20Ω = 500 parallel."
The Cute Cat 1 month ago
You are wrong to solder then to a clump like that. It will work paralelly, while you need it to be serially.. This will work if you solder each resistor on tail of each other (serial connection)..
Bill Swallow 1 month ago
Looks like the electronic version of an early Radial-Flow Jet Engine.
#85
Fuse Color Question
Bill Swallow 1 month ago
Looks like the service panel at Possum Lodge. Watch out for an old guy in flannel, khaki, and suspenders (braces) with a beard and a roll of duct tape.
#86
Did I Replace The Cpu In My iPhone Correctly?
#87
My New Battery Charger Doesn't Work Why?
#88
Am I Holding It Correctly??
Awenpotato 1 month ago
I assume he's working in a vacuum so it will cold weld
Load More Replies... Rick Murray 1 month ago
He goes to all the trouble to set up this photo, and then holds the iron by the wrong part. 🤦🏻♀️
#89
What Can I Do With This Weird Power Supply?
#90
Just Installed New Batteries For My House But I Still Don't Have Power. Any Suggestions?
#91
Guys, What Happens If I Measure The Voltage Of My Multimeter Batteries?
#93
How Much Can I Flip This For?
Inservio Smurf 3 weeks ago
I think your motherboard is shot to hell. You can see where the pentagram burned in during the ritual
#94
Saw This After I Woke Up. Got Woken Up By Mom Yelling That She Smells Something Burning, Turns Out That An Outlet/Cable Has Caught On Fire
#95
After 3 Days Of Trying To Fix My Computer I Did It And Then My Dogs Did This
It took me 3 days to figure out what was wrong with my computer and each time I had it on it was constantly beeping a high pitched tone. I found out that I needed to a new battery on the motherboard. Anyway the next day I wake up to the charger cord being torn too shreds.
#96
The Water At My Work Right Next To The Circuit Breakers. Just Why?
Inservio Smurf 3 weeks ago
That's just a lifesupport auxiliary water tank in case you need to make oxygen
#97
Opened My Ram And There Was Nothing Inside, I Got Scammed
#98
I Found This In My Closet After A Friend Visited, How Do I Turn This In To A Calculator?
Inservio Smurf 3 weeks ago
It already is one. That's a 3 wire switch with only two wires in it.
#99
Do You Guys Think This Is Enough Solder ?
Inservio Smurf 3 weeks ago
Seen this before. You need to wear a turtleneck when soldering, your top is a little gushy when you lean over.
#102
Is It Worth Repairing My Pigeon?
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Emilu 1 month ago
I’m awful with electronics (and the store I used to work at began as an electronics store; sold resistors and all that fun stuff. I’d be all “*gesture* they’re over there” if anyone tried to ask me about them) and even I can tell that these are monstrosities 😆
Load More Replies... LillieMean 1 month ago (edited)
If I used to be a little worried about the electric bikes and scooters in our apartment building's living areas, I don't think I'll ever sleep again. Now I'm thinking about the batteries exploding and catching fire. I wish there was a law that would prohibit keeping them anywhere other than in the parking garage or backyard.
Forrest Hobbs 1 month ago
LillieMean: it's a serious risk. There should at least be smoke alarms anywhere that ebike are stored or charged. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cy8e84v5e4go
Load More Replies... Livingwithcfs 1 month ago
Some of these seem to be entrants for the Darwin Awards. Some as just plain crazy
Ilan Elron 1 month ago
some are horror [as advertised], but some are lame, callow attempts at tech humor
SchadenFreudian Psychology 1 month ago
I took a stained glass art class a few years ago, and I must have inhaled solder fumes, because a few hours later I was horribly sick. I’m lucky it wasn’t worse. I’ve been afraid to do stained glass art ever since.
nottheactualphoto 1 month ago
Maybe it was lead from the solder? More likely something in the flux... Or just regular old coincidence.
Load More Replies... Emilu 1 month ago
I’m awful with electronics (and the store I used to work at began as an electronics store; sold resistors and all that fun stuff. I’d be all “*gesture* they’re over there” if anyone tried to ask me about them) and even I can tell that these are monstrosities 😆
Load More Replies... LillieMean 1 month ago (edited)
If I used to be a little worried about the electric bikes and scooters in our apartment building's living areas, I don't think I'll ever sleep again. Now I'm thinking about the batteries exploding and catching fire. I wish there was a law that would prohibit keeping them anywhere other than in the parking garage or backyard.
Forrest Hobbs 1 month ago
LillieMean: it's a serious risk. There should at least be smoke alarms anywhere that ebike are stored or charged. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cy8e84v5e4go
Load More Replies... Livingwithcfs 1 month ago
Some of these seem to be entrants for the Darwin Awards. Some as just plain crazy
Ilan Elron 1 month ago
some are horror [as advertised], but some are lame, callow attempts at tech humor
SchadenFreudian Psychology 1 month ago
I took a stained glass art class a few years ago, and I must have inhaled solder fumes, because a few hours later I was horribly sick. I’m lucky it wasn’t worse. I’ve been afraid to do stained glass art ever since.
nottheactualphoto 1 month ago
Maybe it was lead from the solder? More likely something in the flux... Or just regular old coincidence.
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