Scented ICs

[Ken Stone]

While we're on this subject of silliness, I've put the can of an electro
into the ceiling, with the corresponding electrolyte and fluff all over the
room. 
Also was running CMOS of a generator, smoothed, but unregulated, which was
fine, sitting around 13.8 v, until I revved the engine in order to gain a
little more current. Ever seen a board full of chips simulaneously split up
the middle and emit smoke? Impressive!

I think the greatest smoke letting story was when a company contracted to
design some portable road side warning chevrons for us delivered their
prototype, full of hard to get and exotic parts. (How did they intend to
mass produce, I wonder?) The boss told me to connect the thing up to a truck
battery with the polarity reversed. Not as silly as it sounds either because
1) it was part of the original design brief, and was repeatedly stated to
them during the project, and 2) this thing was going to be operated by road
workers, with no idea about electronics, or even polarity. ("It don't work
this way around, try the other...") 

I told the boss it wouldn't survive, but he insisted, so I connected it up
and sat there watching as all those expensive little chips glowed red
(literally) and smoked. Power FETS and diodes also contibuted to the fun.
When all was thoroughly cooked, I had the pleasure of ringing the smart-ass
design firm and telling them if they had listened to me in the first place,
their precious design might have survived. They were most distressed, as you
can imagine. ("That was the only chip of its kind in the country...") 

Ken

>While they're at it, maybe they could make chips that visibly and audibly
>fail.  I remember powering up a new pcb once with the power & ground lines
>to some TI high current output drivers reversed - a loud pop and ceramic 
>bits flying out of the enclosure ensued.  I found ceramic bits embedded 
>in the ceiling!  Which reminds me kids, always wear your safety goggles 
>when testing boards - you never know what's going to happen!
>
>JDM
>
>
>
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                Ken Stone  sasami at blaze.net.au
                   ** Catgirl Paradise **
               <http://www.anime.net/~kens/>
         ** Australian Miniature Horses and ponies **
             <http://www.blaze.net.au/~sasami/>
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