Computer Safety:Don't let this happen

Subject: Computer Safety:Don't let this happen
From: Dave Swan
Date: 06 Jun 00 - 03:36 PM

Last night I fought a two alarm residential fire. We saved the first floor and a finished basement, and that's about it. The investigator's report will list the cause as electrical, accidental. The point of origin was the wiring which powered the computer.

You're sitting at a computer right now. When you reach the end of this paragraph, stop and check the things I'm about to list. 1. Do you use extension cords to power your computer, printer, modem et. al.? If yes, are they in good repair, stout, and well grounded? Are they protected from being walked on, kicked, or chewed? 2. Do you use gang receptacles, plugging several devices into one location? If yes, are the plugs very warm? Do you note any discoloration around their points of insertion? Can the circuit handle the load you've put on it? 3. Do you check these things regularly? O.K., now go look. I'll wait......

Hi. Don't mess around with this stuff. Any inconvenience you encounter in making things right will pay huge dividends in safety.

I stood on the sidewalk last night holding a dead kitten in one arm and a grieving homeowner in the other. I don't want that scene played out in front of any Mudcatter's house.

Be safe.

All best,

Dave

Subject: RE: Computer Safety:Don't let this happen
From: Gary T
Date: 06 Jun 00 - 03:42 PM

Thanks for the "heads up", Dave.

Subject: RE: Computer Safety:Don't let this happen
From: katlaughing
Date: 06 Jun 00 - 03:43 PM

Dave, thank you so much. I am checking now. Give yourself and your heart a big hug and know that we are grateful to you.

luvyakat

Subject: RE: Computer Safety:Don't let this happen
From: Bert
Date: 06 Jun 00 - 03:48 PM

Thanks Dave.

Subject: RE: Computer Safety:Don't let this happen
From: SeanM
Date: 06 Jun 00 - 03:57 PM

I'll heartily second that thought, Dave.

One of my better friends lost his apartment and cockatoo a few years ago in a very similar situation. He had his entire computer center wired up into one outlet, and one day it went critical.

Good advice for all.

M

Subject: RE: Computer Safety:Don't let this happen
From: SINSULL
Date: 06 Jun 00 - 04:30 PM

Thanks Dave. I copied and passed this on to 4 people I know with home computers. Hopefully they will pass it on to four more, and so on, and so on, and so on...

Subject: RE: Computer Safety:Don't let this happen
From: Hollowfox
Date: 06 Jun 00 - 04:31 PM

Many thanks.

Subject: RE: Computer Safety:Don't let this happen
From: Pene Azul
Date: 06 Jun 00 - 06:19 PM

Thanks for posting such great advice, Dave.

For anyone who needs an extension cord for the computer, I'd recommend replacing the power cord with a ten foot cord. If that's not enough, get a 6 or 10 foot power cord extension like these. I include this page as a demonstration only--I have not dealt with them. You can get these cords from many sources. Most monitors will take these cords, too.

Also, plug your computer into a good quality surge protector, not a cheap strip.

PA

Subject: RE: Computer Safety:Don't let this happen
From: Irish sergeant
Date: 06 Jun 00 - 07:10 PM

Dave: sound advice that applys not only to computers. It also can apply to various and sundry musical devices (amps, keyboards, tape equipment etc.) Best reguards and thanks for the safety reminder, Neil

Subject: RE: Computer Safety:Don't let this happen
From: Escamillo
Date: 06 Jun 00 - 11:45 PM

Thanks Dave for an excellent advice. After 30 years in the programming profession, I still wonder WHY manufacturers provide us with so stupidly WEAK connectors, plugs, cables and switches, while the "industrial" type are so different ! For a 10 dollar increase in a 600 dollar machine, they could provide an enormously improved quality in those devices. Don´t we deserve the same safety standards as an industrial equipment consuming a few more watts ? Yes, I know: a fire in an industrial plant would involve lost lives AND many many thousand dollars in legal claims, paralization of production and lost clients. A fire in a house instead, will mean only some lives. Don´t hesitate to check out your installation, and if possible replace it by an industrial standard.
Un abrazo - Andrés

Subject: RE: Computer Safety:Don't let this happen
From: Sorcha
Date: 07 Jun 00 - 12:33 AM

All my stuff is on heavy duty cords/surge protectors, and I check them for excess heat several times a day. Have known this for years, and do comply. A while back, when we were not home, Kate killed everything, just grabbed it and unplugged. The hell with shut down procedures. It turned out not to be a problem, but she did the right thing, and grabbing the cord and yanking does not hurt anything at all.

Subject: RE: Computer Safety:Don't let this happen
From: Clinton Hammond2
Date: 07 Jun 00 - 02:08 AM

So Dave.. what yer saying is use COMMON SENCE EH!?!?!?!

Too bad it's apparently in such short supply these days eh??

LOL!!!!!

[~`

Subject: RE: Computer Safety:Don't let this happen
From: MudGuard
Date: 07 Jun 00 - 03:27 AM

Dave,

thanks for caring about our safety!
I just checked the installations here at the office, and they are all ok.
The ones at home are in top condition (I know because I moved the computer a few days ago and used the opportunity to re-wire the whole system). One reason for moving it was to give it its very own circuit - once the fuse blew when my girl-friend started the vacuum cleaner which was on the same circuit as my computer (with all its accessories - printer, modem, scanner, monitor) and our stereo.

