ADB Hotswapping

[Elfen]

Actually it as one  my computer labs I had in NYC. I had a bunch of Macs and SEs (1 SE\30) and of the SEs, I must have blown that Bournes filter a dozen times by swapping keyboards. Good thing the guys at TekServe gave me filters to teach my teen crew how to solder and desolder. They used to hire the kids I trained as interns and apprentices.

But for blowing out stuff, and getting network admins nervous, I used to carry one of these...

They're great for interviews when the stupid interviewer asks, "What do I know about networks?" and I dig that out of my bag, place it in front of him and tell him that "Revenge is a dish best served cold."

Ever seen a Sys or Network Admin sweat? Show them that!

It's from: http://www.fiftythree.org/etherkiller/

 

[aplmak]

Elfen!!! I love that cable!!! Yeah I always loved that question by the so called Network IT guys... "What do you know about networking".... It's almost like that is a default question they ask... I guess computers are all about networking and nothing else... lol!!! 

And over the years I don't think I've ever blown anything from hot swapping an ADB device.. But I ALWAYS practice not hot plugging ADB.. Just to be on the safe side.. I always have that "damn forgot to plug in the mouse or keyboard and say... should I????" lol.. so sometimes I bite the bullet and do it!!! Living on the edge!!!

 

[Paralel]

Ha, Elfen, that looks similar to my "Warranty Cord" which guarantees a warranty replacement when something should be replaced because of a manufacturing defect, but the company is being shitty about it.

My only rule with things like an "EtherKiller" is to make sure to use it on a circuit with an electrical switch on it, so that way you can switch the power, have it do its job, then switch it off. The last thing you want is 110 AC going through the device with no way to stop it other than to grab the plug. Too much of a fire risk.

 

[Elfen]

There's other "Killers" on the linked website, including one with a pushbutton and circuit breaker.

 

[gsteemso]

I think my favourite one is the T1 warranty guaranteer (I think they label it a V.35 killer or some such). “They claim it’s not their equipment at fault? Not after this.”

 

[Gorgonops]

My only rule with things like an "EtherKiller" is to make sure to use it on a circuit with an electrical switch on it, so that way you can switch the power, have it do its job, then switch it off. The last thing you want is 110 AC going through the device with no way to stop it other than to grab the plug. Too much of a fire risk.

I sort of suspect that most things you'd plug that "etherkiller" into would have fine enough traces that even if a component somehow failed closed you'd vaporize your way out of a hard short in pretty, well, short order. The one thing I *might* worry about with toys like this is, depending on how it's wired, if there's any chance that "circuit ground" on the PCB you connect this to could be energized by the hot leg of an AC socket even after you've blown the thing out. There's a small but not zero chance with the right combination of AC wiring and signal grounds touching a metal chassis that you could cause some collateral damage beyond the thing you're trying to torch. (Especially if it's screwed into a metal rack.)

 

[uniserver]

yeah and for what ever reason the comcast guy grounded to the gasline and not the cold water pipe...  HHAHAHAHA  perfect storm. 

 

[Paralel]

I had a friend get knocked out hard when he grabbed his cold water pipe and a device that was grounding through it was dumping the hot right to ground and he got a nasty shock.

I think this is why they no longer suggest you use cold water pipes for grounding, if at all possible.

 

[techknight]

water pipes are naturally at earth ground potential anyway. 

 

[Schmoburger]

Those killer cords have made my goddamn morning!

 

[olePigeon]

My house has a large copper steak in the ground next to it.  Surprised no one has stolen it, it's a lot of copper.  It has a huge wire that runs to the house.  Unfortunately, the previous tenant took it upon himself to redo the electrical, and didn't ground anything.

 

[CC_333]

That's not safe!

But, I guess if you're careful, you'll be OK. People lived for many, many years without grounded electrical systems and survived to tell about it, so it's not *that* bad I suppose.

c

 

[techknight]

Just whatever you do, Dont be a car killer!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jaq251c7kiY