All electrical components are made with a ceratin amount of smoke inside

[Winger Ed.]

One night several years ago, I was working on a old outboard. I thought I had it all back together and wired up right.<br /><br />A buddy who had been a Avaition Electrician in the service was there to drink beer and criticise when I tried to fire it up.<br /><br />When I turned the key, I heard a fizzle, and saw a large cloud of smoke come out from under the flywheel, and the air was filled with the distinct smell of 'burned electricity'.<br /><br />In discust, I looked up and asked the sky, "How the heck did that happen"? The trigger coils, alt. windings, pretty much everything under the flywheel were gonners.<br /><br />He calmly said, "Bro, you let the smoke out of it".<br /><br />"Huh"?,,,,,,,<br /><br /><br />My buddy went on and explained to me what 'The Gunny' had told him once while on active duty, after he fried a bazillion dollar F-18 Radar or something.<br /><br />He said he was taught that ALL electrical components have a certain amount of smoke put into them when they are manufactured. And you should try to never let that smoke out. <br /><br />He concluded his explanation with,<br />"Once you let the smoke out of something, its pretty much dead".

 

[datawire]

Re: All electrical components are made with a ceratin amount of smoke inside

It has been my EXTENSIVE experience that:<br /> [A] The amount of smoke is directly proportional to the level of difficulty in reaching the component and the cost of replacement.<br /> The amount of smoke is inversely proportional to the size of the component.<br /> [C] Selenium smells worst than ANY rotten egg. <br />

 

[gaugeguy]

Re: All electrical components are made with a ceratin amount of smoke inside

Originally posted by Winger Ed.:<br />"Once you let the smoke out of something, its pretty much dead".

I concour with this and agree that burnt selenium is very odiferous.

 

[Pascal]

Re: All electrical components are made with a ceratin amount of smoke inside

The theory of smoke is posted on several web sites.<br /><br />check this one out.<br /><br /> http://www.powroll.com/tech_smoke_theory_of_electric_circuit.htm <br /><br />Any one read the "dark sucker theory" of light??<br /><br />JD

 

[Winger Ed.]

Re: All electrical components are made with a ceratin amount of smoke inside

Originally posted by Pascal:<br /> The theory of smoke is posted on several web sites.

Thanks. That's very enlightening. <br /><br />I've learned that a certain prescribed amount of smoke is made into electronic components, but I never thought it was so critical to thier proper functioning or how various other components relied on the smoke inside each other in a system or device.<br /><br />I grasp its importance better now. Smoke functions in electronic devices sort like blood does in us.

 

[OBJ]

Re: All electrical components are made with a ceratin amount of smoke inside

The problem with smoke is it's to expensive and even more expensive to fill electrical components. This is the main reason electronics have grown so small. The smoke used in them is such a small quantity that it makes the cost of the component more realistic in todays dollars. But it also makes troubleshooting a real beotch. When your puter breaks down....do you see smoke? No. Thats because the quantity of smoke used in a chip is so minute, you would need a microscope to see it.....unless more than one chip goes bad at the same time. One thing for sure, the use of smoke will never be completly done away with. They need it for the effecient movement of electrons.<br /><br />I need another Bud.

 

[Twidget]

Re: All electrical components are made with a ceratin amount of smoke inside

It has been my EXTENSIVE experience that:<br />[A] The amount of smoke is directly proportional to the level of difficulty in reaching the component and the cost of replacement.<br /> The amount of smoke is inversely proportional to the size of the component.<br />[C] Selenium smells worst than ANY rotten egg.

[D] The $1k part will always sacrifice itself to save the $0.25 fuse.

 

[demsvmejm]

Re: All electrical components are made with a ceratin amount of smoke inside

[/quote][D] The $1k part will always sacrifice itself to save the $0.25 fuse. [/QB][/quote]<br /><br />AMEN!