A big difference between USA and Germany is that we use 240 Volt compared to your 110 Volt so there is only half the Amperes (if the power Watt = Volt*Ampere is the same). Thus the danger from bad wiring is a bit smaller but still must not be neglected.

---

Clinton,
this could be because the amount of common sense is constant but the number of human beings is increasing... ;-)

MudGuard

Subject: RE: Computer Safety:Don't let this happen
From: GUEST,Auxiris
Date: 07 Jun 00 - 09:18 AM

Hello, everyone and thank you ever so much for your message, Dave. On reading it, I immediately checked all computer connections (all is well). One can never be too careful with a thing like electricity!

May I add a few words of caution concerning another activity? Just yesterday, one of my neighbours lost two fingers because he was trying to remove a stick from under his lawn mower without turning it off. I'd just like to say to those of you who like to garden, please:

--Keep your tetanos vaccination up to date; --Don't wear jewelry while working in your garden; --Wear a good sunscreen; --When mowing lawns, wear socks, shoes and trousers and preferably a long-sleeved shirt; --Drink enough water while gardening during hot weather; --Watch out for things like poison ivy, sumac or oak and learn how to identify them; --Make sure garden tools are in good working order; --Don't stay out in the sun during the hottest hours of the day; --Keep animals and children away from things like mowers and garden products

and so on and so forth. Sorry if this sounds obvious, but I hear about garden accidents all the time. Be careful and . . . happy gardening!

cheers, Aux

Subject: RE: Computer Safety:Don't let this happen
From: Megan L
Date: 07 Jun 00 - 10:17 AM

Great advice Dave I and heart friends have been down that road a few times - wiring, chip pans, chimneys and cars- It only takes a few moments but when it happens to you it may not be a dead pet you are left to mourn.

One word of caution Sorcha I'm probably neurotic but watch out about yanking cables a friend lost her life doing this she didn't nottice the cable had got split and touched some bare wire.

Take an hour or two to learn CPR and first aid the life it saves may be someone you love.

Subject: RE: Computer Safety:Don't let this happen
From: GUEST,Mrr
Date: 07 Jun 00 - 10:18 AM

Great advice, Dave, and you do good work. As a slightly musical aside, I had a set of roommate friends whose house burned down once, they were all fine, but one of them was a DJ with a HUGE collection. All his vinyl melted. All his CDs were unscathed inside melted jewel cases. We were amazed.

Subject: RE: Computer Safety:Don't let this happen
From: GUEST,Dai
Date: 07 Jun 00 - 11:53 AM

One other thing with computers. I live in an area with lots of thunderstorms, and miles of open wires, strung from pole to pole, bringing the electricity to my home. Surge supressors will NOT dissipate a lightning strike on these wires, even if it is a few miles from your home!

I have used surge strips and panels that fit under my monitor, with individual switches for each device. In either case, if you are going to be away from home for a while, unplug the master cord(and cable between the wall jack and the MODEM plug) from the wall before you leave. Electricity can easily jump the few hudredths of an inch between normally open switch contacts, but has a harder time jumping 6" to a couple of feet from the mains socket to the unplugged power cord for the surge strip/switch box.

And of course, it is dodgy using the computer during an electrical storm. But we all KNOW that, don't we?

Dave

Subject: RE: Computer Safety:Don't let this happen
From: Willie-O
Date: 07 Jun 00 - 12:16 PM

Yeah, the damn thing keeps going off in the middle of a sentence...

I too live in a rural area with frequent power fluctuations. When there's a power surge I always know because my ("surge protected") CD player turns itself on and starts playing if there is a CD in it. The surge protector on my TV/VCR seems to really work though, since the VCR clock is the only one in the house that keeps its setting if there's a power blip.

In these conditions, remember that phone lines are out there with the power lines and lightning can just as easily travel through them (into your modem). Get a surge protector bar with a phone jack input & output, and use it.

At the computer, I hang the power bar/protector up on the wall where I can see it, and it doesn't get kicked around, and chewed on. (and is easily inspected, and not least, accessed.)

Yours is a noble calling, Dave.

Willie-O

Subject: RE: Computer Safety:Don't let this happen
From: Dave Swan
Date: 07 Jun 00 - 12:17 PM

Thanks to everyone for the kind thoughts. It's not surprising to see M'cat's chiming in with more good suggestions concerning our safety.

Dave

Subject: RE: Computer Safety:Don't let this happen
From: Jon Freeman
Date: 07 Jun 00 - 01:55 PM

Thanks for the info about the thunder Dai, you have confirmed my fears. I was not sure whether I was being paranoid or not.

And thanks Dave, I have checked mine just in case and it is in good order. I use the proper extensions with surge protectors but as most of my cable runs (safely) under some furnture and the plugs for my computer and hi-fi equimpent are hidden by a speaker, I tend to forget about them.

I suppose another point on electrical safety is that the plugs for all my elecrical equipment are fitted with the correct rating of fuses.

Jon