scented ICs

[Synthaholic AKA The Shark]

On Thu, 14 Aug 1997 09:19:29 -0400, you wrote:

>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!

Heh heh, Many years ago, I worked as a field engineer for Digital
Equipment Corp., and was called out to look at a minicomputer system
that wouldn't boot.  Turns out that the system sustained a lightning
strike through an open window.  After replacing several power
supplies, I was able to boot up enough to run diagnostics.  Cache
memory seemed to be failing.  Upon removal of the cache boards, I
discovered that 4 chips on each of the boards (the *same* chips) had
turned snow white.  The surface texture looked a little wierd, so I
blew breath at the board and the chips disappeared!  All that was left
was the beam leads, since the plastic cases had turned completely to
white ash!  I assumed, quite safely, that at least those 4 ICs were
bad...