 

[Peter J Fraser]

Re: All electrical components are made with a ceratin amount of smoke inside

Pascal and others<br />I sent the link to my buddy who is an auto electrician.<br />It touched the spot exactly as I know he has been personally responsible for letting the smoke out of a lot of components in the past.<br />Big laughs, thanks for that.<br /><br />Peter

 

[DHPMARINE]

Re: All electrical components are made with a ceratin amount of smoke inside

The total volume of smoke is also directly proportional to the length of battery draw.<br /><br />DHP

 

[demsvmejm]

Re: All electrical components are made with a ceratin amount of smoke inside

This reminded me of a "funny" I once saw. It's basically all been said hee already.Here it is, I hope you all enjoy...<br /> A MYSTERY SOLVED<br />A sheet of paper crossed my desk the other day, and as I read it, realization of a basic truth came to me. It was so simple! So obvious! Why didn’t I see it before. I discovered how electrical things work. Smoke is the thing that makes them work because every time you let the smoke out, it stops working.<br /><br />Of course! Smoke makes all things electrical work. Remember the last time smoke escaped from your voltage regulator? Didn’t it quit working? I smiled like an idiot as more of the truth dawned. It’s the wiring harness that carries the smoke from one device to another and when the harness springs a leak, it lets the smoke out of everything at once, and then nothing works. The starter motor requires large quantities of smoke to operate properly and that’s why the wire going to it is so fat.<br /><br />Better trained techs are an absolute must if any improvement in smoke containment is to be achieved.

 

[dhud64]

Re: All electrical components are made with a ceratin amount of smoke inside

Originally posted by OBJ:<br /> <br /><br />I need another Bud.

That's skunk beer.

 

[Xcusme]

Re: All electrical components are made with a ceratin amount of smoke inside

One more aspect of the emission of factory smoke is the rate of release. The higher oscillations of the smoke molecules in an overly stressed circuit cause the sudden release of that smoke. The result of this violent release of smoke causes the device to rupture and give off a resounding 'crack' or report. The velocity of the flying fragments of the device are directly proportional to the amount of smoke emitted and the time it takes to reach zero pressure. This is the reason some devices emit only a small hissing sound, while others go off with a bang. Proper use of protective gear , to include hearing and eye protection is highly advised when using metal tools around highly smoke charged components. A clothespin for your nose is optional but highly recommended.

 

[RPJS]

Re: All electrical components are made with a ceratin amount of smoke inside

There is another point that has to be considered when talking bout the release of factory fitted smoke, and that is the inbuit timming systems that allow smoke release only at pre determind times, ie: 20miles offshore with only 1hrs dayight remaining or more common 5hrs before departure on the family holiday

 

[Capt Joe]

Re: All electrical components are made with a ceratin amount of smoke inside

RPJS, <br /><br />You forgot the other preset inbuilt time release - 2 weeks after the new car warranty runs out

 

[rc581]

Re: All electrical components are made with a ceratin amount of smoke inside

wow guys, you made my day with this one. 42 years as an electrician, and never in my life had it explained this well. i am truly in awe. wait till i tell the guys this one. thanks again.....bob

 

[tcube]

Re: All electrical components are made with a ceratin amount of smoke inside

Having read the article behind the link Pascal provided, I am reminded why those of us who have owned older British cars knew Joseph Lucas by his royal title, "Price of Darkness."

 

[Winger Ed.]

Re: All electrical components are made with a ceratin amount of smoke inside

have owned older British cars [/QB]

I had a couple, a '64 Triumph & a 66 MG Midget when I was Hi-School.<br /><br />The electrrical system and lights always seemed to work fine until about Sunset. Then it got real 'iffy'.

 

[OBJ]

Re: All electrical components are made with a ceratin amount of smoke inside

Having worked in a power plant since I graduated from High School, I've seen more than my fair share of smoke release from electrical equipment and components than most folks do.....sometimes on grand scales. <br /><br />I've seen 6.9KV motor windings completely deflated after a smoke release. This smoke is of very high quality in that it must pass high amperage when the motor is started....something on the order of 500+ amps. You can tell it from other motors releasing smoke because the 6.9KV motor uses a thick dark black smoke. After seeing motor windings from one of these motors laying in a heap, it becomes obvious that 90% of the windings is made up of smoke.<br /><br />Now you wanna' talk about smoke going bang, I was witness to a line breaker on a 345KV line closing in on a fault. Awesome!!! Totally Awesome!! I never new smoke to be that powerful!!<br /><br />That's BUD dhud.....Longneck versions.....