Important safety tips

montecristo
Important safety tips
October 18th, 2006

Current Location:: Alameda, CA (work)

Current Mood:: surprised but not shocked

Current Music:: Men Without Hats: "Safety Dance" (in my head)

Things for software engineers with screwdrivers to remember:

Do not plug newly constructed untested devices into the power outlet in your cubicle. You need power for most of your productivity and a fried outlet will throw a monkey wrench into your workflow.

When wiring up a new device, it is important to check the board connection on the power cable to ascertain that hot and neutral have not been transposed.

When plugging in an untested device, it is better to ascertain that it will not smoke before plugging in the serial cable connecting it to your valuable computer. RS-232 is notoriously non-surge resistant.

When involved in a power mishap, a couple hundred dollar motherboard will protect the breaker on a computer power supply by blowing up before the breaker can trip.

Back up your work to the server frequently.

Tags: day in the life, work

10 comments — :

( 10 comments — Leave a comment )

surprised but not shocked

pr1ss

2006-10-19 12:12 am (UTC)

Ahahahahaha

So next time you are gonna mosey out into the corridor or run a power strip from an unsuspecting neighbor's cube . . .

Re: surprised but not shocked

montecristo

2006-10-19 01:09 am (UTC)

I'll take it to the lab. Then, restoring their power is their problem. ; )

nsingman

2006-10-19 01:18 pm (UTC)

There are reasons for the saying "Beware of programmers carrying screwdrivers." It probably applies whether they're metal screwdrivers, or vodka and orange juice screwdrivers. :-)

Yes, but I'm an embedded software engineer.

montecristo

2006-10-20 12:06 am (UTC)

By definition, we're software engineers who carry screwdrivers and soldering irons as a matter of business. Heh. We're the most dangerous people on earth!

prettypoet43

2006-10-19 02:34 pm (UTC)

Hey! No burning down the cubicle! Dilbert would not be amused!

But, there's nothing like a good fire on a crisp fall day!

montecristo

2006-10-20 12:08 am (UTC)

Fortunately, the guy in the cube sharing the same outlet set with me is on vacation.

prolixfootle

2006-10-25 08:59 am (UTC)

Festive, if belated, natal anniversary wishes! Hope you had a good one!

Thank you! It's good to hear from you.

montecristo

2006-10-25 05:31 pm (UTC)

It was not a bad day at all, even if it did start with a speeding ticket. Some delicious Internet Babes™ stopped by and dropped comments and e-mail. Your well-wishes are more than welcome, even if belated and you're not as sexy as say

morganaus. *snerk* It looks as if our year of being the answer to life, the universe, and everything has come to an end. We shall just have to sink back into ignorance and depravity.