Date   : Wed, 31 Aug 2011 20:59:35 +0100
From   : afra@... (Phill Harvey-Smith)
Subject: eBay... sigh

On 31/08/2011 20:45, J.G.Harston wrote:
> Mark McDougall wrote:
>> Some genius selling a BBC plugged it in, and when it went 'pop' after 30s
>> and black smoke came out, decided to cut the power cord off!!!
>
> With it plugged in?!?!?
>
> I don't know whether I want the answer to be "yes" or "no" ;)

Well in a modern house with trips the only outcome should be that the 
power will go off (if said trips are working as they should).

Even so the effect would depend on the time between the cutting 
implement touching live and one of the other connectors. If it was too 
quick the fuse (should) blow** though it would still be enough of a 
shock to make him go OW!

** My physics teacher at school always insisted that fuses melted and 
did not blow until I managed to short out 240V 13A mains which blew nice 
round holes in the end of a mains fuse !

Cheers,

Phill.

-- 
Phill Harvey-Smith, Programmer, Hardware hacker, and general eccentric !

"You can twist perceptions, but reality won't budge" -- Rush.