» Dumb things you've done

Electricity and the curious
When I was a young chap I liked taking things apart to see how they worked. I managed to acquire one of those mechanical time clocks that you can set pins in and it turns stuff off and on whenever you want. The only set of plugs I had in my room was on a 4 gang extension under my desk. So there I am knelt down under the desk peering at this time clock trying to figure out how it works, only I drop one of the small metal screws that was holding it together inside the exposed workings.

"BZZZFFFTTTTTTTWHATTHEGODDAMITARRRRG*BUMP*OWWW"

I'd reached into it to pick up the screw only to realise it was connect to a live pin. 240 volts shot up my arm which spazzed around like Timmy wanting a mars bar at, the same time I'd leapt up banging my head on the under side of the desk giving myself a nasty bump.

The first thought that entered my head after this ordeal wasn’t that I should switch everything off and make safe but “where’s that screw gone?”

"BZZZFFFTTTTTTTWHATTHEGODDAMITARRRRG*BUMP*OWWW"

Yes, I did the exact same thing twice in a row. Never blew the fuse in the extension cord or anything though and never electrocuted myself since.. err.. actually that’s a lie.
\o/
(Fri 21st Dec 2007, 14:28, More)